DIY Christmas Gifts?

[kmmommy]

I know this was a thread on the "other" site and I'd like to get some ideas from fellow creative geniuses! We're planning to buy a house this year - late summer/early fall and would like to make gifts rather than buy.

So far I'm thinking of doing a 12x12 scrapbook page in a shadowbox or a calendar of Kaeden's first year. I also like to make candles and know how to make stuffed animals dipped in scented wax.

What plans to you have?

[emschwar]

Last year, I made photo magnets of Noah for everyone, and we also made a Noah dvd for them.

This year, I'm making beaded necklaces. For the women, at least. There's only 1 guy, so we'll buy him something.

[kmmommy]

Em - How did I know you'd be in here?!

[islandgirlsj]

Figured I'd get subscribed to this thread NOW... and maybe, just maybe, I won't be trying to figure out gifts at the last moment, wondering why I don't have enough time. :p

Thanks for starting it!

[kmmommy]

Welcome islandgirlsj! I figured we could start with Christmas in July and maybe help motivate each other to get gifts done!

[villanelle75]

I'm thinkink of making chalkboard herb pots. Basicallyt, it's a tera cotta pot with chalkboard paint applied around the rim at the top. That way, you can plant herbs and write "basil" "mint", or whatever on the pot. It's bound to be incredibely easy and it's all I've come up with thus far.

[kmmommy]

I'm thinkink of making chalkboard herb pots. Basicallyt, it's a tera cotta pot with chalkboard paint applied around the rim at the top. That way, you can plant herbs and write "basil" "mint", or whatever on the pot. It's bound to be incredibely easy and it's all I've come up with thus far.

That sounds so cute! My MIL would love that!

[KristyK]

Well, as a crafter, sometimes. I religiously followed the threads on the other boards on the christmas crafts.

I have a question and thought this might be the best place for it. Did anyone make the coasters from the thick string? You know, the ones where you wind them into a circle and can paint them. I'm thinking this is a great project my son and I can do together, and he can give them for gifts to his grandparents.

I tried one last night, it turned out ok, but it seems awfully glossy on the back, because I used tacky glue. Is that what I was supposed to use?? Anyone remember these? I had printed out everything, and when I organized my computer room, I lost those printouts....yeah, organization is the key, right! :D I was doing better unorganized! lol

TIA for any and all help!

Kristy

[shopaholic]

Last X-mas I made those no-sew fleece blankets. I made about 10-15 of them...so no way am I making ANYTHING this x-mas :)

It really pooped me out!

[mindy]

Subscribing I want to try to make more gifts this year to try to cut back some of the holiday spending.

[ztaprincess]

ok i am subscribing...this will be my first time with diy christmas gifts...but with the wedding and honeymoon...I will broke so I have to think of something...oh and my crafty skills are limited but wes is artistic

[Lolly]

I think there is a thread for this in general chit chat too.

I'm going to try making drink coasters by stamping on slate tiles. I make all of our Christmas cards too. (last year I made at least 100)

[mermccau]

subscribing :)

[emmjay]

My family and I are exchanging homemade gifts this year - Christmas tends to get out of control in my family, so we're trying to curb that! I was actually scared to mention it but everyone was so relieved to be doing inexpensive gifts.

I am a better cook than I am a craft-maker, so I'm making food gifts. Bread, jam, candy and cookies I think. I'll just have to do something clever with the presentation.

They have tons of books in the library about homemade gifts, for Christmas and for any occasion - I think they are really useful! The Dewey Decimal number for food gifts is 641.5, and for crafts it is 745.5 if you want to look in your library. :)

[villanelle75]

Herb pots: They are very simple. Its a regular teracotta (sp?) pot. The small size will likely work best since that's what is usually used for herbs. They you buy blackboard paint and apply it around the lip at the top of the pot which is usually about an inch and a half tall. That's it! then when someone placts, say mint in the pot, they can write "mint" on the chalkboard part to remind themselves what kind of herb it is.

