Eight Ideas for Handmade Gifts
photo courtesy of LollyKnit
Sometimes the best (and most affordable) gifts are made by hand. But if your creative juices just aren’t flowing or you need to jump start your inner-craftiness, try checking out some of these eight ideas for DIY gifts.
1. Miniature Books: At LostButtonStudios.com you’ll find step-by-step instructions along with printable templates for making your own miniature books. Use wrapping paper, junk mail or old calendars as the cover. They’re great for keeping little notes or writing down thoughts.
2. Cookie Mix in a Jar: Everyone loves freshly baked cookies, but sometimes by the time the gift arrives, those cookies aren’t so fresh. By making your own mix and packaging it in a cute jar, the receiver can have yummy cookies whenever they want. Check out this recipe from About.com.
3. Creative Coasters: Coasters are a great gift for a wide variety of people. Pick up cork coasters for just a buck or two and use this tutorial from Paper and Stitch to embellish them with your own creative flair.
4. Dog Clothes: If you like to sew, make a gift any pet lover would love: a jacket for Fido! Check out this free pattern from Circle of Crafters.
5. Salt Scrub: Make your own salt scrub by mixing Epsom salts and baby oil until it looks like very wet snow. Add aromatherapy oil to make it smell pretty. Package it in a creative way.
6. Storage Crate: Laura Gunn came up with a lovely way to transform ugly plastic crates into cool containers. Print off her instructions, pick up some fabric and get to work.
7. Cookbook: Create, organize, and store your recipes in your very own customizable cookbook with TasteBook. A hardcover, full-color book with tabbed chapters starts at just $19.95. Put in your favorite recipes and pass them on to friends and family.
8. Pin Cushion: This one is easy enough for kids to try. Using scrap fabric, a round container and a few other supplies, easily create a pin cushion and pin storage container that anybody (especially seamstresses) will love.
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Now, let’s talk! Have you tried any of these? Let us know your opinion! Leave a comment!
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September 26th, 2008 at 4:04 am
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September 26th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Handmade gifts are always a wonderful way to show thoughtfulness, and a great way to avoid the “mall crawl” and even save some money. A great way to add “meaning” to a gift, whether purchased or homemade, is to connect it to a tradition or folklore. For instance, your idea for a salt scrub is wonderful and salt , according to legend, is a symbol of friendship, trust and protection. The entire legend is in my book Giving with Meaning, which shows how to turn ordinary items into meaningful gifts by connecting them to folklore, legends and traditions. So, after making the salt scrub, you can write a short note, taking about the legend and how this gift is a symbol of your friendhsip. You get the idea. It’s all about making connections. Happy gift giving, Patricia Sheehy, author
September 26th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
@Patricia Sheehy: Thank you for taking the time to leave us a message! We really appreciate it!
October 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m in the process of creating a page for #1 mini book. The theme is Remembrance and it’s for our scrapbooking friend who lost her niece late last month. I’ve never done anything like it before so it’s going to be a nice little project. I need to learn more about WHAT it is too!
As for #2 Cookie Mix in a Jar, I did something similar for my daughter last Christmas! I put in chocolate chips, pecans and dried cranberries for a melted rounds thing (not exactly cookies!) I heard that it was really good though!
The real beauty of this for me is the idea list itself!
I can see myself referring back to it for ideas and for projects since I usually do make stuff for people.
Thanks for such a great list of ideas!
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
October 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
@Pam Hoffman: Thank you, Pam! Your support means a lot to us! We’ll have a few other lists coming… about Christmas gift ideas! Come back soon!
Best regards,
Betty