I usually make at least half of the kids' gifts myself but I'm just drawing a blank this year :( In the past we made them a wooden kitchen, playsilks, bean bags, fairy wands, dress-up clothes, a teepee... but I not coming up with any good ideas this year. So far all I know that I'm making for sure is a quilt for Kenna.

I'd welcome any ideas on what you're making for your kids this year (anything you make is fine - doesn't have to be sewing). Thanks!

I'm going to finish the puppet theater ala Lorraine that I started last year on Christmas Eve (LOL, forever a procrastinator).

I told my oldest dd today that we were going to make a lot of gifts this year and avoid the "plastic carp" and I got a "Much older than 8 yr old blank stare." Just a quick (scary) glimpse at the mood swings to come! So ummm, the idea wasn't exactly well received. I'm on the lookout for "cool" homemade gifts myself :)

I'm making a teepee for the kids... and some clothes for Ava's new Cabbage Patch Kid (she'll get her on Christmas too). I was going to make American Girl clothes for Ariel's new doll, but haven't enjoyed making those at ALL (the tiny details are making me CRAZY)... so I'll be purchasing clothes for her doll instead. lol I will make a bedset for the doll's bed, though. :)

And... flannel pillowcases for the kids. Hmmm, what else....

Oh! I'm also making fairy skirts, crowns and capes also. Have them cut out, but not sewn yet. :D

Lauren's mama-made stuff is all about baby this time around lol. I plan to make some new clothes for Mr. Steve (her cabbage patch doll) as well as a baby bed and carrier type deal for him. I'll probably make some cushions for her rocking chair and a little blankie too. With all we're doing to get ready for the baby, she'll enjoy having things for her baby

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Dressup clothes and more dressup clothes. I'm hoping to find someone who can swap with me for waldorf doll clothes, and that's it. :)

I think I'll make them a checker set (by doing patchwork) with buttons as the pieces. I'm stealing the idea from Sarah/snugbug.

They already have a teepee and puppet theater (both mama-made from last year) and she got a fairy skirt for her birthday but they don't have any capes - there's an idea.

I really like the checkerboard idea. And maybe some embroidered pillow cases? Hmmm.... Thanks :D

ETA: For anyone watching this thread for ideas - I got them an inexpensive picnic basket last year and made a large patchwork picnic blanket using stuff from my scrap basket. That has been the most used gift all year. They have pretend and real picnics with it several times a week. That thing took no time at all to make and they play with it far more than the teepee that took me three days :wah:

hey now! you are scaring me about the teepee! I've had the fabric for at least 3 years. I was finally going to get mybutt in gear this year...

Sorry :( They use it, just not as much as the picnic blanket ;)

I thought the teepee was really cool, I'd have loved one as a kid. I would recommend velcro instead of a zipper though - I got a little tired of "Mom, will you zip this please?!" ten times every time they set it up :p

Oh, I really like the picnic basket/blanket idea!! Wonder if I have time to add a little blanket to the agenda..... I have the perfect fabric for it.... :juggle:

I like the picnic basket idea too. I may have to copy you:thumbsup:

Where did you find a little picnic basket? I have been looking for one for Callan's costume for 2 months now with no luck. Oh! I think I forgot to look at Hobby Lobby! der...

I think I stumbled upon it at Wal-Mart for around $10. I pack them a little picnic and after they eat they use the basket to collect all kinds of things to bring back in with them. That little basket has earned it's $10 in value 10 times over!

Argh, you can't even see the darn basket, lol!

Do you usually give your kids gifts jointly? I mean like the teepee, picnic set and puppet theatre etc..?? Cause I'd like to do a few of these "big" things but then I don't know what to do as individual type gifts for them.

Since they play together a lot, we usually give the things that are most fun to play with someone else together as joint gifts and then a few smaller things that are tailored more toward their personal interests. Jadyn got a huge box of new art supplies and Kenna got a new toolbox as part of their individual gifts last year. So far it's worked out okay, but they're only 2 1/2 and 5 so that may not last!

I have the teepee pattern that Sarah/snugbug co-oped a couple of years back, and was going to make that for Jake. His baby (I made him last year) needs some very simple clothes, too. He is too chubby for any doll clothes we have. LOL! He is finally into playing with his baby and it is just too cute.

I am planning on making a pioneer outfit a la Little House for Katie. Dress, pinafore, bloomers, bonnet.

Furby is getting a stuffed lamb (DONE), a Christmas t@ggie (DONE), and probably something from Autumn or Winter swap.

Eli is getting Christmas jammies, maybe a stuffed cow (if I finish it), and something from Autumn or Winter swap.

