We are tyring to save up a 20% down payment for a house and I really want to make gifts for everyone this year instead of running up my credit cards. I'm really at wits end.

TIA,

Lori

this year I will be making a lot of people fabric covered photo albums I used to make them all the time but time got away from me well this year money got away from me so this is muy solution and if I get good enough on the sewing machine i will be sewing some things also

I normally crochet hot pads or dish cloths for my mom and mil. My father has a tie collection, so I either make him a tie from cool fabric, or paint him one with acrylic and fabric medium on a plain tie and my fil thinks its cool too.

Most of my family has now come to expect fun pictures of themselves and us-- some photoshoppped, some just as is in dollar store frames. (we bring the digital camera to family events or even if my sis and I are meeting for shopping or whatever.)

Christmas is really easy. We all got really neat 3 ring binders a couple of years ago, and we exchange stories that we've found or our kid's have written. We also make other things-- but my father instigated a rule when I was a baby (I'm the oldest) that Christmas would be homemade. We're not allowed to purchase gifts!

I tend to do a lot of food gifts: cookies, bread, dried fruit, snack mixes. I make fabric bags, baskets with embroidered cloths, or decopage jars and fill them.

I have never known any woman not to enjoy a gift basket of bath stuff or candles-- homemade or not. Bath salts are really easy to make, especially the coarse ones with herbs and epsom salts.

-Hastings

I like to give homemade gifts also....
For my mother I did a hand dyed silk scarf and wrote a little blessing to go with it.
for my dad I make a 2 lb block of bay rum and lime soap.
for my in laws I did a tote bag for my mother in law and great gramdmother in law also. for my father in law my hubby bought him a cool recharg flashlight.

Lori,

Do you sew? I've been thinking about making table runners, maybe with coordinating placemats or napkins. My MIL really likes that stuff and it's something the kids could help with.

Is this for adults or kids or both? What do you like to do?

What about glass ornaments that are decorated on the inside? These come out looking really nice and as long as you limit the colors available : ) the kids can do them too. (I made the mistake one year of putting out all the colors, yuck. LOL) I can look up the type of paint for you if you are interested. You use 3 colors per ornament, squeezing them in, and then rotating the ornament around to coat it on the inside. They look especially nice with 3 colors and a touch of metalic gold. You could also do smaller glass ornaments and then use them as decorations on top of the packages.

Maybe we could do some holiday oriented craft alongs, sharing ideas and the how-to's with each other?

Do you know how to dye? I'd like to make each of my kids cuddle blankets with silk on one side and velour or something like it on the other. I was thinking I'd dye the fabrics seperately in their favorite colors, or combos. WendyLouWho gave me this idea several months back and I thought it was a great one.

Rhea

Originally posted by Rhea
Lori,

Do you sew? I've been thinking about making table runners, maybe with coordinating placemats or napkins. My MIL really likes that stuff and it's something the kids could help with.

Is this for adults or kids or both? What do you like to do?

What about glass ornaments that are decorated on the inside? These come out looking really nice and as long as you limit the colors available : ) the kids can do them too. (I made the mistake one year of putting out all the colors, yuck. LOL) I can look up the type of paint for you if you are interested. You use 3 colors per ornament, squeezing them in, and then rotating the ornament around to coat it on the inside. They look especially nice with 3 colors and a touch of metalic gold. You could also do smaller glass ornaments and then use them as decorations on top of the packages.

Maybe we could do some holiday oriented craft alongs, sharing ideas and the how-to's with each other?

Do you know how to dye? I'd like to make each of my kids cuddle blankets with silk on one side and velour or something like it on the other. I was thinking I'd dye the fabrics seperately in their favorite colors, or combos. WendyLouWho gave me this idea several months back and I thought it was a great one.

Rhea

I flunked sewing class... twice!

I did buy a new singer 2 years ago and I have not used it yet. The setting the tension in the bobbin has me all freaked out. I can't seem to get it right. I know I hopeless.

I would like to do a few craft alongs. my family is tired of getting soy candles. LOL

Lori

lori we need to live closer I would help you learn.. Now I am in arkansas what part of tx are you in.

Originally posted by Peppermint
lori we need to live closer I would help you learn.. Now I am in arkansas what part of tx are you in.

I'm in North dallas area. What part of Ark. are you in?

L

El Dorado,, South arkansas 5 hrs from dallas

Lori,
What about decorative stepping stones? The summer's the best time to make them, and you could personalize them. Use a person's fav colors, or put in a symbol they love, or a word.

Are you also looking for gifts you can make for your children?

Rhea

Another no-sew idea. Fabric Origami. You can make boxes, ornaments, mobiles...
http://www.fabricorigami.com/

Rhea