Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

dramarama

Just from reading the posts I've come up with loads more ideas, it's going to be handmade xmas as much as possible this year . It will really help the piggy bank too as I've been hoping to save for a house deposit and due to the nature of my work, I've saved nothing for that!!

Just a couple of thoughts from my scatty brain. I've just been looking on some craft websites etc and was thinking how about chocolate lollies for little or older ones?! Moulds/choc/ sticks should come in under £5 and could make some nice gifts to go in hampers/stockings.

Also...when i was about six...I think the last recession was on. One of our lovely neighbours bought me an AMAZING present, it came in a box that used to hold printer paper, not too deep. The box was decorated with wrapping paper. In the box was LOADS of different types of paper, felt, pipe cleaners, pens & pencils and some funky edged paper scissors. I must have spent hours/years with this box...I loved cutting and sticking ideas onto paper and making things. Just an idea...but I still remember it to this day and am so grateful...much better than any cheap plastic toy:).

mary-op

midnightraven -love the sock monkey :T

Some super ideas coming up on here.......just when I think I've about done it all for my lot I remember I've got a vynl bowl to do, retro sweets in a jar, joke pills for the older grandchildren, and at the minute I'm doing some fabric hearts for christmas decorations. They''re coming out as freebies as the fabric was free samples and the ribbon came out of my jumpers and cardigans (always handy to snip those bits out) :rotfl:

carlamarie_2

chasingsunshine wrote: »

That sounds amazing! how do you do them?!

http://sewcando.blogspot.com/2010/04/diy-treasure-stones-tutorial.html

another poster posted this on another thread. i havent tried it yet but they look great!

midnightraven3

melting chocolate and remolding isnt as easy as it sounds

you need to temper the chocolate or it will loose its lustre, appear dull, and melt at room temp

there is a thread (somewhere) about chocolate slabs
i shall try & find it

they look amazing
and i shall be making some of these this year

midnightraven3

lengthy
but well worth reading

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/638019

Cheapskate

lillyandlolas wrote: »

I have to buy for:

My mum & sons nanna
DH's dad &wife
DH's Mum & hubby
DH's Brother & girlfriend
My cousins x3
MY aunt & uncle
My neice & nephew
My DH's 2 sisters (teen's)
My teen nephew

I really want to make...
Handmade candles, got the supplies just need to get going with it, I've got candle dye in a primitive red and raffia to tie around the candle jar and add a tea stained tag too,

I would love to make pickles, jams and chutneys but have never done so, Is it hard? any tasty recipes for me to try please?

Handcovered journals

Sock monkeys-never made them so would love to see pics of you guys ones. :T

Handmade slippers -Sort of like the babies crib shoes (or ballet shoes) but with soft jersey or muted satins.. if anyone wants a sewing pattern just pm me.

Handmade truffles

Jewellery..

Thinking of making simple patchwork (modern) quilts, I will add the link for the super easy few hour version, if anyone is interested???

However i am soooo stuck for the guys? once i get more ideas from the thread i will no doubt change it, but if anyone needs any sewing patterns please let me know.

I shall go take a good look and get back with more crafty 2010 xmas ideas.

Yes, please, would like to see this! Thanks a lot.

I've always made some things for Christmas, but done a little more each year until recently (got a 3 yr old & baby will be 1 soon!), but hope to do a bit more this year.

Making jam of various sorts, cards & wrap, fruity alcoholic drinks, & some sewn things - yet to be decided, time willing!

Will follow this thread closely - loads of lovely ideas already!

A xo

gingerandrubarb

Hi everyone,
I have eventually decided!

For the special ones -quilts

Teens-handmade slippers and fabric journals and pens.

Lady adults- handmade candles and slippers

Elderly-pickles,jams and relishes and some shortbread in a little cheescloth tied with a ribbon

For the men-a sock monkey and any freebies i can get like aftershaves,razors,chocs etc.. and probably making some fruity cider

children-stuffed monsters,bean bags or rings

babies-taggy blankets, bibs (out of old cereal boxes or magazines these are ace, PM me if you want the pattern) and cloth shoes.

Plus i'll add in little freebies such as perfumes, choc's make up etc.. into each little pressie :j

If anyone wants the patterns for the bean bags, cloth shoes, taggy blankets, adult slippers or bibs just PM me with your email and i will get them pinged along to you :T
______________________________________________________________________________________________

I forgot also the super easy quilting is this... i shall scourge my list of fabby blogs to get the link for you guys but in the mean time..

*place your fabric on the floor (duct taping it is even better) i use cotton or poly cotton.

* Using a rotary cutter cut our your shapes, you can cut all the same size squares, strips or get more intricate using a variety of shapes and sizes in a typical patchwork design.

* Spray glue your cut out shapes onto the cotton that's taped to the floor, until your design is finished.

* For better results do 2 of these and then wonder web them together so you have the design on each side and the 2 sides of cotton on the inside.

*Spray glue your border pieces onto the design (leaving some of the border piece off the actual quilt)

* Do the same for the border on both sides and wonder web or spray glue the border edges together...

*You should now have a quilt... all you need to do now is quilt the actual quilt.

*You can use a sewing machine to do random patterns over the top of the quilt OR handsew a diagonal pattern over the quilts on each side (so it looks like lots of x's going from each corners) *will post a link for this*

*Voila...once you have sewn the design on the top you have officially finished your quilt!!!!!!

How easy is that? Saves so much time with sewing individual pieces...:T

nat21luv

anyone care to divulge how they make jam and the flavoured vodka?! this will be my first year of 'making' and i love the chocolate slab idea! im in! nat xx

midnightraven3

most jams are variations on the same theme
i THINK we have a peserves thread somewhere
fruit/sugar, pan, boil, pot

course its a bit more complicated than that, but not much:rotfl:

the vodka, i made toffee vodka
(i dont drink at all but this is thick & lush, think Baileys consistancy)

bottle of vodka, empty some out
( i used this to make my own vanilla extract in another bottle, thats another story:rotfl:)

i got 4 packs of werther originals (on offer of course)
put em in a bag, bashed them with my rolling pin
fed them into the bottle, really good shake
done

shake everyday till all the sweets have dissolved
pop in the freezer
a week later you have a lush glossy thick flavoured vodka

i did this with humbugs for a minty toffee one, lush in coffee i am told
same method

and for fruity ones use skittles
seperate the colours of it looks like sludge:D
they look so beautiful if you do them individually

jamtart6

I've just re-launched my blog which may/may not be useful to you! http://handmadeheartfelted.blogspot.com/ It is a directory of handmade tutorial links, hoping to put lots of xmas links on in the next few weeks!