Crafting for Christmas 2009, let's begin again.......

sammy_kaye18

I did a cooking hamper for my dad the year before last

he has

a magnetic spice rack, herbs to grow, a suaces book, a jamie oliver flavour shaker, a salad dressing book and an apron, oven gloves - if the man is a cook or you could make it more BBQ themed.

Another one im doign this year is a cuddle hamper for most of my family to include

PJS
Slippers
Bed socks
mug with hot chocolate
shortbread
blanket
maybe a DVD

etc something similar if it would be appreciated.

Do they have any hobbies? like my nephew loves to read so a reading hamper for him would go down well.

Sian_the_Green

Hi Coxy and Nicky Noo,

Some great ideas from you both and good to have you along for the ride!

Coxy we have had a few chats on the craft threads about ungrateful recipients, I hope your SIL realises the effort you went to and puts the cross stitch up, then everyone who comes to the house will be able to see and admire your work too!

Nicky noo I like the idea of the sock monkey to stick to the window! I am going to have mine with velcro on the bum to sit on the dashboard without sliding off but that is a great idea for someone who is car mad.
For men's gifts it depends on the man I think, sammy kaye is right about cooking ones being a good idea, you know they will be used too. What about a movie hamper with a favourite film on DVD, a themed hamper around the colours of a favourite football or rugby team? I did a 'cheerfulness' hamper for my dad as he is a bit of a grumpy old man sometimes with cheery themed things. I know that Rusty ( I think) did a great Top Gear themed one for her hubby. If you give us some more details we can have a think for you

Sian_the_Green

(on the more creative front rather than hamper front you could look at journal jars, facts in a jar, making a jigsaw of a favourite picture, a no sew blanket for use when watching tv etc, a mini scrapbook... I would highly recommend reading this thread through from the start and even last years crafty Christmas thread if you have the time!

mary43

Angela - not sure if this helps with the empty bottle but last year I got some cheap tescos bubble bath and decanted it into OH's wine bottles (his idea.....lol) and printed out some bathroom images from the internet to put on as labels. I did have the corks -OH loves his wine, not sure if the corks from his bottles would be any good to you but let me know if they are. They're about 3/4" across the top.

OH was dreaming about jars last night.........lol All sorts of different sizes and shapes..............oh, I wish..........:rotfl:

Made a snow person this morning......empty narrow maltezer tube is now covered with white felt, red ribbon diagonally across it, goggle eyes on, black felt nose and I've done a smile mouth ........just need to concoct some sort of hat affair now.........I think one of those stick on christmas parcel ribbons might do. Took all morning..............lol (I am soooooooooo slow.......)

crazychatter

Yay! Christmas planning time!
I was lying in bed for ages last night trying to think of an alternative to flannel reindeers, I like the cracker idea but would love to do something like an angel...
I did come up with an idea of a christmas pudding so I'll have a play and see if it works like it did in my head- it probably wont! lol!

The vinyl bowls went down really well so I'm going to do a few more of those, they made a good base for hampers too.

I did hope to have learnt to knit for this year but i must admit to having given up- i just can't get the hang of it!

The snowperson sounds great Mary, you have so many great ideas!!

Sian_the_Green

Ooh, vinyl bowls, I need to do two of them.
I bought the records from a charity shop for 2 for 50p (there was a massive variety to the prices in different shops) and chose Englebert Humperdink's greatest hits and the Sound of Music as I thought they would add an ironic twist to a cool friend's house.
Might have to make them tonight... Any tips?

mary43

crazychatter - love the sound of angel or xmas pudding.............can't wait............lol :rotfl:

sian - vynyl bowls - been so many years (more than I care to remember) since I did any of those..........All I know is that you put them in warm water and bend them around the shape you want (I think !) - or do you already know that ? Apologies if you do...............:j

crazychatter

Sian- I put the vinyls on top of a glass tumbler in the oven at a mid heat, waited a few mins and the bowl goes a bit shiny and floppy then you can take it out and bend it over a bowl or shape it using your hands.
If you want to do more than one i found it was really easy, just do one you like then place the next hot floppy one inside it and it straightaway moulds to the same shape and cools pretty fast but doesnt stick to the original.
I was shocked at how much people liked them considering how cheap and fast they are to do!

After ages googleing I'v found a angel design that could be made out of flannels:
http://crafterscommunity.com/crafts/miscellaneous-towel-crafts-54/dishtowel-angel-221/

will try it this weekend, see if it looks any good- still not as cute as the reindeer though....

oo oo just found this
http://www.geocities.com/ryvalry/washclothdog2.JPG
the text is small but I'll try to decifer it tomorrow!

crazychatter

oo Angela, how about this with your jars, I think they'd look really cute outside or on a windowsil
http://www.craftathome.com/Instructional/hangingjarlantern.html

sammy_kaye18

Oh Vinyl bowls sound sort of funky - wonder if i can find some old motorhead ones to make some for my dad and his wife - although think he might think me slightly sadistic for doing that to a motorhead record! :eek:

Mary could you use flannels to make this?? (look for the does anyone know how i can make flannel cakes thread)http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=622943&highlight=flannel+cakes

Was also thinking for you angel could you not do somethgin similiar to this??

you could get a ping pong ball - out the flannel over and secure it with a small elastic band or hair bobble under the ball to make a seperate head, and then decorate with other bits and pieces.