[ztaprincess]

I think this is a fantastic idea...I wonder what else I can put black board paint around to make it fun

[gmb4503]

I have decided to do recipes in a jar this year.

http://www.cookingcache.com/jargifts.html

Has anyone done these? Any tips on layering the ingrdients?

[isign]

Do ya'll know that there is also a Christmas forum? It has great ideas too.

[happy]

susscribing

[emschwar]

bump! I need more ideas!

I saw these at michaels.com, and might make them. I'm not sure.
http://www.michaels.com/online/images/article/thumb/snowman.jpg http://www.michaels.com/online/images/article/thumb/reindeer.jpg

[kmmommy]

Love those Em!

[hmdelf]

subscribing

[BryantRN]

I have two books with recipes on making layered gift mixes in the mason jars. Does anyone want any recipes for those. They are incredibly easy!! When they are all decorated they make really great gift basket gifts. One book has layered mixes such as rice pilaf and lentil soup (it is actually quite tasty!!) and the other has layered mixes for cookies.

I am making spa baskets this year. I am making soaps with lavender essential oil and crushed lavender from my garden. I am adding other goodies to be decided. I found a recipe for bath salts and lost it, does anyone have an easy one??
I am also making stationery. I haven't decided on if I want to make them personalized or with just a nice design. I have a huge collection of stencils and stamps.

~Renee~

[mel7dog]

BryantRN I would love more info on how to make soaps and stationary. I am only a littel crafty, but I must learn!

[BryantRN]

The soaps are really easy. What makes it even easier is that they have kits at Michaels with everything that you need. I prefer to make the ones that you just melt down and pour into molds. I don't want to mess with some of those messy chemicals. I got a book on how to make soaps for x-mas last year. There are all kinds of goodies that you add to personalize your soap.

The stationery that I made a couple of years ago I used a blank stationery kit that I bought at a craft store and used stencils to decorate it. I bought a stencil that had a simple border and used paint and a hard bristle brush to apply it. You have to really blot the paint until it is barely left on the brush before applying it. That way it doesn't bleed onto the other sections of the stencil. I packaged the stationery in a cute box that I had found and decorated it. It was a hit. I don't know where I found the stationery kit though.

~Renee~

[snowzilla]

BryantRN, I would LOVE to see those recipes for the rice pilaf and the lentil soup. I gave away jars of cookie mix, brownie mix and gingerbread mix last year, and they were a huge hit. I'd love to do something different this year!

This Christmas, I'm doing a family scrapbook for MIL, and for my dad. My mom passed away three years ago, and my dad is really big on keeping close contact with her family, and he's always showing off pictures of the kids and grandkids. I thought this would be a nice way for him to do that. I'm going to do one of those scrapbooked-paint cans (not sure what they're called, but I was given one at my baby shower this fall and LOVE it) for my SIL and fill it with bath/beauty products.

[BryantRN]

Okay Snowzilla, here are those recipes :)

Layered Patchwork Soup Mix in a Pint Jar

1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup long grain converted rice
1/2 cup lentils
1/2 tsp. dried minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Mrs. Dash
1 Tb. dried parsley flakes

1. Layer first four ingredients in wide mouth pint canning jar in the order given.
2. Mix seasoning ingredients in small bowl. Place in sandwich bag and tie seasoning into a corner of bag with a piece of ribbon.
3. Decorate jar lid attaching seasoning packet.

copy and attach the recipe below.
1. emply jar into a colander, pick over beans and rinse well.
2. Place mix in a large pan with 10 cups of water.
3. Chop and add 1 medium onion and seasoning packet.
4. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Check after 30 minutes to see if it needs more water.

For a change: add 2 uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts at beginning for Chicken Patchwork Soup.