Brianna is getting a busy bag made by Rachel with new twist up crayons, plus assorted other school supplies in it, maybe a new book for her Leap Pad, and something from Autumn or Winter swap.

Samuel will be receiving a Playmobil (fire) set, a tic tac toe board, and something from Autumn or Winter swap.

Josiah will also get Playmobil (police) set, an I don't know what, and something from Autumn or Winter swap.

Annaliese may be the lucky recipient of most of the Discovery Toy $ I will be getting in a swap. She's very into horses, I'm thinking of getting her the horse set. She will also get the hemp jewelry making kit I set aside for her from a trade several months ago, although that will probably go in her stocking. I will probably make her some jammies, too. (J&S don't need them this year.)

Zachary wants a razor. :( I think I'm making him a camo fleece hoodie and some pajamas.

We usually do 3 presents plus stockings.

My girls are 2,4,and 6 since they play together so well we do joint gifts and then a couple individual gifts.

My 4 yo has been begging for a robe since last winter so I'm pretty sure that's what she's getting.

My oldest needs clothes. And not made by me but I'm getting a needle gaurd so she can start sewing herself she will be THrilled.

I have no idea what to make the 2 yo. She doesn't need anythig.

I like Alison's checkers idea maybe that and a tic-tac-toe board.

I'm thinking of a hemp canvas tee-pee for the boys - something they can leave set up outside.

Checkerboard set with patchwork - though I'll cut and dye a dowel rod for the pieces. Not sure who will get that ;)

doll clothes for everybody (and outfits that match the doll clothes for the them)

purse for Chrissy (with homemade lip gloss in it - if it turns out well, lol)

I think I'll make the 4 younger ones some cinch bags - they're always carting around stuff.

boys need boxers

Kiera wants a waldorf doll like I made Aislinn.

I may use the Faith's idea of the picnic basket and patchwork blanket. I think the kids would really like it. I may copy the placemat and napkin place settings I got from Cheryl in the spring swap to go with it.

Otherwise, I'm still brainstorming - and I really need to get busy!

Last year I made DH a two layer fleece blanket for his birthday, and the kids fight over it, so they are each getting one for Christmas. Theirs are going to be solid light green on one side (MM store had 100" wide micro so I bought a bunch of it) and patches of blues and greens on the other side. I finally have all my fabrics (thanks Nicole!) and am about to start on the first one.

We were going to make some playstands or a tent and a doll house for the boys but we sold our house (or so we hope, LOL) and are now living with FIL (unti the sale is final) so I don't know that it will happen now. I might make some dress up clothes for Colin and some real clothes for Gavin. We will see.

We have already made them a train table, a wooden kitchen and some play food. I might make some more play food for them also. I'm not motivated to do anything right now though. This month has been really stressful.

great thread mamas, i was just hoping someone would start one! keep the ideas coming :)

i really like the checkerboard idea sarah/allison! you think that's too old for a 5yr old? surely he's big enough to learn checkers right?

i would like to make shelby some dress up stuff - does anyone have instrux's/links for making those li'l fairy head wreath type things? yk, w/ the ribbons/bells coming off of 'em and flowers on the head part?

and for ian i'm thinking an embroidered/personalized taggie...

i'd also like to make some embroidered pillowcases and my kiddos always get holiday/winter jammies on christmas eve

Well, Caity doesn't want me to make her anything :tear: and I'll probably make Brennan some clothes lol! I'm not really all that creative in anything other than sewing, so who knows. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and make a quilt.

DD's 6th b'day is in two weeks. I plan on making her an apron, purchasing some cooking utensils from the $ store and making her some recipe cards with pics, so she can read them by herself.

For Christmas, I always make each child some p.j.'s. In the past I have made fleece hats, scarves and gloves, blankets and socks. Those were all big hits with my teens.

ugh, double post...move along lol...

Just got another idea. I think I will make some simple car trip games (like checkers and tic tac toe) using wool felt pieces so they will stick to the board.

My kids also really like the color pencil and crayon holders that I made them for the car. It is just a roll up holder with slots sewn in. Ooh, bad description. I made it like these, except out of sock monkey flannel and our lyra pencils are the short ones, so they don't stick so far out of the pockets.

http://www.organic-cotton-clothes.com/hand-felted-wool.html

We keep them in the car at all times along with their special art books. They are great for grabbing to take in restaurants or places you'll have to wait so the kids have something to do.

I'm making Morgan a new fleece blanket all her own (since the new baby will get most of the blankets).

