Monday, December 26, 2011

Handmade Holiday Gift Recap

Now that Christmas is over and the gifts have been opened, I can share a few of things I made for friends and family. I don't make all of my gifts but I find I am especially excited to see my handmade items get opened. Making and giving is a gift in itself! Here are a few of my favorites this year:
  • Memory Game- I made a fabric memory game for my nephew Big D. It was a snap to make and I had all the materials on hand.  I cut six matching pairs from scrap fabric, pinned them to some leftover batting and some backing fabric, sewed around the squares and pinked the edges. I sewed up a little zippered bag to store them in and attatched a laminated zipper pull. I don't have a finished picture...I wrapped it before I remembered. But it turned out super cute! This tutorial will give you the basic instructions.

Backing, batting, and squares.

  • My First Color Book-I made a cloth book of colors for my other nephew, Baby T. Again, I have no pictures of the finished product, but I have one mid-process to give you an idea. For each page, I made a mini crazy quilt. I then embroidered the name of the color on each page, added batting for squishiness, slapped on a cover and marveled at my craftiness. I LOVE the way it turned out and I can just see Baby T slobbering all over it! If you'd like to make one of your own, try this tutorial.

  • Mason Jar Soap Dispensers- I made quite a few of these to add to some gift baskets that included dishtowels and dishsoap. All you need is a drill with a hole attatchment, a mason jar with a lid, soap pumps and some epoxy. For all the gory details, you can visit Heather and learn how to do it yourself!

  • Lavender Coconut Hand Salve-You may remember a few posts back I made a batch of hand salve. It was my first go round with salve making and luckily, I didn't burn the house down. I printed up a few fancy labels for the tins and added one to the aforementioned gift baskets to keep hands smooth after all that dishwashing.
     
How about you? Did you make any share-worthy gifts this holiday season? If you'd like, leave us link to your creations in the comments!
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6 comments:

  1. I made four rag quilts, one tie quilt (which I totally forgot to get pictures of before I wrapped them up!!!) six tea wreaths and three gumball machine candy holders(see pinterest.com). I loved making each gift and thinking about the person receiving them as I worked away at each one!

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  2. I love to try and make your salve. Sounds amazing. I made some food gifts but that's the extent of it. Unusual for me. Your color book is amazing.

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  3. I love your soap dispensers! I knit an owl for my niece, a dragon for one son and a Harry Potter character for the other.

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  4. I seriously LOVE LOVE LOVE all of the gifts you made for me and the boys!! You are so talented!! Excited to venture out on my own soon :)

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  5. Love your gift ideas! I'm visiting from Our Simple Farm and will check back often!

    Have a wonderful New Year!

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