Homemade Gifts

snowleopard61

Tealover, are 'glittens' those gloves with a little mitten bit that you can turn over the fingers? I always admire them and think how useful they are, although unfortunately they'd be beyond my skill to knit. I did think about knitting chunky long scarves with the ends sewn up to make pockets to put your hands in.

Somewhere, in a magazine I think, I saw commercially made pictures which were simple shapes (e.g. an apple or a heart) made out of buttons stuck on to card and framed. It occurred to me it would be very easy to make these, as long as you could get hold of frames that weren't too expensive - I might try Ikea.

tea_lover

snowleopard61 wrote: »

are 'glittens' those gloves with a little mitten bit that you can turn over the fingers?

They're the ones! I have a couple of bought pairs which I absolutely love (my hands are always cold so these are ideal).

I managed to master making a pair and was so chuffed with myself I kept wearing them even though it was that really hot weekend we had about a month ago... I had them on with my shorts at one point :rotfl:

They were the prototype pair, so am now making what will hopefully turn out to be a half decent pair for my sis.

I love the idea of a scarf with 'glove pockets' at the ends... may steal that idea too!

bohemia

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I recently saw a mail order advert (slightly oddly, from Card Factory who have taken over the vg website Getting Personal) for chocolate 'pizzas', which were £14.99 - I thought this was extortionate, although I realised they were on solid chocolate bases, which would make them very expensive. However, I thought I could make some, using a homemade chocolate biscuit base and using things like grated white chocolate for cheese and glace cherries for tomatoes, and chopped up Flake bars for sausages. Would be a great present from me to my elder daughter's boyfriend (aged 21 and just loves pizza). It also gets over the awkwardness of the fact that his family have far more money than I do, as they don't tend to make anything at home and it would be special. I'll probably make them as an extra present for my two daughters (18 and 20) as well. Does anyone know where I might get something that looks like a pizza box to give them in?

This sounds like an amazing idea and very easy to diy!

I've been thinking about making lip balms and body butters for friends and family. There's lots of tutorials online and all you need is some shea butter, olive oil, maybe cocoa butter and you're well away. Can use old lipsticks to add a bit of colour and essential oils (ones that are safe to apply to skin) for scent. Lip balm pots are available for cheap on ebay.

tea_lover

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Does anyone know where I might get something that looks like a pizza box to give them in?

Bit cheeky I know but could you ask a pizza place? If it's just the one you're after they might take pity on you!

I love this idea, I'm tempted to make one as a gift for myself!

snowleopard61

tea_lover wrote: »

Bit cheeky I know but could you ask a pizza place? If it's just the one you're after they might take pity on you!

I did wonder about that - might try it. Somewhere where the staff are students working part-time who would like the idea and wouldn't be too possessive about the boxes!

MaggieBaking

I've just found this tutorial on home-made terraniums. Not sure what the price for each would be though but doing them in bulk could work out cheap?



http://birdhousefamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/diy-terrarium.html

VJsmum

Re Hampers - I have previously used the lids of A3 sized paper boxes, and covered them in christmas paper, put in shredded paper (out of the shredder ) and covered in cellophane. Baskets can be expensive and the A3 paper box lid seems just the right size.

I plan to do this for dad with some HM chutney, HM Jam and marmalade, a slab of christmas cake, and then some small books, smellies etc. There is so little he wants and i think he'd appreciate that.

ETA you might get the lids from printing places if you don't work in an office.

SDG31000

I'm frantically knitting scarves and fingerless handwarmers to give as Christmas presents and I'm scouring the charity shops for tea cups and saucers to turn into tea cup candles. The ones I've seen online cost £8-12 each :eek:
So far I have 6 cups and saucers and 2 pretty glass bowls for a grand total of £6. The kit I've found online is £25 and it should make 20 of them.
I'll be doing my usual baking as well (Biscuits, flavoured shortbread, truffles etc) and might make some mini christmas cakes. I also have a jar of elderberry vodka maturing under the stairs and another of sloe schnapps. I'll test them on DH to see if he survives and then might add them to the present stash.

This is the handwarmer pattern I'm using if anyone is interested. They are very easy and look a lot more complex than they are.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=260496.0

PixieDust

For pizza boxes, try e-bay. I had a very quick look and found these, although postage seems rather high to me....there must be better offers out there!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Pizza-Postal-Boxes-Pack-25-/190591410511?pt=UK_Packaging_Materials&hash=item2c6022214f

System

chewy62 wrote: »

Great thread! Where wold I go about finding hampers as cheap as possible, or is there something else I could use?

Some great ideas here. I've made up hampers in the past (not with homemade things mind you but with things I've picked up cheap or bought in bulk to make personalised gift sets). I've used the boxes/baskets from proper gifts and wrapped them in paper if I don't like the design or if it's covered in brand names

My birthday's a few months before Christmas so I normally have a nice stash without having to keep them in a cupboard all year!:D