Gift idea: Give with cornbread mix. (I have another recipe for that if you want it as well)


Layered Cranberry Rice Pilaf in a Pint Jar

1Tb. packed brown sugar
2 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chopped dates
1 1/4 cups long grain converted rice
1/2 cup Craisins (dried cranberries)

1. Use a wide mouth pint canning jar. Place brown sugar, bouillon granules and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Place this in the bottom of a wide mouth pint canning jar. Press in tightly.
2. Place pecans in jar, and then dates. Press tightly.
3. Measure rice into a bowl.
4. Place approx. half of the rice into the jar.
5. Place the Craisins in next and press tightly.
6. Top with remaining rice.
7. Decorate jar lid

Copy and attach the recipe below

1. Place contenets of jar in a pan with 3 1/4 cups water and 1/4 stick of butter (2 Tb.)
2. Cover and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.


I have had both of these and they are great!!
~Renee~

[Anna Low]

I will be making gifts again this year. Potential contenders:

-fleece blankets (did this last year and it was a big hit)
-soap (also a big hit, but I might diversify)
-chalkboard pots
-mosaic pots
-pajamas (depending on if I get the hang of this sewing thing by x-mas)
-ribbon flip flops
-homemade candy

If anyone has experience on the mosaic pots, I would be so happy to hear about it!

[snowzilla]

BryantRN, thank you SO much for posting those! I can't wait to try them. :D

[BryantRN]

Snowzilla~
You are oh so welcome :). When I make it for us at home I use vegetable or chicken broth in substitute of some of the water. Gives it just a little more flavor. Let me know if you would also like the cornbread recipe. They are really nice looking in the jars when you finish them, very colorful!

Anna~
I have thought of making mosaic pots, but haven't had the nerve to try them. What are you going to use for the mosaic part. I thought about going to yard sales and buying old pots or tiles for really cheap to use. I bet that there is probably a "how to" article on the DIY or HGTV website. What are ribbon flip flops?

~Renee~

[Anna Low]

BryantRN, there is a tile store very near my house that will sell individual tiles or a bag of assorted broken ones. Or, one can use broken china. I think I am going the tile route, simply because it seems easier.

The ribbon flip flops....this summer, my husband and I were in one of those frou-frou gift shops and spotted them. They are those cheap rubber flip flops with grosgrain ribbons tied along the part that goes across your foot. The ribbon was just knotted and then cut nicely on the ends with a tiny bit of glue to prevent fraying. Then, someone painted some flowers on the bottom part (the part that would be against your foot) in colors to match the ribbon. I have no other picture, other than the one in my mind, but they were rather fluffy and were selling for $30 a pair! I found the flip flops at Michaels priced at 2 pairs for $1. Ribbon was a little more, but certainly not $30!

I will see if I can locate a picture.

[sublime311]

You ladies inspire me!

[BryantRN]

Sounds like a great gift. Post some pics when you make a pair. I am very curious :).

~Renee~

[LeslieandPaul]

I'm going to be making a lot of Christmas presents this year! For SIL and her boyfriend, I made a scrapbook calendar (one of my more expensive gifts), for BIL-magnets (mostly alphabet, but i'll be doing some words and pictures as well. I'll make them by mounting stickers on a piece of cardboard and most likely cover with a clear marble or scrapbooking pebble, and attaching a magnet to the back), for BIL's girlfriend-a photo box which I covered in funky papers and I'll probably make those ribbon flipflops to put inside (just have to find out her shoe size!). For MIL, terracotta pots with blackboard rim, and herbs. I'll be giving my sister some scrapbooking stuff and American Eagle underwear. For my mom, dad, FIL and DH, I have NO idea!!! I need help!!

[hmdelf]

I'd love the corn bread recipe! That sounds like a great idea!!!

[BryantRN]

I just realized that I don't have the cornbread recipe, but I can get it from my mom. I will send an email and as soon as I get a reply I will post it. Sorry. I should have looked for it before I offered. OOPS!

