Holidays and Birthdays

Re: Christmas gifts

RoosterWWoman — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:16:36 GMT

Gifts for me:

kinitted socks, sweaters, scarves, slipper socks

Families: those jars of layers of ingredients that you pour into a bowl with some liquid ingredients to make anything from cookies to soups to hot chocolate.

Comforters for families made out of squares cut from your old clothes, sheets, blankets.

Teens: I like the quilted purse idea. You can use old worn out quilts to made them. Just cut from the reusable parts of the quilt. Would be very easy and quick. Look at a second hand store for old quilts. Also for teens or anyone, I saw on another site an idea of going to a Dollar Store and putting your own gift together using dollar items, like shampoo, bath oil, soap, candle, fragrance, pretty washcloth, bath beads.

For kids or young adults even, an inexpensive gift is colored pencils and a ream of typing paper.

For anyone: I have a food dehydrator and one gift everyone always likes is my dried jerky recipe. It's so easy and so delicious and takes very little prep and is a favorite that some have come to expect!

Making your own jams and jellys, pickles, salsa is also always an option. Food is something even the elderly usually like and is something that everyone can use. I have even made my own homemade potato chips that are a hit!

Re: Christmas gifts

Edey — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:31:14 GMT

Don't forget aprons are a favorite with lots of people now. They are easy and quick to make and you can even make matching potholders, mitts or handtowels. Edey

Re: Christmas gifts

MarthaMFI — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:20:30 GMT

slippers too. I made baby quilts out of cotton yarn.

I have been using out my cotton yarn for wash/dish cloths which ever the user wants to do with it.

found a roald dahl revolting recipes (kinda of a cooking with kids book) book at value village today for my mom. He wrote Willy wonka and the chocolate factory and others. She likes him. The kinda of unique thing I like finding for people for gifts.

Re: Christmas gifts

Edey — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:03:14 GMT

Cotton yarn makes nice washcloths or dishcloths, coasters, tea cozies. Edey

Re: Christmas gifts

donna england — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:37:00 GMT

I am crocheting throws for several people on my list. I bought a huge bag of yarn at goodwill, in one of those bags that big comforter sets come in, for 12.00.I know a good deal when I see one, Im sure there was at least 60 or 70 dollars worth of yarn in there. It also had 3 of those big spools of cotton yarn in there too. I need to figure out what Im going to do with that, I think I have some patterns somewhere for some cute placemats,maybe someone will be getting those for Christmas.

Re: Christmas gifts

zohnerfarms — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:21:53 GMT

I am knitting tube socks for the grandchildren again this year. The two youngest have severe eczema, have outgrown everything they had, & can only wear 100% cotton, so I use either sugar & cream cotton yarn or two strands of crochet cotton. If I combine white with a color, the sock has a "ragg" look to it, especially if I use red, blue or green for the color. I combined a light pink strand with white for the youngest dgd & the socks turned out super cute - - they look shimmery! I am currently working on the pink wool socks for the oldest dgd, who also has eczema, but can wear either cotton or yarn. Got the pink wool on clearance at our local yarn shop, which I love. It has been in business since 1904, & carries everything I need. They take a while to make, but I am getting faster as I get back into it. The youngest dgs is only 2, so he is happy with whatever I give him. He is getting at least 2-3 pair of black cotton socks. The 4 year old dgd is the one getting the pink socks. She will also get a pair of white/purple socks, & another pink set if I have time. She was completely out, so has already received a pair of purple socks & 2 pair of white socks. Her little brother inherited her red/white & blue/white "ragg" cotton socks, so he is not completely out. The older 2 can wear store bought socks to school, as they are not so severe, but love "the warm wool socks that grandma knits - - they are SOOO warm", which melts my heart, so I knit for them, too. Beyond the gkids, I have been shopping the sales for everyone else, & most of it is already wrapped. - Marivene

Re: Christmas gifts

arianasilver — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:10:52 GMT

re-tired:
I hope it looks decent when I finish or else I'll have to rip it out and find a different stitch!

Good luck with it, I hope it works out well!

I got my fabric squares in the mail today. I need to go this weekend to look for coordinated fabrics for backing and blocks and I'll start cutting & piecing the blocks for mom's quilt. I should look for the resin epoxy to make the necklaces too and get it while I'm there. I'm still waiting for the scrabble tiles to arrive. Luckily our Walmart still sells fabric, so hopefully I can get everything I need there.

Re: Christmas gifts

re-tired — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:34:07 GMT

The initial on Momma's pillowcases is too large for a regular sating stitch so I've learned a new type of satin stitch called a Romanian stitch. It anchors the stitch in the middle. I really have to concentrate while doing this so the pillowcases are taking longer than I had hoped. I hope it looks decent when I finish or else I'll have to rip it out and find a different stitch!

re-tired

Re: Christmas gifts

lene — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:29:56 GMT

I've enjoyed this thread! Sounds like everyone is making good progress, too.

I've got a couple of simple striped hats knit up for stocking stuffers for some of the men on the list, and will finish the rest over the next month. I dug out my big tackle box o' beads and supplies recently and made some pretty sparklies to hang in kitchen windows -- those will go in some of the gals' stockings. I'm working on a silk poncho (knitting) for my mom, and if I have time I think I'll knit up a couple lacey scarves using some fine mohair-blend yarn and a keyhole design (they are shorter and take less time and yarn) for a couple of the women in the family.

