Christmas 2014...Savings & Handmade gifts

ALou19

Some fab ideas going on here!

Found a jewel of a pin the other day.. DIY Personalized Ipad cover!

http://uk.pinterest.com/pin/113575221828226312/

However the cover that is used in the blog is like $20 so I'm on a mission to find it cheaper as this would be perfect for my sister!

blabla24

That looks so nicely personalised ALou19.

I was thinking of giving a bit more life to some simple Christmas baubles this year and I would like to use that kind of popping out type of paint you find sometimes on ceramics. Does anyone know how that type of paint is called? I'm thinking it should come in a paint pen kind of thing but had no luck with my online searches today...

VintageBelle

blabla24 wrote: »

I was thinking of giving a bit more life to some simple Christmas baubles this year and I would like to use that kind of popping out type of paint you find sometimes on ceramics. Does anyone know how that type of paint is called? I'm thinking it should come in a paint pen kind of thing but had no luck with my online searches today...

I've never used any myself and only seen it used by cardmakers but would embossing powder work I wonder?

blabla24

That sounds like it should work after I watched some tutorials. It would have never crossed my mind that was powder. I thought it was like an inverse effect of embossing. Thank you very much VintageBelle

crystal_fire

Thanks Islandmaid I'll have a look into that option this week but if I can't find anything I have found some decent looking ones on eBay thanks for the suggestion 04624181. :T

boredjellybean

thanks for your replies - I think I will actually make a charity donation on their behalf, probably by some school meals etc via Oxfam, having thought about it as I don't think they'll actually appreciate any effort I'd go to it seems the best option

Now with that weight lifted from my shoulders I can concentrate on the rest of the presents - aiming to make as much as possible again this year & I've already started crocheting to make cushions

minimacka

crystal_fire wrote: »

First of all Congrats to you Islandmaid on your wedding :T

Secondly I've been scoping out Pinterest and found this...

http://www.honeybearlane.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/1d12999fe82e0411b1bc778c9efd0f70.jpg

I'd love to have Go at it but I can't find any instructions!
(I know it looks basic but no measurements etc) it's pinned as a gift to make in advance but all links take you to a shop on etsy!
Any ideas or just wing it!?

I made 4 of these using the kits from ebay, I think I got 5 boards and all of the hearts I needed for less than £20, I painted the hearts and boards the colour I wanted. For the names and birthdays I used avery clear stickers and printed the names and dates on the stickers peeled them off and cut round them and put them on the hearts I then varnished the hearts so that you couldn't see the sticker. I used silver rings to attach the hearts to each other again on ebay they are £1's for 100's. They looked really good and the people who I game them to loved them. I don't have a picture of them but they did turn out really good. When I painted the hearts I used a box and pinned the hearts so that they hung just off the box to dry. Have a google of the kits and have a go they do look really good.

crystal_fire

minimacka wrote: »

I made 4 of these using the kits from ebay, I think I got 5 boards and all of the hearts I needed for less than £20, I painted the hearts and boards the colour I wanted. For the names and birthdays I used avery clear stickers and printed the names and dates on the stickers peeled them off and cut round them and put them on the hearts I then varnished the hearts so that you couldn't see the sticker. I used silver rings to attach the hearts to each other again on ebay they are £1's for 100's. They looked really good and the people who I game them to loved them. I don't have a picture of them but they did turn out really good. When I painted the hearts I used a box and pinned the hearts so that they hung just off the box to dry. Have a google of the kits and have a go they do look really good.

YaaaY Good stuff :T what kind of paint is best to use? ( did your kits come from Poland by any chance? ) the stickers sound like a good idea too.

Stephb1986_2

Does anyone know where I can get clear baubles from, ones that fill from the top not slot together if that makes sense?

Thank you

Steph xx

minimacka

crystal_fire wrote: »

YaaaY Good stuff :T what kind of paint is best to use? ( did your kits come from Poland by any chance? ) the stickers sound like a good idea too.

Yes they did and they were good quality, if you wanted to you could just varnish them, they had a lovely darker wood colour around the hearts. I used a tester pot to paint them because you use such a little amount and then varnished them after I put the stickers on. Don't forget if you do it make a chart of the birthdays so that you get the hearts right because some have 1 hole and some 2 (top and bottom) I didn't want to get confused so I did a drawing off all the birthdays and then counted up how many of each heart I needed. Have a go they do look lovely and are so expensive to buy to not so much to do yourself.


I used the stickers because I thought my handwriting looked awful lol if you have neat handwriting then hand write them. I also hung little silver charms from some of the months to even it out and if I didn't have a birthday that month, for eg I hung a Christmas charm on December and a heart on February. They also don't cost very much from ebay