Leslie~
I have a friend who made homemade BBQ sauce for the men on her list for x-mas a couple of years back. She made it into a manly BBQ gift basket. They turned out really great. That might be an idea. I think that I remember she put BBQ tools and even a manly apron in it. She might still have the recipe, or I am sure that you could find one online.

~Renee~

[mrsdrummer]

For my DH I'm going to make a dvd of pictures of us. If I can get my BIL to help me out I'm going to do a dvd for my sil also (I'm gonna need him to help me smuggle pics) If I can't get him to help then I'm going to help myself to her pics and tell her not to worry about why I'm taking them. And I may even make a dvd for my nieces of when they were little up until now. That's something they can tuck away and will always be able to look at themselves when they were younger. I'll probably do one for my parents as well. I'm thinking those flip flops sound like a wonderful Idea.

[B&BAddict]

Reed Diffusers - I got these instructions from another board, and am going to try making these,

What you need:

Fragrance oil/essential oil
Vodka or perfumer's alcohol
Glass bottle (various styles work, but make sure it's pretty deep. About 1/2 the height of your reeds should do it
Bamboo Reeds (shish kabob sticks from the grocery store)

First, pour about 2 oz. of fragrance oil and 1 oz. of alcohol into the bottle. the 2:1 ratio works well for me (but you don't really have to have the alcohol, it just speeds up the evaporation so it has a better scent throw).

take about 10 sticks, more or less depending on the diameter of your bottle.

All told, this cost about $5 to make, and the refill oil can be gotten cheap at any craft store.

Oh, to make it more "readymade" you can use an old vase/jar/soda bottle, and some body spray/perfume you can't seem to use up.

[kmmommy]

B&B Addict ~ thanks for posting that. I'm loving the reed diffusers right now but didn't think about making them.

[Missy2U]

I'm doing food gifts as well. I have a bunch of variations, though, so I don't get bored. :)

All will be in a gift basket with a christmas ornament:

Chocolate covered cherries, peppermint bark, and chocolate sauce
Soup in a jar (2 different kinds) & cornbread mix
Spiced nuts, snack mix, some type of cracker spread/dip
Chutney, cranberry sauce, herbed butter
Hot cocoa mix, homemade marshmallow snowflakes, frozen log of cookie dough

I have a sheet full of other ideas but it's at home and I'm not - so I'm relying on memory. :)

[BryantRN]

I am so glad to see that everyone has such great ideas. It really has me thinking.

~Renee~

[Katy]

I put a copy of this thread over in the December Holidays (http://www.constantchatter.com/forumdisplay.php?f=87) forum. You might want to take a peek over there to make sure you're not missing any other ideas.

Happy Gift Making! :cool:

[MurphysLaw]

Subscribing...and going to the Christmas section also. :)

[mrsdrummer]

I'm doing cross stitching for a few people. Broke doesn't even begin to cover my christmas budget.

[LynzeyAHL]

'01 - I made ornaments. Take clear glass christmas bulbs and a pencil and stuff them full with tinsel, fake snow, angel hair pop the top back on and make a big fancy bow out of wire ribbon Gave 4 small and 2 large

'02 Made candles and cookies

'03 made naughty and nice baskets - we make homemade kaluah bought cheap mugs from the dollar store added some truffles and tea bags homemade hot cocoa mix and put it all in cute gift bags. we figured we spent about 10 dollars per gift or couple that way

'04 canceled christmas b/c we were in Mexico from 12/24-1/1

[pixielou]

for those of you doing the chalkboard herb pots - i just saw a cute idea in a museum gift shop along the same idea. they were chalkboard coffee cups (retail for $6.95). pretty much the bottom 2/3 of a plain old coffee mug was painted with chalkboard paint. so you can write your own messages on the mugs. things like "i love you" or "jimmy's cup of coffee" or "darling, please remember to bring out the trash today".

you could probably turn it into a major gift by including tea or coffee or other "gift basket" goodies in addition to your box of chalk.