I also have some homemade jam to give, because I like to give a gift bag of food stuff to each household in the family. I thought this year I'll include the homemade jam, a summer sausage from the local meat market (a local farmer sells his own beef and pork in his own shop) and a jar of local honey, and a bottle of local wine or hard cider. Oh, and I'll include a handknit dishcolth and one of those towels with a knitted top that hangs from the cupboard handle or the fridge door. My husband used to tease me about knitting all these dishcloths, until people started begging me to make them some more. LOL

Oh, I forgot. I also have knit up a couple "soap sacks" and bought some wonderful smelling handmade soaps from a gal I've ordered from for years onlline. (Cardigan Mountain.) I plan to put a bar of yummy soap in each sack and add those to the female stockings at the family get-together.

I need to think of a few more stocking stuffers for the men! The women are always so easy, especially for the smaller things. There are only so many multi-tools and Swiss Army knives that any man needs, and after that, I start to lack ideas for men... the handknit hats (I did scarves one year) feel like a good idea, but other than that, I'm out of inspiration for the guys.On my own side of the family, books (including used books) are always a great choice, but on my hubby's side, not so much.

Re: Christmas gifts

re-tired — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:46:06 GMT

I am about 1/3 of the way thru cross-stitch bookmark for DH's niece. It's on metal so it's quite difficult and I can only work on it so long before my hands just give out.

I have all of the supplies now for my niece's bulleting board. I got a large piece of foam board at Hobby Lobby for $2--it was just what I needed. I have the cutest fabric in pinks, sheer pink polka dot ribbon and "jewel" buttons. I bought some mini clothes pins to use on the ribbons and some clear push pins for the rest of the board. DH will help me cut and glue the fabric next weekend.

I have the thread for Mother's pillowcases and have chosen the monogram. I just need to get it on and start stitching.

All of the crocheted sachet bags are finished and ready to be stuffed. I'm waiting to last minute on those since I don't want the fragrance to fade too much before gifting.

re-tired

Re: Christmas gifts

Toni B. — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:30:56 GMT

juju_mommy:
They look like a very simple one-pocket purse and look like they are made out of a colorful quilt.

I saw something similar in a gift store and they are nice and not a bad price but if you're crafty and have a lot of fabric it could be done for less. We go with restaurant gift cards although $25 increments don't seem like enough in some places. I thought maybe adding another gift card/certificate to Pampered Chef (since all my in laws love it) would be good. A few years back I realized that a large portion of my Christmas budget went to gas and wrapping supplies. Walmart sells gift cards to places like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Chili's, Subway, Burger King, ITunes and of course Walmart, I just go there and I'm done.

Re: Christmas gifts

gayla50 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:08:20 GMT

I have finally finished the last of my Teddy Bears for my Grands , finished the quilt for my Grand daughter that due on the 25th of December .. I made slipper socks for the whole bunch ... I gave up on the hope of knitting my DH a sweater the lady who teaches knitting told me I must have confined my self I cant do it .. oh well maybe next year. LOL ..

Re: Christmas gifts

MarthaMFI — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:01:08 GMT

got my chapters orders! so the webkins for my mil to give to dd and the dvd for dh.

went to can. tire and got a mini shark steam cleaner for me and one for my mom for xmas. were on a 1/2 price sale. for 24.99

Re: Christmas gifts

sunshinetreva — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:37:57 GMT

All this talk of Christmas gifts made me remember that I pretty much finished DD's Christmas shopping last weekend! I was able to get 3 costumes (supergirl, generic princess, pirate), 1 new set of faery wings with antenae headband, and 1 rainbow clown wig for DD's dress up kit. I got the costumes for $30 and the wings and wig for another $8. Everything was 50% off using the post-Halloween sales. I would like to add a doctor kit to the kit as well, if I can find one around $5. And DH wants to add a dictionary to her books, gift #2. Spent about $7 two months ago on the books; the dictionary DH wants to buy is the next level up for ages 6 and up. The one she has now is for preschoolers and way below her capacity. I think it's maybe $5 for the new-to-her one. I also picked up a sleeper with convertable feet as present #3. That was $10 brand new, but will fit for 2 years.

I also picked up a big bag of fun-sized hot tamales on the 50% off halloween candy section for my mom. Now, if I could just get DH to tell me at least a couple small things he would like for Christmas.... Other than new boxers, I can't think of anything. LOL Poor guy came in with some tattered boxers when we got together. I've been slowly getting rid of them! LOL

Re: Christmas gifts

arianasilver — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:49:02 GMT

Happy, that sounds like a neat idea. I've never tried it, but if you do let us know how it goes.

How is everyone doing on their crafted Christmas gifts? What have you completed and what are you still working on?

I just bought scrabble tiles and three lots of fabric squares for making pendants, quilts and coasters. Hopefully I can get started on them by next weekend if everything shows up in the mail by then. I plan to start making up cookie doughs and freezing the weekend after Thanksgiving when we do the Christmas decorating. That way I can pull, thaw and bake for cookie tins.

Nuts are on sale starting this week. I was thinking about making up some spiced nuts in the crockpot (found a recipe) and storing them in canning jars with fabric screwed in the top and ribbon around the neck for gift-giving. Is it too early to do this for Christmas gifts, or if they're airtight do you think they'll keep?