crafty for christmas 2008

soblivion

This is one I just finished, I shall put them one each side of my decking when they're finished they're about 4ft high, hadn't seen the small ones before, thanks for the pic mary43

Hope you like to see it, I'm no carpenter so plinth isn't wonderful. Legend says they were used to keep witches out of the garden, they would see their ugly reflections and it would scare them away. DS says it doesn't work well cos I'm still here:p thank you for looking

mary43

Thats lovely................how did you make it ? Were they glass beads on it ?
As for the plinth..........well looks brilliant to me.:j

rainmac

Mappygirl wrote: »

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!

Love the sachets Mappy!:D Brilliant idea, may have to try this one myself if you don't mind! Does anyone know of somewhere cheap for bits of fabric?

rainmac

Wow soblivion, that is truly beautiful. Ho long did it take to make?

soblivion

Hi mary thank you very much, I was lucky because a friend fibreglassed some footballs for me, I have seen them done with just footballs(not sure how they hold up) and old bowling balls too. I painted the fibreglass with whethershield white paint then stuck on the glass beads(glass vase nuggets) from Morrisons - very cheap used about 600 ish? with transparent exterior multi purpose sealant from homebase. Made the bases from odments of wood here and painted with plasticote stone effect spray paint, the base just needs a sealer on now and they'll be done.
Thank you rainmac, it's taken about a fortnight and nearly finished the 2 of them but more off than on really, getting motivated to glue the beads is probably the worst bit.

mary43

Ummm............I've got some glass nuggets around somewhere...........(scratches head)..........now.....where can I get a ball -not the one from next doors kids that landed on the garage roof...........lol

Think I'd beter still to the cobweb remover.................lol

melissa75_2

soblivion - that is fabulous! You could sell them for a fortune in the shops. And what a gorgeous garden! Do you think you could make one on a smaller scale with a tennis ball?????

she_grinch

Hi everyone, I too am tightening the belt and creating my own pressies this year. I have started a hamper for each of my daughters (each has a different theme, chocolate, strawberry,relaxation and perfume free) and will also make one each for our mum's and dad.
I also intend to make pyjama trousers for each of my 4 daughters and will buy Tesco's £1.50 strappy tshirts to coordinate with them. If I stick to the same colour for the bottoms it will work out cheaper I suspect. I will also make pyjama bottoms for my DH as he doesn't wear tops to bed!
I am also going to make bed socks out of fleece fabric as I decided that they can be as simple as a christmas stockings in construction, as they are not designed to be worn outside.
I am making 2 recipe books for my eldest daughters, I am looking to buy 2 small ring binders and intend to fill them with recipes of all the favourite meals they have eaten over the years, I will also slip copies of old photos in them to make them more personal. The idea of the ring binder is that they can continue adding to them as they discover recipes of their own and will eventually create a really personal and unique recipe/journal over the years. Who knows they may even pass them on to the grand children when they eventually come along!
PS as my youngest teenage daughter is intent on disrupting the entire household as we speak, she is rapidly discovering the art of being a pain in the a*@#, I might slip a tube of Anusol or Prep H in her hamper for good measure

Mappygirl

rainmac wrote: »

Love the sachets Mappy!:D Brilliant idea, may have to try this one myself if you don't mind! Does anyone know of somewhere cheap for bits of fabric?

I've got some old clothes so thought I might sort through and see if there is any material that would be suitable :money: lol!!! I need to make xmas as cheap as poss!!!

That gazing ball is so lovely!

I want to make some gift boxes and wondered if anyone has any recommendations of where to buy nice (and cheap!) card from?

Mappygirl

Hi she grinch,

Not sure what your plans are for the outside of the recipie folders but you could 'scrapbook' the outside. Cover it with pictures/magazine cut outs/little reminders of good times spent together. And cover it with sticky back plastic to make it hard wearing.

I think it's a wonderful gift - I wish my mom had given one to me - would have saved me starting my own one! Maybe you could add some beauty recipies into as well - HM face packs etc?