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Homemade gifts | Pad Patter 11.28

bellbird

bellbird

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This week some of my friends are getting together for our 2nd annual (possibly- LOL) xmas craft night to make, basically, things from pinterest as little teacher/neighbour gifts. Last year was wrapped lolly/candy wreaths and this year is looking like dressed up mason jar containers (grinch and reindeer themed). DD and I have done bathbombs in the past for her grandmother.

Do you or your family have any go-to homemade gifts or ideas for the holidays?
 
I have scaled back on handmade gifts in recent years because I used to come up with too many gift ideas and then I'd stress myself out when I couldn't get them all made in time for Christmas. I used to make a ton of jewelry for people as gifts and then my friends found out I could make jewelry and I'd get tons of orders to make their gifts too. That way at least I made some money to pay for my own gifts which was awesome, but I got REALLY busy! Lol!

This year I think the only thing I'm going to make is a 4x6 calendar for all the grandparents. I wanted to crochet a blanket for my son, but I haven't started that yet so I don't think that's going to happen now...
 
I used to, but just don't have the time anymore. I loved to make needle felted items - I've made glass cases, wallets, brooches/pins, necklaces ... little things like that.

One Christmas, my daughter made a little handmade gift for everyone who was coming that year. It was really sweet, but she worked so hard and was getting stressed near the end. My parents still have the coasters she made for them.

Back in the day (before Pinterest) I used to host a few craft nights at my house - I'd give a list of things to bring or I'd provide them for a small fee and actually teach the project. It was just for fun - to get together and make a little something.

That sounds fun Justine ... enjoy your craft night with friends. We will want pictures! :)
 
I love to make infinity scarves! They take a few hours and if I have enough yarn I will do a simple hat (crochet). My dear friend and Pastor's wife loves them. I also like to do the boot cuffs?
Quick-Crocheted-Boot-Cuff-WT.jpg
 
I never seem to have the time or inclination to do anything except scrap these days. But in years past I used to make homemade dog biscuits and sell them at the local craft fairs. I would save coffee tins and spray paint them, punch 2 holes for threading twisted wire through for a handle and fill them with the dog treats. Some years ago (before scrapping), I used to make collage bookmarkers, ripping out pieces of magazines to glue onto the base and then laminating them, with a hole and tassel string through the top.
 
Years past I made tons of soy candles, then moved on to using my Silhouette Cameo to make address books and calendars. When Harper came along every other weekend was filled watching her (since her Daddy & Mommy both worked weekends) ... but even when Amanda got onto a "regular" weekday schedule, we continued to bring Harper to our house every other weekend - and now, she AND Greyson are here every other Saturday- so there's no time for crafts other than digi! :)
 
This year I'm helping the grand-kids make big clothes pin, photo stands. We are using a Seattle Seahawk's theme since a lot of their relatives and friends are fans. They are having fun with them.
 
My mom is the queen of homemade gifts. She usually makes my sister & me one handmade gift for Christmas -- sometimes a scrapbook, sometimes home decor, sometimes something else entirely -- and she usually makes homemade baked goods for various acquaintance-type people like her hairdresser, the mailman, etc.

She is so glad that my dad is retiring this year so she no longer has to do that for my dad's direct reports (which was close to 30 last year!).

She also makes herself wreaths, home decor, and things like that. Her interior design is not the style I would choose all the time but it is always seasonally appropriate and color-coordinated so mad props to her.
 
LeeAndra said:
My mom is the queen of homemade gifts. She usually makes my sister & me one handmade gift for Christmas -- sometimes a scrapbook, sometimes home decor, sometimes something else entirely -- and she usually makes homemade baked goods for various acquaintance-type people like her hairdresser, the mailman, etc.

She is so glad that my dad is retiring this year so she no longer has to do that for my dad's direct reports (which was close to 30 last year!).

She also makes herself wreaths, home decor, and things like that. Her interior design is not the style I would choose all the time but it is always seasonally appropriate and color-coordinated so mad props to her.
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That is amazing to me. 30?! Yep i'd be glad hes retiring too!
 
jenn mccabe said:
I used to, but just don't have the time anymore. I loved to make needle felted items - I've made glass cases, wallets, brooches/pins, necklaces ... little things like that.

One Christmas, my daughter made a little handmade gift for everyone who was coming that year. It was really sweet, but she worked so hard and was getting stressed near the end. My parents still have the coasters she made for them.

Back in the day (before Pinterest) I used to host a few craft nights at my house - I'd give a list of things to bring or I'd provide them for a small fee and actually teach the project. It was just for fun - to get together and make a little something.

That sounds fun Justine ... enjoy your craft night with friends. We will want pictures! :)
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I hosted last year & realised after, that i got DH to take a few group pics but they were with other peoples phones! and yk'now how people say "I'll send u a copy" and then don't :hummm
 
One year I knitted sweaters for my family (2 sisters, their husbands, and my parents). It took all year. I assumed that would get them off my back that they'd not ask me to make them anything else. Um, no. They (jokingly) asked for a repeat.

I used to make all of my gifts before I got married. Now I just don't have the time.
 
I haven't made anything for a few years besides calendars using scrapbook layouts. I haven't even started the calendar for this year - ooy! I did let Megan have a little Christmas craft party a couple of years ago and that was fun. The decorated ice cream cones as Christmas trees. Made paper plate snowmen, bead candy canes, paper snowflakes and wrapped packs of gum to look like reindeer. All ideas thanks to pinterest!

@bellbird - please share a picture of the jars you're making. I might need to steal an idea or two from this thread for my girls to make something for their friends and teachers this year.
 
I like to bake things for my friends and neighbors, but other than that I don't really do homemade gifts. I have made some scrapbook albums & calendars in the past.
 
I have a photo book to make for my parents. And I usually make calendars using templates I buy here at TLP.

I am terrible at crocheting, but my daughter desperately wants a crocheted blanket of her own (I have the one my grandmother made me and no other blanket compares to it). She even picked out the yarn already. I was at Michaels yesterday and told myself that if the yarn was in stock (it's new and really popular right now), it would be a sign that I should make her blanket. Well... not only was it in stock but it was on a doorbuster sale too! So, I put it in my cart, came home, found the easiest blanket pattern I could find and started working. The yarn is so fun and the blanket is really pretty so far (I need to take a pic)... I just hope I can keep the momentum going and get it done by Christmas!
 
tkradtke said:
I have a photo book to make for my parents. And I usually make calendars using templates I buy here at TLP.

I am terrible at crocheting, but my daughter desperately wants a crocheted blanket of her own (I have the one my grandmother made me and no other blanket compares to it). She even picked out the yarn already. I was at Michaels yesterday and told myself that if the yarn was in stock (it's new and really popular right now), it would be a sign that I should make her blanket. Well... not only was it in stock but it was on a doorbuster sale too! So, I put it in my cart, came home, found the easiest blanket pattern I could find and started working. The yarn is so fun and the blanket is really pretty so far (I need to take a pic)... I just hope I can keep the momentum going and get it done by Christmas!
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well that was a sign! yes we need to see it!
 
I don't craft much. I don't have enough time. :( but these are all great ideas. I'd love to learn hot to knit.
 
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