Ideas for lovely hand-made Christmas gifts

[saltyseadog]

I hope I'm not treading on Fellatio's toes by posting this - but I really want to get some ideas for making Christmas gifts this year and I don't have the time to trawl through the entire poncetastic thread :o.

What will you be making this year?

Now that is a bargain. I have my posh fiskar ones now though, aah well. Will post back when bunting underway! :) (although everyone else seems to have vanished now!)

I'm making Rosemary jelly. My rosemary bush in the garden has overgrown the path and needs to be pruned back anyway. Will let you know how the recioe goes. Been collecting small jars for the last few weeks- pesto and pizaa topping, etc. Surprised at how many small jars I do actually use

www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/935/apple-rosemary-jelly-recipe/

Ooh I have only just spotted your post kazah - I would be well chuffed to receive that, I have never heard of rosemary jelly before but am imagining it with roast lamb... mmmmm... Let us know how it goes!

I'm making paracord bracelets for my brother, bil and dh.
I've made earings out of electrical resistors for my mum (she is a science adviser for schools so it fits) I'm planning on making a handbag for either my mil or sil - its the buttercup bag by rae which someone else posted up here a few weeks ago.
I intend to do batches of playdough for the children we know rather than spending loads on presents this year which isn't possible and making crayon rolls for my neices.
I do need some ideas on what to do for our dads...

I'd love to make these dolls houses for my boys and a barn one for farm animals but I don't think I'll manage it, it looks a bit beyond my skill level

I've also done, 2 xmas puddings (one for my mum and dad and one for IL's) apple and blackberry jam (both picked locally) will do Delia's christmas chutney again, made tomato chutney as given excess produce from neighbours allotment, have loads more apples picked so need to see if I can make apple pie filling (think I saw receipe for it once) made pickled onions and plan to turn it all into hampers for family - I might do some baking nearer the time... or maybe peppermint creams... I did want to do sloe gin but think I've missed the boat on that one

My boys (4,2 and 1) have started on Christmas decorations (cookie cutter shapes from air drying clay) and I quite fancied trying pom poms with my 4 yr old.

That makes me sound very creative and I'm honestly not, loads of great ideas on line and I wish I could knit especially Christmas scarfs!

Bloody hell you really ARE a verybusyspider!Post pics when you've finished some things!

Just noticed today that sewmamasew are having a month of homemade holiday ideas... may be worth a look for the sewers amongst us .

Is there a link online with instructions for the paracords verybusyspider?

I'm thinking about giving these candles a go

tyler80 - there are youtube video's on how to do the bracelets and you can get the cord from ebay (honestly the firebox.com price is the biggest rip off ever!)

GingerCursed - I love Christmas my hobby is making stuff and I start early which is why it looks a lot, will get some pics up on my profile soon

Any one got ideas for men? I found fabric luggage lables when googling but not much else to inspire me....

Fleece Cushions,

I've just finished a pair with pirate flag motif, but you can decorate them in lots of ways & make them really personal, & good for any age -

back the motif cloth with woven fuse, stitch on as you please, by machine, or embroider- running or chain (etc)stitch it into place -
the basic cushion is real easy & you can make the motifs, as easy of difficult as you can handle

& stuff with beads & wadding/chopped up plastic bags, this makes them easy to wash & dry [hsmile]

thanks verybusyspider

I hate buying/making presents for men. They are a nightmare. In line with our money saving this year, we are getting cinema tickets using our Tesco vouchers, and DVDs using my Boots card points. We also have about £20 on our Nectar card so can get whatever from sainsburys, prob food related. I know that is not in keeping with this thread but none of my male relatives would like a flower brooch!!!

Will check out youtube though for those bracelets for the less elderly amongst them - where do you get the special fastenings?

Have you thought of making them a tie ginger ??....you can buy a pattern, but they are pretty easy to follow from online, this one looks okay? www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=42770.0

with the right motif,colour etc the cushions can be for men too, the Pirate ones are for a 40 yr old biker friends birthday, & he loves them.

I love the free calender link too,I was thinking of doing those this year, but that looks a whole lot easier than my original plans....thanks

Another suggestions for cooks, (DD did these last year) & they were very popular with the the Uncles.....home made Ginger bread, DD made Xmas trees & Angels, decorated with icing etc, & we then bought a roll of cellophane from Rymans, & wrapped them in little cellophane bundles tied with ribbon & tags

My adult brother is going to get a laptop case. I think i'll use this pattern but there are lots of others around. I just need to find a suitable material.

IPod/Phone/Electronic Gadgetry cases are good too.

Rice heat therapy bag is one that my OH would appreciate too as he's always got aches and pains (pity we don't have a microwave)

Can you tell I love sewmamasew?

i love this thread and will be shamelessly stealing lots of your ideas/suggestions!

tyler80 I made a stack of Rice Heat Therapy Bags last year - they were very popular... and they are so easy to make.

look at this
might try that

Just found this tutorial for a straightener bag. Be a great idea for teenage girls I think.

I made this earlier and it was a great success! I think I might make some and put them in airtight jars with ribbon around the top for the young adults in the family, along with some homemade grog- either flavoured vodka or irish cream.

Last year I made sock monkeys (tutorials all over the internet). This year I've not got much time on my hands but plan on making some candy cane paper mice (you basically make the mouse out of two bits of brown card and one tiny bit of pink card for the ears, and the cane threads through into them as its tail.

Struggling for inspiration and on standby that we'll be moving whenever this house purchase goes through so not much chance of making much else to be honest. Might do some baskets with gifty stuff in to try to save a bit of cash.

I'm super skint and not very practical. Not a great combination for present making I know. Anyone got some super simple ideas that don't involve anything too complicated (To give you an idea, trawling through I reckon I'm up to the gourmet chocs on the violetposy blog, perhaps the candles if I can source all the wax and stuff, the apple and rosemary jelly but things like the stained glass cookies I just KNOW will look crap if I do them - never mind attempting anything like the dolls house...
HELP!

Seriously Scarlett the flower brooches I made were easy peasy - I used hot glue which dispensed with the need for stitching, and rather than wool I snipped into another piece of felt to make the spikey bits (see pics on my profile) - I promise they were SO easy :)

Sorry link on p1 of this thread too

Ginger - the braclet fasenings are from a sailing chandlers but you can also do them with plastic buckles, check out the paracord braclet kits on ebay to see

Scarlett - chutneys are dead easy

My mum just sent me this link

100 Christmas gifts to make

i love the puppy in the kids section, pity i can't crochet

That's a great link Tyler