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Making Christmas... not about not being able to afford it... but actually making your own!
posted to Newcomers Club - Active discussion
in The CafeMom Newcomers Club
on Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM
- 39 Replies
- 739 Total Views
So... this year (well pretty much every year lol) we usually make our family a little gift for everyone we drawl names and buy that person that we drawl a gift..so everyone has a nice small budget and everyone gets a gift and one from the heart =)
I know I'm not the only one out there who makes gifts lol... just wondering what are some things you'll be making this year or have made in the past?
We've made:
Christmas ornaments- we take clear glass ball ornaments some canvas paint put a few different colors of paint drops into the ornament and swirl the ornament around to make the paint go all different directions! You can even take a small stick and drag the paint through other paint. Just be sure not to put too much paint or it will never dry on the inside and will settle at the bottom. Once their dried put the top back on and string some pretty ribbon through the top! They are soo pretty. Then on the bottom take a paint marker or a sharpie and write name who made it and the year with a message of something like Merry Christmas! or Happy Holidays! Very fun for kids and very inexpensive! Everyone will love them-- great gifts.
No sew Fleece Blankets- I'm sure most already know how to do this one! But just a reminder, as its very easy and fun for older kids to make!! And who doesn't love a nice warm blanket especially when its been made with lots of love. At a fabric store get some fleece... depending on how big you would like your blanket to be made should be about 2-4 yards. You'll need either 2 pieces of the same fabric fleece, or 2 pieces of different fabric fleece. Make sure both pieces are the same length. Take both pieces cut about 2 1/2 inches into the fabric from the outside in all around. (about the length of your middle finger) after you've done this the whole way around the fabric to both pieces- take the two pieces together and tie the slits in knots ( I like to double knot) thus tying the 2 peices together. I know those aren't exactly great directions but if you need picture and better directions just google no sew fleece blanket.
You can also make scarfs the same way you made the fleece blanket. The only thing is that you need one piece not two and you do not cut slits all the way around, only on the top and bottom. Also you do not tie the slits you leave them be. This is super easy and fast.
Bookmarks- These can be made of just about anything! Fabric, ribbon, wallpaper.. anything you have around the house almost. Cut what ever it is you have into a bookmark punch a hole in the top and string through some ribbon or yarn or sting with some decorative beads! You can do just about anything with these: any colors, any themes, any shapes. This would be great for teachers! Especially if your child is in a school where they have multiple teachers. This is very easy, fun, and always inexpensive!
Drink Coasters- I haven't made this but a friend of mine did.. and I think we're going to try this year! Its very easy!- Let your little ones draw up some fun! Paint a picture, write something sweet, even those tots can finger paint! Then apply contact paper to both sides cut it out and there ya have it! If you want to get a little fancy with it.. you can always glue to the bottom some cork rounds so it will stay in place and not slide around the table! Just like the book marks you can do anything with these..colors themes.. oh and you could even do your childrens snapshot photos!!!
Boo-Boo Bags- (making them this year!) this would be awesome for Grandma aunts uncles even co-workers! Get some nice flannel cut about 11x 5 or 13 x 7. sew as if it were a pillow leaving one top open poor some rice (do not use minute rice) and some lavendar, mint, jasmine, or chamomile scents (this could be dryed leaves, bath salts, oils--which ever you use do not use a whole lot small amounts will do!) fill the bag to about half full with rice. Then sew the open top half. Now what you do with this is- put it in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes (never longer than 2) put it on sore muscles, achey bones, sore tendons, headaches, or even as a heating pad for warming up! This will stay hot for about an hour. Or leave it in the freezer for those swollen parts! Everyone will love this gift!
Homemade hot cocoa mix- Everyone loves hot cocoa! You can easily find a good recipe for homemade hot cocoa mix by google or recipe books! Once you've made that. Get some butterscotch morsels, chocolate morsels, white chocolate morsels, and whatever else sort of morsels you can find lol-- melt each of them down in seperate pans- once melted dip some plastic spoons into the melted morsels lay them on wax paper to harden and dry sprinkle a few with cinnamon if you choose. Once dried put one or two of each kind in a small gift like bag tied off with ribbon. These will be used to stir the hot cocoa mix when they make their cocoa and will add some delicious flavors! If you wanted to go all out, get some mugs to put them in or get some plain white mugs that have not been "glazed" (sorry I do not know the proper term for it but its were they make it glossy..you need the kind that is not glossy) get some paint (your local art store can help you choose the best type of paint for this project) let your little ones finger paint the mugs. Let them dry! Print up some directions for them to make their cocoa and using the stirs (the plastic spoons!) attach it to the mug handle with some ribbon. Place your cocoa bag and your stirs bag into the mug and there you have it! A wonderful nice homemade gift! Which can be very enjoyable!!!
