Now that it is getting closer to Christmas I would like to hear what the rest of you have made or are making for presents. So far we have made table runners with matching hot pads, purses, candles and ornaments. Actually some of these we have not completed yet but we will. We really try to make most of our gifts.
Im making cold process soap for family and friends. They usually buy it off me so they appreciate getting it as a gift. I buy a gold canyon candle to go with the soap I make. I depise making candles. lol I usually make lavender, peppermint, and grapefruit-mint using essential oils. For my little sister I make Chocolate-mint. Shes 10 and loves it!
Last year we made a homemade calendar for my MIL. The kids decorated the pages and we bound it. She LOVED it and informed us that she expects one every year. This year I think it's going to be based on finger and hand print art.
The last few years we have done calendars from Shutterfly. If you wait for the sale, you pay full price for the first one and then half-price for the rest and free shipping. I got 4 calendars for $45 or so- a little bit more then in store but it has our pictures and our dates in it. This year we are doing fleece scarves. They are turning out to be less then $5 a scarf and they are so cozy!!
I think it was last year on here that someone told how to make candles with pictures on them. We are making some for a Christmas bazaar this Saturday and some for gifts. They are so pretty. The ones for the church bazaar have a black and white picture of our old wooden church that we had when I was a kid before we built the new church building. We even put colored pictures of the kids on one. I plan on making pictures of the kids in my class at church and making them one to give their parents. They are easy to make and fun too.
My kids have fun making jars with cookie mix ingredients and small baby food jars with cocoa mix. They look really nice with fabric circles and a little ribbon with recipe attached. They are simple to make and the kids can do 99% of it themselves so they are really proud of their gifts. This year we have decided to only give handmade presents so we'll be looking for more ideas too.
I'm thinking of making Russian Tea mix this year and putting that into jars. My kids LOVE it. It has Tang, lemonade mix, instant tea (the REAL kind, not the stuff that's pre-sweetened or lemon flavored or....), clove, cinnamon, and sugar. We drink it hot all winter. Last year, my girls knitted 100% cotton dishcloths for g'mas.
I'm not an artsy/craftsy type of person, but last year my kids and I tried to make a couple of crafts for the Grandparents. We made simple paper Christmas tree ornaments with paper cut outs, glitter, glue and Christmas puffy/sticky things with yarn for the hanger. We also made clothespin magnet decorations to stick on the Grandmas' fridges. I bought some cheap clothespins and bought some Christmas floral decs from Michaels. Then, we cut and glued the little decs on one side of the clothespin and glued a magnet on the other side. I usually just bake different kinds of cookies for people.
I prayed that dh and I would get one of my SILs and my mom in our exchange this year...and we did! I'm making them bracelets that have kids/grandkids' names on them. I guess my aunt paid over $100 for hers and my mom wants one so bad. I'm one of those "I can make one of those" people. :roll: I'm actually anxious to start it up. I might start selling them online, too.
Russian tea mix Original Recipe Yield 3 cups Ingredients 1/2 cup instant tea powder 2 cups orange-flavored drink mix (e.g. Tang) 3 ounces lemonade-flavor drink powder 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Directions 1.In a large bowl, mix together powdered drink mixes, sugar, and spices. Place in jars. 2.Instructions to include with gift: 1. Place 2 to 3 rounded teaspoonfuls in a cup. 2. Add boiling water and serve.
Russian Tea 2 cups Tang 1 cup sugar Lemonade Mix (the amount you would use for 2 quarts)* 3/4 tsp. clove 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup + 2 tsp. instant tea (100% tea, not "sweetened" or "lemon"!) Mix all dry ingredients together. Store in an air-tight container. Mix 2 tsp. in one cup hot water. *I use Country Time to the 2 qt. line. I suppose you could also use a package of lemonade flavored Kool-Aid, but if you do you might want to increase the amount of sugar, since Country Time would have sugar in it, but the Kool-Aid wouldn't. Edited to say: Amy, I didn't see you had posted one! The next time I make it, I'll have to try adding the allspice!
Let me know if you start to sell them! My SIL made me one and it kept breaking. She even fixed it for me and it just wouldn't stay together. I really liked it and would like another one!
No pic to show of the originals. Both people I know with similar ones live pretty far away. I haven't started the bracelets yet because I'm having trouble finding better letter cubes that won't wear the finish off. I'm going to start looking online now, but I think I'm finding out why they were over $100! General description is two to three bands of silver/crystal or silver/pearl beads with silver cube letters and a toggle clasp. If I find a pic of something similar, I'll post.
Tonight I tried making pumpkin cake with pecans in a jar. They turned out great and we are going to sell them at our church's bazaar on Saturday. They would make wonderful gifts for Christmas. The keep for a long time and taste great. I found the recipe while looking online for ideas using pint jars.
Last years thread had somebody who posted the candles and the tiles with the pictures on them. We did the tiles last year and they were a great hit. This year I am thinking something easy. I was going to do Calanders, and I might still. That sounds pretty simple. I might do some hand print craft too. Like the angles wings or something too. Any suggestions for cheap and easy that doesn't look cheap and easy?
The table runners I've been making are really easy. Also the candles my kids are going to make are easy too. They take two pieces of paraffin wax and with one of them carve a long piece down the center where a wick would fit. Melt wax in a kettle and add scent to it. Lay the wick in the carved out section and pour the hot wax on it putting the two pieces together right away so they mold together. With the left over melted wax you can whip it until it is fluffy. Then take a plastic spoon and spread it on the outside of the candle. It makes one of those nice fluffy candles. You can add decorations to the outside too if you wanted. My kids plan to make them for the grandparents and are very excited.
The dishtowel angels are easy and you can make them pretty cheap. I think it might run about $2.50 each for the supplies. You print out the little poem and attach it to the front. I make them for our church bazaar when we have it.
