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Today we’ll focus on the gals on your list. I’m dividing this up into two. Today will just be general gifts and the next part will be crafty gifts. With all of these categories, there is some overlap. The boy’s category especially, a lot of the things would be great for girl’s also.
-Purses: there are TONS of fabulous tutorials and patterns out there; this could be a post all by itself. Here are a couple lesser known ones here and here. For more great tutorials check out Sew Mama Sew or Crafster. If you want to buy a pattern, Melly and Me has some adorable ones!
-Little Fabric House; I think this would be so sweet to store tea in
-Mini Scrapbook; these are easy to make and very cute!
- Tea Pot Cozy, sewn or crocheted. You could make a little quilted potholder to use as a mat under the pot too.
-Water Bottle Carrier This would be great with a stainless steel bottle.
Sew Mama Sew is also doing the Handmade Holiday’s again this year! Expect lots of great inspiration and ideas! For last year’s list click here.
In case you’re wondering what in the world the picture above has to do with this post, it doesn’t! I just didn’t have a picture that fit. It is a picture of the last fabric I’ll be buying a while. I know….it’s sad. If there are any others out there who are going on a fabric buying fast, join me in January for a stash-sewing challenge!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved paper dolls. I never really did much with them, never made up stories or anything, but I’ve always been fascinated by them. If you like them too, you’ll have to check out these online versions. I’ve had the Wee Wonderful one’s bookmarked for a while, but somehow I missed these other cute ones, even though I’ve been to her site before! Hillary’swould make a sweet addition to a gift, printed on nice card stock.
I had to add these and these! Aren’t they sweet? I had forgetten all about them!
Those of you who are a part of The Big List of Sewing Blogs know what a great resource it is to find new sewing blogs and increase your own traffic a bit. Well now there is a new blog with a similar concept, only this one is for all crafters. It’s called the Sew Craft Blog and it’s just starting up. Check it out!
Over a thousand giveaways…..how much time do you have to waste!?
An awesome giveway of a custom baby playmat/quilt. I’m thinking green and orange, maybe?
A fabulous Amy Butler prize pack. Cause you can always use free fabric, right! And there’s a pattern to boot.
There’s also a baby quilt contest going on here. The prizes are fabulous. I had hoped to finish something just for the contest, but ran out of time. So I just entered two quilts I made when I was pregant with Happy Boy.
Just thought I’d let you know.
Most of these are sewn with a couple others thrown in for good measure. I wish I had some pics to share! It looks so boring without!
- Lounge Pants/Boxer shorts….I hear Kwik-Sew makes good patters or you can just trace around the old, worn-out ones he already has.
-Necktie…I don’t think this would be a good first sewing project, but I don’t think it would be too hard. Just please, don’t use snowman fabric!
-Heating pad….great for sore necks and backs…I plan on using flax seed.
-Scarf…love the new patchwork ones people are doing, but that wouldn’t work for every guy.
-Guitar/Camera Strap..this is for a belt, but it would work just fine
-CD Visor (is it just me or does this name sound like a cheesy hat?)
- CD of songs that are meaningful for the two of you…..I actually did this for my DH. I don’t think he loved it, but I know I would of and I think there are some guys who would.
-Picture calendar/Photograph of the family
-Wallet…my DH likes tri-folds (maybe not in pink!)
I’ll be adding to this list as I think of things…if you have any ideas, please share!
I think for most of us, guys are the hardest to make things for. I can think of lots of homemade gift for women, but men….well it’s a pain in the neck lot harder! Here are some ideas to get you started. I probably won’t be making anything for the guys, with the possible exception of my DH. Isn’t that hypocritical of me! But the guys I know aren’t very appriciative of homemade gifts….oh well!
Let’s start with food…probably the most popular gift, especially for the men on your list who don’t have wives or girlfriends.
-Cookies…I’ll be posting some of my favorite recipes in the next few weeks
-Caramel Corn/Flavored Popcorn here, here, here, here, and here. (you got all that!)
-BBQ rub…this one is good….I haven’t tried this or this, but they sound yummy!
-Homemade Bread…again, stay tuned
-Chocolate covered pretzels (I personally would omit the parafin, though it does look nice), almond roca, other candy
-Beef Jerky
I’m getting tired of saying, “I’ll post a recipe later”, so I’ll just say that if I haven’t posted a link a recipe will follow shortly.
-Smore Trail Mix….just mix mini-marshmallows, teddy grahams and milk chocolate chips.
-Cocoa Mix
Next up is sewing/knit gifts…
well, at least for me! I know for some people this would not be an impressive amount of sewing in two weeks time! I also have some crayon rolls sewn up, but they didn’t make it to the picture taking party. Besides not being too exciting, I need to rip out some topstitching and re-do it. I wish my seam ripper and I didn’t hang out quite so much.
First off, an apron for my upcoming craft show. This isn’t to sell….this is for me to wear to hold change, pens, etc. I’m not completely thrilled with how it turned out (good thing you can’t see it too close), but it will be fun to have. I used this tutorial with my own little tweaks.
I also finished up a whole bunch of little girl’s aprons. Seven to be exact. I hope to make some boyish ones also. My plan is to purchase some cookie cutters and package one along with an apron and a recipe. A cute Christmas gift, I think. My boys love wearing my aprons when they wash dishes…..gotta love that! Four of the aprons are matchy, matchy….one bigger and one little. I thought that way, if someone wanted to do sister’s, it would work nicely.
Next up are several purses. I wasn’t really planning on making any for the show, but after sewing up the girl’s one, I was feeling inspired. This was my first time making clutches. They aren’t perfect, but I really love them. I won’t be sad at all if they don’t sell, because I will use them myself. I love the colors and the shapes. I also really love the fabric combination on the patchy purse. I love orange and green together.
All the purses were self drafted, though I used a tutorial on SewingMamas to make the little girl’s purse and used the knowledge I gained from that to draft the larger one.
I traded with an artist friend of mine to make me a new banner for my shop. Didn’t she do a lovely job? I love it so much! I’m going to use it for my first ever business cards too.
The Hyena Cart Congo I’m a part of has been doing a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. My small contribution was this little girl’s purse. The action ends tomorrow and all money (except shipping) shipping will be donated. Get a Christmas present checked off and donate to charity all at once..doesn’t get much better than that!
I’ve been working on a bunch more things…hopefully I’ll be able to post them soon.
I thought this video was hilarious. I’m not a Martha hater or anything, but this was too funny. Just a warning…I would call this PG (then again, I’m REALLY picky!)
Like every good crafter, I’ve got my eye on some lovely Christmas crafts. I can swallow Christmas in October for crafty reasons. Not so much for commercial ones.
On my list of things to make is an advent calender of some sort. All sorts of ones here, here, and here. If that’s not enough, there’s one here, here, and here too!
Stay tuned for more Christmasy tutorials to come. And please share yours too! I’ll be sharing some links to Thanksgiving crafts too, so chime in with any you know of also.
