Ideas for Hand Made Gifts Please (Not Food)

sammy_kaye18

I know this is somethign a bit out there but for the grandparents - do you have children?? Last year when money was tight a got come little blank canvases (3 for £1 in poundland) and got Ben (then aged 2) to put his hand on them in the corner whilst i drew round it. Then i put glue on it and sprinkled glitter over the top to leave a glittered handprint. Then i looked through the internet nad found a handprint poem and neatly wrote this on the rest of the canvas - my dad, mum and bfs mum absolutely loved it and they have a precious reminder of how little he was when he wrote it. mgiht be work a think

C_J

Does the 13 year old girl use hair straighteners? You could make a heat resistant bag to put the hot straighteners (or tongs, or whatever) in - cut an oblong of your chosen fabric (I've made them with remnants of Cath Kidston material before, but Ikea have some good fabric too) which would be large enough to accommodate the item, then lay a piece of heat resistant fabric on top, fold in half and sew into a small bag then turn it inside out so that the metallicised cloth lines the inside of the bag. Neaten the top edges by slip-stitching or adding bias binding. Finish by adding a press stud or other form of closure.

The easiest way to get metallic/heat resistant fabric is to buy a cheap reflective ironing board cover, and cut that up - you can make several out of it so it's very cost-effective.

Sallys_Savings

C_J wrote: »

Does the 13 year old girl use hair straighteners? You could make a heat resistant bag to put the hot straighteners (or tongs, or whatever) in - cut an oblong of your chosen fabric (I've made them with remnants of Cath Kidston material before, but Ikea have some good fabric too) which would be large enough to accommodate the item, then lay a piece of heat resistant fabric on top, fold in half and sew into a small bag then turn it inside out so that the metallicised cloth lines the inside of the bag. Neaten the top edges by slip-stitching or adding bias binding. Finish by adding a press stud or other form of closure.

The easiest way to get metallic/heat resistant fabric is to buy a cheap reflective ironing board cover, and cut that up - you can make several out of it so it's very cost-effective.

I've been meaning to make these for my daughters for ages, but couldnt figure out where to buy heat reistant fabric....didnt think to buy an ironing board cover. Thank you.

earthmother

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

I know this is somethign a bit out there but for the grandparents - do you have children?? Last year when money was tight a got come little blank canvases (3 for £1 in poundland) and got Ben (then aged 2) to put his hand on them in the corner whilst i drew round it. Then i put glue on it and sprinkled glitter over the top to leave a glittered handprint. Then i looked through the internet nad found a handprint poem and neatly wrote this on the rest of the canvas - my dad, mum and bfs mum absolutely loved it and they have a precious reminder of how little he was when he wrote it. mgiht be work a think

Just wanted to say thanks for this suggestion - I was trying to think of something my 19 month old could join in with, and this works perfectly.

Just spent the last half hour Googling handprint poems - not something you should do if hormonal, lol

mollymunchkin

If you're handy with a sewing machine you could make:

Grandparents: tea cosy/apron/draught excluder/doorstop/pot holder/knitting bag/wheat bag/hot water bottle cover
Teen girl: wall pocket organiser/handbag/cushion cover (could also applique her name on)
Teen boy: I dunno!

HTH

moneysavingmumofone

earthmother wrote: »

Just wanted to say thanks for this suggestion - I was trying to think of something my 19 month old could join in with, and this works perfectly.

Just spent the last half hour Googling handprint poems - not something you should do if hormonal, lol

This one is just so short and sweet
This is the hand
You used to hold
When I was only
__ years old.

earthmother

An idea for another craft - hand-made notelets - came across it searching for potato stamp ideas.

They look very effective for comparably little work or cost

http://www.etches-johnson.com/?page_id=1658

CandyB101_2

Hi,

I have just come across this website and thought that the idea maybe of use to someone, putting together a golfing hamper or present.
Maybe even something for the kids to get involved with ..... painting it!

http://pointlessbutcool.com/gadgets/camouflage_golf_balls

Lillibet_2

For the girl, home made silver jewellery, it isn't expensive & is fairly easy, you can butcher old unwanted/charity shop jewellery if you get lucky, or buy new from one of the many jewellery sites or ebay. Or a denim bag made from the top of an old pair of jeans.

For the boy,. how about a scarf knitted in his teams colours? If you can't knit then a scarf is the ideal thing to learn on as it's really simple, just get someone who can knit to show you teh very simple basics & your off.

Other HM presents I am doing this year include lots of beaded jewellery which is the easiest type of jewellery-making IMHO, jewellery holders (coloured mini wooden manaquins), a painting (I am not at all artistc, even my stick men look like deformed vegtables, so it's a case of tracing an outline & then filling the gaps!) or go for modern art : bold sunny colours in straight lines can be called "sunrise", blues & whites "moonscape" etc!, painted storage jars (I bought plain white ones, got my son to finger paint them & have sprayed on a non-heat glaze, total cost about £10 for 3) which I will fill with specality tea-bags/HM nut brittle/HM bouquet garni.

HTH;)

sethsgran

One of my favourites is "Primitive Stitchery" Do a google search and you will find tons of patterns some for free.
http://www.memesquilts.com/memeindex2.htm scroll to find stitchery patterns

My favourite site check out away in a manger pattern http://www.plumcreekcollectibles.com/index2.html

I love this site some are religious but not all and you can adapt the ideas to suit you this is one simple pattern to get started....
http://www.livewellstitches.com/livelaugh.html

http://www.sonshineseedco.com/free.htm
http://www.homeberries.com/NewHomeberries/FreePatterns/PrimitiveNursery/APrimitiveNusery.html
http://www.homeberries.com/NewHomeberries/FreePatterns/Primwinter/Primwinterpg.html
http://www.homeberries.com/NewHomeberries/FreePatterns/nfreepatternhome.html

I find it best to buy a frame then do my sewing according to that size, or get OH to make some Prim frames. Ikea have some plain frames that I paint and then mount my work in.

PM me if you have any questions.