crafty for christmas 2008

Mappygirl

I've been thinking about my SIL and brother's gift for xmas. I think their hampers will include
Flavoured oil/vinegar
cheese biscuits (HM)
Tomato chutney (HM)
decorated photo frame
and this http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11355

Hope the link works!

I'm planning on doing a decorated diary for my mom and a photo calender, also one for MIL to.

DH is always the hardest to buy for - he's not really into HM gifts. I might print him some vouchers but I'm not sure what else to do!

sammy_kaye18

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Anywho - im wanting to make a nice lap blanket for my grandad so does anyone have any idea how to make a nice blanket - im thinking knitting is easier than crocheting but in honesty i have never really done any of these and if i manage to knit squares - how the hell do i join them all together??

Well I have figure out how i do it now - my mother in law pointed out that if you kept some basic thread back of the colour you had just stitched then you could easily just sew them all together. - duh! who would have thought it was that simple :rolleyes: Am thinking i could then make a couple of them.

A large blue/white one for my grandad.
A small pink one for my young niece. (1 year in september)
A medium pink one for my other niece (3 in November)
A green one for my living room (bet bf although saying he hates blankets/fleeces will undoubtably claim as his and snuggly under)

couple of short foot warmers to go over the bottom of the bed for both boys and us.

Also am thinking with any stray bits of material a nice new scarf for my son may be in order or he can use them to make pompoms for the corners of my baby nieces' blankets or a nice multicoloured winter jumper for muttley! (aka Bruno)

:rotfl:

sammy_kaye18

ooohhhh :T :T :T :T :T yey mappy

I have been looking for somethign nice for my little son to make for christmas and our family love smellies like that - think i might get him to make some of these with lavender in - all my family love lavender and they can be hidden in teh bottom of baskets to make them smell nice.

:T

melissa75_2

Hello everyone I am after a bit of advice. Firstly I wanted to decorate the boxes for putting my greeting cards in with a word made out of chipboard letters. I don't know whether to put for my mum "mum", "Julie", or something like "flowers". I want her to keep it after she has used the cards so I am thinking maybe "flowers" or something like that would be better.
Then on a whim I bought some calendar papers, address papers to go inside the decorated diary/address books. I got them from www.croptilyoudrop.co.uk they were meant to be £2.99 a set but I got them for 75p. They are sarabinders papers and are designed to go in a sarabinder special binder. Trouble is these binders are really dear - about £8 each - much too expensive for me. But the papers have 6 holes in them and I can't seem to find any blank chipboard covers with 6 holes. So I didn't know whether to but a cheap photo album with a 6 ring binding, remove the photo sleeves and bung my pages in. The only other thing I can think of doing is using cardboard as the cover the problems being making the holes and that there will be no spine! AAAAhhhh I only bought the pages because they were such a great deal, has anyone any ideas???

mary43

melissa - can you trim off the part of the pages with the holes in and slip them into a photo album or maybe a ring binder inside plastic sleeves ?
I think thats what I'd do.I'm sure you can decorate either of these so they look really special.

I was thinking about making a selection of greetings cards for MIL as she's housebound and always has a problem when birthdays crop up but she's got the addresses she needs so I'll just use a box I've had notelets in and re-vamp that -maybe cover the box or something and add a little pocket with some stamps

melissa75_2

Mary - great idea to trim them. I'll see what they look like when they arrive - damn my impulsiveness!!! Great idea to put the stamps in with the card box! I thought a card box would be helpful for those who often don't get out. An occasion always pops up, either out of the blue or because you've forgotten an event when you need a card = "card box" to the rescue!

soblivion

Hi everyone, fantastic ideas, great to see what everybodies up to.
mrsmcawber - great little soldier, loving him!

sammy_kaye, am guessing you are wanting to knit or crochet - google joining knit/crochet squares, I'm sure you'll find loads of how to's. GL with it. For anyone who can't knit/crochet how about no sew fleece blankets, I've seen fleece blankets in Ikea very cheaply but it just adds a little bit of a handmade gift to it.
http://users.pld.com/rbriggs/blanket.htm
http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/homelife/ideas/pom-jan03.htm
Here's 2 above but google and you'll find many. Dont forget a nice scarf could be made the same way and a hat by just a simple tight running stitch up the side and using the fringing tied at the top or adding a pom pom. Anyway, just an idea, I hope it helps someone.

I'm making some gazing balls and plinths at the moment, money saving probably on the real thing??? but time consuming and not easy - shame really because they would make great presents for Christmas, Mother's day and maybe Easter I think but something I'm not making anymore than 2 of

MRSMCAWBER

ooooohhhh Soblivion...

What are "gazing balls?".... thats something i haven't heard of
really wish i could crochet...everyone says its easier than knitting but i just can't get my head around it.. I can pattern when im knitting but the good old crochet total baffles me

right im back off again..im now making a snowman to go on the tree :rotfl:

sethsgran

Likewise what are "gazing balls" I am intrigued.
I love the fleece blankets and have made lots in the past. I often put Ikea fleece on one side and then a patterned one on the other. Whilst on holiday in America this year I bought some fabulous fleece to ake a blanket for the settee for during christmas, will probably use it throughout December. They are so quick to make.

mary43

I just googled about 'how to make gazing balls'............link below

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/homemade-gifts/gazing-ball.shtml

Have a look at the list on the right hand side and there a great (and very cheap) pressie to make...................stick a garden glove on the end of a broom handle and its useful for getting cobwebs down..................I think thats a brilliant idea............might do that for a few friends I know.....................lol
Looks like a good side for cheap and fun stuff to make.