crafty for christmas 2008

naturally_2

rainmac those look brilliant, thank you! How would you cover the pages - ok so coloured & pattered paper etc but what would you do about around the edges if you know what I mean?

SO many of my friends and family will be getting crafty presents this year thanks to this thread. Hopefully very ££££ saving, too!

I was thinking of doing sock monkeys that are specific to the recipient's interests. So one with a hard hat on for a builder, holding a laptop for an IT engineer or a backpack for someone who enjoys travelling. My dad whose birthday it is at the end of August will hopefully be getting one wearing a knitted cricket jumper from a dolls pattern, so long as I can persuade my mum to knit it because I can't knit! :rolleyes:

Does anyone know of a source of little items & accessories for dolls/toys and dolls houses?

Steel_2

Had an idea last week for some more crafty presents - sorry if it's been mentioned before as I haven't read every post yet.

I found a great patchwork shop in Northamptonshire which stocked little kits of fabric for making things like table runners and cushions etc all for less than £10 each. But instead of making those items, so I'm going to turn each kit into different kind of bags.

I bought three kits, two for £7.50 and one for £10, and there is loads of material in there, enough to do bags with some left over. I have a book on making bags and going through it I think I'll probably do a couple of tote bags and handbag and these will be main presents for people.

I started practicing at the weekend with some fabric I had lying around and managed to knock up a decent lined handbag in about 4 hours. I just have to sew the strap on securely (if I can get my sewing machine to stop jamming) and find a button so I can do a closure on it and it is done.

she_grinch

As a cheap and funky draught excluder for kids or teenagers bedrooms simply stuff one of those long over the knee stripey socks they sell on the market stalls for a couple of pounds and either stitch or tie the open end, a great selection of colours and patterns e.g. skulls! means even the most non conformist teenagers should find something to appeal to their taste!! and not much sewing involved for those less crafty. As a gift to a child add ears and googly eyes and perhaps for a teenage girl or girly adult add a garter or sequins,for a lad, possibly an old trainer on a football sock?

Steel_2

naturally wrote: »

I was thinking of doing sock monkeys that are specific to the recipient's interests. So one with a hard hat on for a builder, holding a laptop for an IT engineer or a backpack for someone who enjoys travelling. My dad whose birthday it is at the end of August will hopefully be getting one wearing a knitted cricket jumper from a dolls pattern, so long as I can persuade my mum to knit it because I can't knit! :rolleyes:

There's a book called Sock and Glove, Creating Charming Soft friends from Cast Off socks and Gloves by Miyako Kanamori which shows you how to make toys with just basic sewing skills and a bit of wadding.

I'm going to do a couple this year for Christmas baskets

Steel_2

I found this site at the weekend for any knitters out there. Loads of free patterns if you scroll down to where it says crystal palace yarns and look to the links on the right. Although they are for one sort of wool only, I'm sure you can switch and use other brands.

RustyFlange

Skintslimmer wrote: »

This could be MSE friendly if you had lots of smaller bottles to give a selection of all 5 out??

(excuse the language, its a bit rough around the edges)

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/msbrackenridge/entry/the_something_random/

Thats my sister partially sorted for christmas ... although I am thinking of finding cheaper vodka maybe in home bargains ... don't want to spend too much on doing this but will happily do it if that makes sense.

naturally_2

Rustyflange, I was thinking that if you could find a set of 5 small bottles you could do it with just the one or two bottles of vodka.

Maybe those nice glass bottles with screw top lids that some individual bottles of soft drink (the natural and good for you type) come in?

Alternatively I think the site said you can put all the colours into one, which goes a deep purpley colour.

RustyFlange

naturally wrote: »

Rustyflange, I was thinking that if you could find a set of 5 small bottles you could do it with just the one or two bottles of vodka.

Maybe those nice glass bottles with screw top lids that some individual bottles of soft drink (the natural and good for you type) come in?

Alternatively I think the site said you can put all the colours into one, which goes a deep purpley colour.

Hi Thanks for your reply ... I came to the conclusion I could even use the miniature bottles although not sure how it would work but could possibly work well .... failing that I could buy a big bottle and as you said use some cheaper smaller glass bottles ... now I just need to find some would rather not put all colours into one to be honest as they look colourful with single colours and also means I use more room in the basket

craftygranny

Oh no rainmac that's done it now showing melissa where to buy some you know she'll have to go and get some. How do i know cos i'm going to have to cos i love k & co too and when you see some you can't resist. lol

trisha x

glendam

My first grandchild is due 27th November(will not get to know sex).
I usually make Christmas hamper for my son and DIL so would like to do a hamper for the baby. I may give them it when the baby is born or before.
Just wondering what sort of things to include its along time since I have been around babies and was wondering what things you could not do without.
Love this thread have just spent 2 hours reading but I have the decorators in the hall so getting out of this room is difficult.

TIA
Glenda