I'm also making her a small tote bag to carry library books in and I'm thinking about making her a tic-tac-toe board for her stocking.

I want to make some puppets so I can finally give them the puppet theater I got in trade from Lorraine.
I am making a tent and sleeping bags for their dolls. Have a pattern somewhere for a 16" size doll. Meant to make it last year but it didn't happen. :rolleyes:
Sebastian wants a Robin Hood dress up hat and an Indian outfit (to go with last years teepee) so I'll add to the dress up cothes basket.
We also like to specialize in "disposable" gifts- things that get used up. Tierran loved the face paints she got last year. I wonder if google would pull up a way to make them??? We've done soap making kits and art supplies. Grit for our rock tumbler.
Last year we gave Sebastian a piece of 1/4" birch plywood with a card that Dh drew of himself and Sebastian making a shield (for Knight dress-up). So it was an activity to do together. Of course it is only half done... sigh...
I was thinking wool felt car travel games too. I also like the chalk cloth boards someone sns awhile ago.
Sebastian likes to set up the nature table so I might make a few seasonal dolls like "King Winter" and "Mrs. Thaw".
I want to make a bunch of bendy dolls in little sets. Some fairies and a little flower house similar to the ones Selena has been doing. Some Indians and a mini teepee. A gourd house and a little family. Maybe a twig/primitive dwelling and Robin Hood and characters. A huge sea shell house and some mermaids....

Another idea that doesn't add clutter (big issue for us) but isn't sewing related is a family pass to the zoo or a favorite museum.

Don't know what I'll actually get done but those are some ideas. LOL

I'm buckling down on my gift list since it's November now ;) and thought I'd bump this in case anyone else wanted to review it also. :cool:

My dd is getting a "look and cook" cookbook with an apron, and some utencils and a monkey bread pan.

My ds is getting a quilt for his bed.

Both are getting jammies, and as many pants as I can push out before then. (They are in need of pants that are long enough)

Love Val

I'm going to make the chalkcloth from the sew-along and a little bag for the chalk with some pockets which ds is into these days. And I'm going to make him a blanket out of the handpainted silk that I bought from a mama here. The blanket will be the first item that I make for "his room" which may not really come to fruition for a couple of years, but it can go on "his bed" in our room which he may never sleep on.

Wow! Those are some good ideas mamas. Since this is my first year really sewing, I am making DD a dress up trunk. I will sew all the clothes that go in it with the exception of this lacey dress I got her at the thrift store to use as a wedding dress. Every year we say we're going to buy less stuff, and this is the first year that we are sticking to our guns. I can't wait to see her face. :) Her and I are also going to make small square bottom bags for her 3 best friends for the holidays.

What a great list!

So far I have planned a hoodie for Trystan
an electrical tool kit for Ty, we are getting wires and stuff from Radio shack or someplace similar. DH is putting together that idea.

a wood tool set for Gavin, you know hammer nails and what not, We did this when Ty was about 5 and he loved it.

Gracie is getting some doll clothes for her AG doll.

Em..well not sure for her. I am thinking of a cloth doll or something. Not sure what to make for her.

All the kids will get Christmas jammas and some slippers. I think Gracie will also get the cookbook and apron idea from above. She would love it!

Right now, I'm knitting up a pair of pink bunny slippers to felt for dd. I was also thinking I would sew her cat costume since we didn't get to make it for Halloween. I'm not sure what else. I've already made stuff for my sister's kids: knit scarves, shark jammies, loopie hair scrunchies, etc. I was thinking of making a fabric checker board with wooden checkers for my niece on dh's side.

My kids are each getting animal floor pillows.

Chanel is getting a wood dollhouse made by her uncle with wool hooked rugs made by her grandma and a felt wee folk family made by me, furniture made by Plan Toys. lol! She's also getting new books for her leap pad.

Xander is getting a My First Leap Pad with a couple books and a Plan Toys parking garage. I guess his floor pillow is the only mama made thing. :( I'm making him a ton of dress up clothes for his birthday Monday though.

I'm making my 17 year old the fall swap quilt- but I'll end up giving it to her as soon as it is finished and not wait for Christmas.

I'm also hoping to finish a long overdue to be done afghan for my 19 year old. Her grandmom had been working on crotcheting afghans for all her grandchildren, and had made them for my other two older ones. She had started the one for oldest but hadn't completed it. Through the years I've tried several times to do it, but couldn't bring myself to. I'm hoping to finally get it done.

I may make a couple pairs of lounge pants for one or the other of them.

Grandma is buying Bitty Baby dolls for the girls so I hope to make doll clothes and doll bedding.