LOW COST homemade christmas gifts

Savvy_sewing

I think I need to go back to the beginning and start to plan for 2016. Doing a little bit each week as then I think that I will save a fortune. I might even have some extra stock to sell in my shop side of my business next year.

kingfisherblue

Mooloo wrote: »

I think I need to go back to the beginning and start to plan for 2016. Doing a little bit each week as then I think that I will save a fortune. I might even have some extra stock to sell in my shop side of my business next year.

I've started for next year already - Yankee Candles that were half price at the local garden centre. My sister and my friend are now sorted

From tomorrow, I'm starting my savings plan for next Christmas. Each Monday, I'll put away some cash towards next year.

Savvy_sewing

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I've started for next year already - Yankee Candles that were half price at the local garden centre. My sister and my friend are now sorted

From tomorrow, I'm starting my savings plan for next Christmas. Each Monday, I'll put away some cash towards next year.

I would like to make as many of my presents as I can, or make ones that I can sell to cover the price of those that I need to buy.
Many years ago we did a Sealed Pot Challenge making a money box and putting away for Christmas. Some used to put all their £2 coins away, but I don't seem to get many of those.
I put 10% of my income into savings, although it doesn't seem much it adds up. So Monday's I get £20.70 child benefit and I transfer the £2.07 into savings.
Then I do the same with all income where ever it comes from.

I'm thinking that this year I want to save for Christmas, by making gifts etc out of what ever I already have, and thinking about what I can do with the wastage from my sewing business.
Like denim coasters out of the cut off hems from all those jeans I shorten every week.
Most people take the left overs from curtains etc but not the scrappy bits from trousers etc so I need to think outside the box as to what my scraps could make and then after work use them to make things.
Tall order I know but it may get me thinking.
Rag Wreaths ready to sell next season.
Maybe rag rugs?

PixieDust

Denim scrappy quilt?

MrsCD

If you have lots of different coloured jeans, join the strips along the long sides, then when you have a good length, cut into strips the other way and stagger the colours before sewing up. This will make an easy quilt pattern to use for cushion covers.
You could make draught excluders too.

kingfisherblue

Offcuts of denim could be used to make manicure cases, although you would need to buy the clippers, tweezers, etc (might be cheaper to buy in bulk if making a few cases). You could sell these, or stitch someone's name on those you give as a gift.

You could do the same with pencil cases, or make small shoulder bags. For any children in the family, you could make a book bag and matching pencil case.

Headbands might be another possibility. Maybe braided denim in different shades.

Buy notebooks and cover with denim. Adding a pocket or some appliqu! would make them more attractive. I'm a guider, and one of our girls has given us lovely gifts of denim notebooks with an appliqued owl on the front. The owl is a pocket, and she has added a pen. They are gorgeous!

Denim hearts or stars would use small scraps and small stuffed (flat) shapes would make simple tree ornaments.

You've got me thinking actually. If I get a strip of board and mark accurate measurements, I could make a height chart. I could use oddments of fabric to add cut outs of animals, or possibly make butterflies with wings that are not stuck down. If you wanted to go to the trouble, this would be a great way to use up small bits of denim - your animals could be stitched around the edge in a contrasting colour, and eyes are easy to add. It's the measuring of the markings that would be the pain to do!

I did make a couple of gifts myself this year. One was a sweetie sleigh, but instead of using small candy canes, I used large ones (59p in Home Bargains), with full size chocolate bars.

I also made a notice board. I used a canvas (pack of three for £5 from The Range). I covered it in some fabric that I had in, and added a strip of ribbon in a contrasting colour across the top. I put three mini pegs on the ribbon. At the bottom, I glued three wooden spools. Just above them, I added two wooden hearts covered in blackboard paint. This left a space in the middle, so if any notes were attached to the pegs, they had room to hang without covering anything chalked on the hearts.

I was very pleased with both, and so were the recipients. I'd like to make more notice boards this coming year, as I didn't leave enough time to make more before Christmas.

I made pasta and coffee hampers for relatives - not very expensive, but lovely to look at and hopefully useful for those who receive them. My friend received a butterflies hamper - everything butterfly related. She loved it.

I'm also thinking about a freebies hamper for my mum (it won't be her only present!). If I send off for any freebies such as beauty products, food samples (will have to keep an eye on dates), etc, I'm sure I can make a hamper out of everything.

I'll also re-read this thread from the start and make some notes in a notebook. I'll forget the ideas otherwise! I really need to get down to making mor things again - time to dust off my sewing machine and my craft lamp I think

Savvy_sewing

Lots of great ideas, although the amounts cut from trousers are usually only an inch to two inches wide, but occasionally there is a few shorter people who require rediculous amounts off.
Certainly got me thinking though.
As I have a Mooloos makes section in the shop it's certainly a way of testing the interest of people too.
Although I don't get much time to make while I am at work, it means crafting at home in the evenings as well as seeing during the day.

I make notice boards covering cork ones, or like you cheap canvases.
You can use old picture frames as well. Take out the glass and use wadding to pad the centre. If your really craft minded and you have tools to cut and smooth glass you can turn the glass into coasters and table mats. Painting with enamels or even using sharpies on the reverse.

I can spend hours on Pinterest flicking through ideas. Problem is I need to implement them!!

kingfisherblue

Not homemade, but I've just bought a pile of gifts for next year, including the Christmas presents for my Rainbows, Brownies and Guides! Nottcuts Garden Centre had salt dough ornaments, with space to personalise with names, reduced from £5.99-£9.99 down to 49p each! There were some baby ornaments as well, not specifically for Christmas.

I think I need to update my list already.....

Savvy_sewing

I don't want to spend any money at the moment. I want to try and make my gifts from what ever I have around me. If I can make things from what I have that will sell, then that will be off set to buy things later in the year.
I want 2016 to be a cash neutral one if it is at all possible.
I have just been offered some material from a fellow MSE'r who no longer needs it. So when that arrives it will give me a great start to the year. Along with using up what ever I have at home and in the workshop. It's getting the ideas together and making me create in the evenings instead of procrastinating In front of the tv. ;(

Katiehound

Some of the presents I made this year were shopping bags made from curtains - both the outer and the linings- and since I was given the curtains they cost me zilch! One friend reckoned they were worth about £5! (I am thinking of making and selling some for charity.) People want shopping bags these days as they don't want to waste their money on the plastic carriers now that the tax has come in. Main body was approx 36" x 18"