So there you have it! Those are some of things we do! I hope they are very helpful to you! So tell me what do you do for homemade Christmas gifts!?
Thanks for sharing!
Replies:
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:07 PM
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I don't usually make gifts but this year I think I am going to bale a lot! Those are really good ideas I'm going to try the boo boo bags, they sound really easy and everyone can use it.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:10 PM
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I crochet a lot!!!! Not sweaters but hats, scarves, afghans, baby blankets, hood scarves, etc.... I have a lot of requests so it keeps me really busy,.,,. I'll post some more homemade gifts that our family does when I get home this evening!!!
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:27 PM
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I make earrings for the women in the family (or bracelets, or necklaces) because I like to bead. This year I made wine glass charms for my sister and they came out really cute, so I'm adding that to the repertoire. I'll make them for my MIL and a few aunts. For a niece I personalized a dry erase magnetic board and fancied up her magnets.
Also, I bake...the usual. Cookies, brownies and breads are my specialties, my husband makes a killer fudge and people get trays wrapped with a variety of baked goods.
For inexpensive "extra" gifts - people I forgot, people that brought presents over and I wanted to give them something back, hostesses, and people that just get a "little" something - I collect cute clearance notebooks or notepads, datebooks, etc. throughout the year and add a wrapped flower pen (that I make with the "nicer" flowers so they don't look cheap). These get put together in a cute gift bag with tissue or just wrapped together with a fancy ribbon.
It's not about the gift...it's about the presentation. LOL.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:35 PM
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My kids are painting ceramic tiles, then I will have them fired (cost only $1.50 each, besides the paint), then I am glueing cork to the back and they are tiles for hot plates in the kitchen.
I am also making tons of wine glass tags. Our family and friends all love wine :) These wine tags only cost about .25cents to make, or even less if you shop around for beads and charms.
We are also putting nice photo's of the kids in nice photo frames for grandparents, aunts and uncles.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:38 PM
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This is a great idea! My nana done this once for her kids. And also for my cousin when she had her house warming party!
Quoting Proudmommy312:
My kids are painting ceramic tiles, then I will have them fired (cost only $1.50 each, besides the paint), then I am glueing cork to the back and they are tiles for hot plates in the kitchen.
I am also making tons of wine glass tags. Our family and friends all love wine :) These wine tags only cost about .25cents to make, or even less if you shop around for beads and charms.
We are also putting nice photo's of the kids in nice photo frames for grandparents, aunts and uncles.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:44 PM
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Excellent post!! Last year I did the baked goodies thing. This year All the men are getting hats made on my knifty knitter. And my hubbie's neice (she's 8) is getting a hat and scarf set. For the women I'm making body scrub. I got the instructions for it out of a Martha Stewart Living magazine! I also like to make homemade cards and alter items like notebooks, folders, etc.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:51 PM
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Oooh! Post or PM me the recipe please! I make homemade lotion, but didn't think I'd have time this year to make the infusion for the oil - too cold.
Quoting HEGGREENE:
Excellent post!! Last year I did the baked goodies thing. This year All the men are getting hats made on my knifty knitter. And my hubbie's neice (she's 8) is getting a hat and scarf set. For the women I'm making body scrub. I got the instructions for it out of a Martha Stewart Living magazine! I also like to make homemade cards and alter items like notebooks, folders, etc.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:58 PM
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Quoting Frugalista:
Oooh! Post or PM me the recipe please! I make homemade lotion, but didn't think I'd have time this year to make the infusion for the oil - too cold.
Quoting HEGGREENE:
Excellent post!! Last year I did the baked goodies thing. This year All the men are getting hats made on my knifty knitter. And my hubbie's neice (she's 8) is getting a hat and scarf set. For the women I'm making body scrub. I got the instructions for it out of a Martha Stewart Living magazine! I also like to make homemade cards and alter items like notebooks, folders, etc.
SENT!! I also sent you another one I wanted to try, Bath Fizzies.
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:04 PM
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I am the oldest of 6 kids.. so I have 5 brothers and sisters to get gifts for and my parents. I got each of them a blank zip up hoodie in their size and am using fabric paints and my own stencil art to customize each of them their own hoodie. :] For my hubby, he gets home from Iraq in January, after being gone since 2007, so I am cooking a homemade Christmas dinner for him and crocheting a beanie for him (he loooooves beanies) as well as the hoodie. I am making a hoodie for my 2 yr old as well.
Mommy to a little chili pepper since 9.14.06 & loving my panda bear since 12.3.04!!!
1.5 more months until I have my panda bear back home!!!
Expecting a R&R baby in June 2009!
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- by on Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:08 PM
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Wow you are very creative, I may have to try a few of those. I have made cards and calendars. I do the calendars on the computer and personalize them to who I send it to. I can't wait until lo is old enough to make things with me. Thanks for the ideas!
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