Crafting for gifts-2009

mary43

paddington - what's a dust bag for a handbag ? I'm intrigued...........

sian - don't think I'll get around to doing 1/3 of whats on my list............lol
Thinking about doing them and actually doing them is a different thing...........lol:rotfl:

rainmac

I bought myself a nice big A4 notebook to keep all my idea scribblings and to do lists (did have a little handbag size book last year but found it wasn't big enough!). I like the idea of adding poems and stuff to it so I can keep everything in one place - thanks for that tip!

bikerchick1066

mary43 wrote: »

paddington - what's a dust bag for a handbag ? I'm intrigued...........

sian - don't think I'll get around to doing 1/3 of whats on my list............lol
Thinking about doing them and actually doing them is a different thing...........lol:rotfl:

Mary, if you buy a posh handbag, they put it in little cloth drawstring bag to keep it clean. They look like the bags we used to keep our PE kit in at junior school!

They would be fairly easy to make even without a sewing machine.

I have a couple for my best handbags, so when I get them out of the wardrobe, I don't have to dust them off!

paddingtondoo

thanks for answering bikerchick - OH has just turned out some of his old shirts so am going to recycle these.

You could also use them as gift bags if you have any spare fabric laying around - was going to do this at xmas but ran out of time - surprise surprise!

Will have to do it this year as I didn't get any gift bags that I can recycle and have used my stash :rotfl:.

Sian_the_Green

Manson666 (scary name btw!), come on in and grab a comfy chair, you'll soon be a craft expert along with the rest of us (lol)
Rainmac, I am honoured to have you amongst us, you really helped me with my journal jars which went down so well over Christmas, glad you're here
Everyone else, hi! Keep the ideas coming

Popkins

Hello peeps - I'd also like to join you please! I have been making cards for a while and then did loads of hampers at xmas and made some door hangers & door name plates plus made my own chutney and chocolate truffles. Really addicted to these forums LOL!! Loving all the ideas and my brain is a full of things I'd like to do but prob wont get round to doing them all! Would really like to get into doing scrapbooking - might do a couple of 'mini' ones to start with - any tips anyone?

mary43

bikerchick - thanks for the dust bag info...........don't have any 'posh' bags though

sian

So what is the craft gift you have made that has received the best reception from people?

Not sure what was best received.........one son said I was a 'nutter'.....(in the nicest possible way I'm sure)and thought all the stuff I'd done for baby grandsons christmas eve box was lovely, the other one was thrilled with everything and couldn't believe I'd made the little flannel cake for his girlfriend, or the shoe fresheners for him..........door hanger went down well too. My best friend said the best thing I gave her was the 'journal jar' -only I didn't have a jar so I used a pretty floral biscuit tin & covered a cheap tesco notebook. It'll prompt her into writing down a bit of family history for her grandchildren

rainmac - sounds like you're very organised. I shoved all my bits of paper into a folder, looked through them yesterday and think I'll put them into plastic sleeves and in a thin (ish) folder so I can see at a glance what I've got. A lot of the verses I printed out twice so I could use them again

nozzy6

Hi I'd like to join too please!

So far I have a ton of stuff I'd like to make but not much time and not much skill either! Have done a bit of jewellery making, bit of knitting and am about to get cracking with my mums old sewing machine - tend to jump from one thing to another lol

Nelmer

Anglea wrote: »

Hi Nelmer, this is also my first post. I don't know what sorts of crafts you enjoy doing but here are some suggestions for your bag -

1. Lots of people I know make quilted bags
2. Get a plain cotton bag then decorate -embroider, applique, whatever.
3. I got a cheap bag from a pound shop, it was very nice thick material and lined with handles. Then I crocheted a cover for it and it looks as though I 've made the whole thing.
4. Get a length of fabric double the size of the bag you want. Fold it and sew the ends into wooden handles from the craft shop (or charity shop). Sew up the sides. Line it if necessary.

Angela, thank you so much....now, which one........;)

Anglea

Sian_the_Green wrote: »

So what is the craft gift you have made that has received the best reception from people?

I think for me it is anything I make for my Mum as she is insanely proud of me (it's lovely ). I made her a minibook for her birthday with things she liked in and pictures of her and some sweet quotes, she carries it around in her handbag now, lol

I think the item that got the best reception was something I was very embarassed about and didn't even like! Someone I knew asked for hand made items to take with them to the homeless in India and asked for a number of different things. I made some blankets which I really like but also this multi-coloured crocheted vest.

I nearly died with shame when it was put up on a wall for display.