handmade gifts for christmas and celebrations 2011

cuddles123

Thanks Mary and Betterlife.

I've just finished knitting Wrist Warmers as gifts.
Great idea for anyone who can knit, and you can use up scraps.

I have also used them as a way to learn how to cable

mary-op

cuddles - they're brilliant !!:T
My fingers aren't that nimble anymore but I had thought of dismantling an old cardigan I've got thats washed a bit ''thick''. Saw on a ''recycling'' site somewhere how to make mittens/wrist warmers just drawing round the hand and then stitching them up. I'd have to do them by hand but maybe running stitch round them and then blanket stitch for 'effect' would look ok. I'll have to delve into my wardrobe to find it.

betterlife

cuddles i love the gloves, there the height of fashion this winter in all the clothes retailers, (i like the ones that go up your arm more and have dangly pompoms on)

esmer

Only just noticed that there is this thread as well - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2943918 we are all doing the same stuff, wonder if it would be worth getting them merged?

mary-op

esmer - good idea that I think.......otherwise it'll get confusing to say the least...............lol:rotfl:

betterlife

esmer wrote: »

Only just noticed that there is this thread as well - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2943918 we are all doing the same stuff, wonder if it would be worth getting them merged?

esmer, this thread is just for handmade stuff though the other thread is on about bought stuff, if any of you followed the handmade xmas thread last year, it was nice to have a thread just for us crafters to share ideas, and post pictures of our makes, i dont no what everyone else thinks but the chat on this thread is going fast already, if you merge with the other thread i think we may start to all get a bit lost :eek: just a thought

wammy77

Laura_D wrote: »

Wammy77 I didn't even know art clay existed - it's amazing. How much clay would you need to make the keyring? I just been hunting it down and it looks like about £10 for 7 grams. Is that expensive and how much would it make.

Hi Laura

This keyring was made using a 7g bag @ £10, 3 heavy jumps @ £1.25 and splitring @ £7.80 = £20.30.

I used to use PMC (Precious Metal Clay) as the PMC3 was great to work with and didn't dry out too quickly, however it's almost doubled in price recently from £11 for 9g bag to £18.50 for 9g bag :eek:

I now use Artclay as it's cheaper at around £10 for 7g bag - you can get it from Cookson Gold (they are the best supplier for most jewellery making supplies in my opinion). Try to get the one which is slow dry as it's easier to work with especially if you're new to it

The clay comes wrapped and bagged. It's basically like regular clay - the more you work it, the drier it becomes, so you get it out only when you're ready to do the project!

It can be cut with a cookie cutter or knife just like regular clay so is really flexible, you can press designs into it, little gems into it, ceramics can be fired into it too. It's how you make the fingerprint charms which are really fashionable right now.

youngoldlady

Ddraig wrote: »

Some ladies know me on here.But it matters not.You will by end of the year.Im shifting you all along one to make room for me.Im cheeky like that hehe.
I want to make sock monkies and at least one quilt this year.I am an unorganised mess as per.Stuff all over the place and no time to read flylady lol.
Oh well if I make some stuff and sell some stuff,il have room.I think,lol.
Good luck for the start of this challenge my friends.

Good luck to you too Ddraig! I don't think we've "met" yet, but I have to admit you sound a lot of fun!

Laura_D wrote: »

... Although I'm rubbish at the crafting this thread is like my naughty pleasure - I love it and all of the wonderful things you make. This year I'm hoping I can get going early and then theres no stoping me :j:j

Sylphraven the presents you've made sounds fabulous. I'm sure people did appreciate them and if not I can give them my address for them to forward on.

My favourite presents this year were a beautiful crocheted blanket by my mum (it was supposed to be a wedding present bless her at least I got it in the same year- I'm very proud of her) and my sister made me a beautiful little cake stand by drilling some plates and using one of the kits I've seen on ebay. Its adorable. Homemade presents are the best by far - I love that someone has invested the time in something for me. Unfortunately I didn't get round to making the homemade presents I wanted to, although one of our mums elderly neighbours did get a jar of my other halfs homemade chutney which is truely fabulous and she'd commented on earlier in the year so I assume she liked it - I'll photo the blanket and cake stand for my blog later.

Betterlife/ Wammy77 I saw these amazing piccys for a fairy party on celebrations at home http://www.celebrationsathomeblog.com/2010/07/enchanted-fairy-party.html



And there are loads more piccys there as well. I don't have any kiddies but may have to do a fairy party for my god daughter - just because they look so fab.

Wammy77 That key ring is amazing. How did you make it?

OMG I've just been looking through all of your blogs they are fabulous. I'm following all of you and looking forward to seeing what brilliant ideas I can steal in the coming year. Although I need to learn the art of doing instead of just reading!!

I've started up a new blog this year in an attempt to be slightly tidier last years will stay put as it links to all of my favourite other crafty blogs. But from now on I will be posting on a new one.

Heres to another year of craft parties (two last year - my birthday and a Christmas one), attempting to make homemade presents and if not telling my mum what lovely things I've seen so that she very nicely makes them for me

Laura your presents sound gorgeous!! And your mum sounds lovely!

emay wrote: »

thanks everyone for the replies.

At the minute I'm not sure of tin sizes as neighbours kindly flooded our kitchen on xmas eve so everything is in boxes everywhere at the minute , but it is a square tin and one of the nice links someone posted said about cutting into quarters so may just do that.

Emay that is such a shame! :eek: Sending you hugs and I hope you can get back to normal soon x

Laura_D_3

wammy77 wrote: »

Hi Laura

This keyring was made using a 7g bag @ £10, 3 heavy jumps @ £1.25 and splitring @ £7.80 = £20.30.

I used to use PMC (Precious Metal Clay) as the PMC3 was great to work with and didn't dry out too quickly, however it's almost doubled in price recently from £11 for 9g bag to £18.50 for 9g bag :eek:

I now use Artclay as it's cheaper at around £10 for 7g bag - you can get it from Cookson Gold (they are the best supplier for most jewellery making supplies in my opinion). Try to get the one which is slow dry as it's easier to work with especially if you're new to it

The clay comes wrapped and bagged. It's basically like regular clay - the more you work it, the drier it becomes, so you get it out only when you're ready to do the project!

It can be cut with a cookie cutter or knife just like regular clay so is really flexible, you can press designs into it, little gems into it, ceramics can be fired into it too. It's how you make the fingerprint charms which are really fashionable right now.

Thanks Wammy77 I shall definately be giving that a go in the next month - I'm thinking a lovely valentines day keyring may be the order of the day. Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it

Youngoldlady - I am very lucky to have such a lovely mum. Aged 30 and I still pop round for lunch with mum and dad everyday - so spolit my dad even makes my lunch whilst me and my mum gossip :rotfl:

wammy77

Laura_D wrote: »

Thanks Wammy77 I shall definately be giving that a go in the next month - I'm thinking a lovely valentines day keyring may be the order of the day. Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it

Just had a thought - for valentines day you could make a silver kisse made wih a stamp of your lips (use a photopolymer plate to create stamp) or silver 'love heart' sweets on a keyring or cufflinks - you can press into the clay without making a stamp

I made a handmade card a couple of years ago with 3 of the love heart sweets on and looked so cute!