anyone going to be making any christmas presents this year?

if so, what are you making? i'm trying to get in a christmas mood, and start early. i'm buying stuff for everyone, as usual, but we are trying to cut back financially, this year, so i'm looking to make some things too.

 

I always end up making gifts for x-mas,but I haven't even begun to think about that yet.I usually make pieces of furniture,or give people knives that I have made.I try to make more things than we buy for people,since I ain't much on the commericalization of the holiday.

 

I love to make homemade gifts for people. I'm not all that crafty so there aren't TOO many things i can make, but some things aren't too difficult. I like to buy interesting-shaped glass jars and cover them with FIMO to use as candleholders, little sachet pillows are also pretty easy. Also fun: Bake a few different types of christmas goodies and put them in pretty jars that you decorate yourself. Anything using pictures also makes a great from the heart gift, like a collage, or a decoupage box using pictures, etc.

I'd love to hear other people's ideas, I could use some new ones!

 

i always end up waiting until the middle of december, when it's already too late. this year, i decided to get started early, so i would actually have time to finish things.
fyl, was it you who posted some pictures of the wooden furniture that you make a while back? if so, it was pretty sweet looking.

this year, i am going to do jewelry, and crocheted potholders, the old standbys. i am also going to try to decoupage some stuff, although i've never done it before. i am also going to try making some fleece hats and scarves, and things like that. i'm not too much of a seamstress, but fleece is easy.those are all the ideas that i have, so far. i am going to try to actually use up some of the nine million crafting supplies that i have in my closet, before i actually go out and buy more.

as for fimo, i've never been able to make anything out of it, lol. don't you have to have a pasta thing (gees, can't remember what it's called) to roll the dough out really thin? the candle holder thing sounds cool.

i am generally a horrible cook, but i am actually a good baker. i am going to probably make fudge, mini loaves of banana bread, and maybe some cookies to give to some of my avon customers, and some of my friends that work/volunteer at the animal shelter. baked goods always go over well, because not many people have the time or inclination to bake from scratch anymore.

 

I'm making my baby sister 2 dresses and a knitted scarf.

My middle sister is getting a ton of yarn (she crochets) and a knitted scarf and hat.
My mom is getting a couple skirts and a glass beaded necklace.

I haven't decided for my daughter and son yet. I've got time,right?

 

Last year I made cakes and cookies for everyone.

 

that's exactly what i'll do this year. i would like to make soap and jewelry, but there's no one who would like it, so i have to forget about that option.
it seems as if no one around me likes selfmade presents sad so.

 

ooh, homemade soaps! that's a good one! do any of you know how to make your own soap? I'd love to try that out. Is it difficult? What does it entail?

 

i made candles for christmas last year

 

iam thinking about makeing a hemp chain for a freind of mine hes into that death metal crust what ever that is, and iam gonna make my other freind a hemp bracelet, and well one freind of mine is into art and loves candle wax art, like makeing things outta it, iam gonna make her something just dont know what yet

 

My mom and I usually bake like 5 batches of cookies and give them to our neighbors and people. I think another good present would be afghans, but I don't have much time this year so I'll probably make only one or two for either my sister or my friend Brittany, who taught me how to crochet. Scarves are another thing, though, they're made quickly but I don't know anyone who wears them. I think my mom would wear a shawl, so I'll crochet one for her. My sister is 2 so she's really easy to get presents for (she can't complain!) so she'll get lots of little things, like hats and anklets/bracelets, possibly a skirt or something if I ever learn how to sew. I'll probably make my friends hemp stuff or soap.

I don't like Christmas shopping... too many damn people. Besides, crafty gifts are more... meaningful?

 

yummy! soaps, cookies, knitting. and i want to make something like this for my little guy:

 

I'm making bracelets and ankle bracelets out of beads and stones. Also I'm making bath salts and oils, and this year I have herbal vinegars that I made.

I'm going to try and make beaded bottles this year, am planning on baking cookies and making jelly as gifts also.

 

I've crocheted a few ponchos.... for my sister in law, neice, and my mom... I'm completely uninspired for making something for anyone else though

 

I usually make soaps, bath salts, oils, candles and put gift baskets together with loofahs, and other bath pampering stuff. But, I don't want to be too repetative. I'm not sure what to do this year.

 

making stuff is great fun.
My sister has just got her ears pierced, so it will be earrings for her. I love making pretty dangly ones.

For older people - my aunties, my gran and stuff, I usually make salad dressing in pretty old bottles I get from this organic shop - a really yum one is red wine vinegar, fresh or frozen raspberries, olive oil, a wee bit of honey and fresh basil, all mixed up. Xmas is during summer in NZ and this dressing just goes so well with sunny salad days..

Argh, I can't wait for summer now..

oh, and nimh, that little house is gorgeous. It's so cute.

 

I am trying to make a crochet hat and some candle holders for my friends, things I make usually go wrong so I still have time to buy them something if it turns out horrible!

 

Okay I have a little guy who would absolutely love something like that to play with...actually i would enjoy it too....if you do work something out, would you mind posting the instructions?

 

anybody got any gift suggestions to make for a 2-year-old toddler & a 7-year-old? this is going to be a difficult yule for them, so i want to make it special - but without getting a lot of clutter.

 

<<I always end up making gifts for x-mas,but I haven't even begun to think about that yet.I usually make pieces of furniture,or give people knives that I have made.I try to make more things than we buy for people,since I ain't much on the commericalization of the holiday.>>

Fylthevoid, are you a blacksmith perchance? My ex is a blacksmith by hobby and has made some really nice things around the house. I love the smell of the forge when it's going. Blacksmithing has always seemed to me to be a rather romantic craft.

<<as for fimo, i've never been able to make anything out of it, lol. don't you have to have a pasta thing (gees, can't remember what it's called) to roll the dough out really thin? the candle holder thing sounds cool.>>

Nightmarehippiegirl, you don't actually need a pasta machine. I personally don't own one and have been making things out of Sculpey clay (it's similar to FIMO, but I find it to be less stiff and difficult to knead) for a decade now. It just depends on what kind of clay you use and how much of a masochist you are. Seriously though, I suppose it would depend on how much clay you were using and how quickly you need it flattened out before using. Two books that I highly recommend for clay projects are: How To Make Clay Characters, and Family And Friends In Polymer Clay. Both are by Maureen Carlson and are lovely! If I can ever figure out how to convert my picture files, I'll post some of my Sculpey figures in my gallery.

Nimh, that house is soooooooo cute. I agree with moominmamma, I'd like that for myself to play with.

Kitty Fabulous, I have patterns for the Jenny doll I gave Shakti. I can always send them to you and you could make some clothes for her? I bet she'd get a kick out of some mini hippie clothes--complete with hemp jewelry--for her doll. Let me know if you'd like me to mail 'em out to you.