Anyone sewing gifts for Christmas?

[neddle]

I plan to sew a case for dd's new 3ds; ds1's new 3ds (if I can find another bargainous one) and ds2's new LeapPad.

Haven't started yet because I need them to choose fabrics without letting them know what it's for.

I feel the urge to make more gifts, but I don't know what to make. My children are 12 (girl), 8, 5 & 2 (boys). I also have dh, my parents, my brother and 2 aunts I could sew for.

Any ideas for free or cheap patterns or tutorials?

I am needle felting this Christmaa, so not quite the sane but in the same ballpark :)

I've done a round little owl for Ds, and working on a father Christmas for his stocking. I'm going to attempt to do the Pontipines too (argh! There are loads of them!), and a mallard door stop for my mum.

Have you looked on Pinterest? Loads of ideas on there...

Ps what about pillows/ cushions for gifts? You can personalise them so much, shape of animals/ vehicles etc for kids, patchwork with appliqué and all sorts for grown ups, even fill with lavender for a scented cushion?

Or a small bolster type shape to hang up and store plastic bags in? Or sew napkins/ napkin rings for each person to use at Christmas dinner, again personalised and a bit funny? Or baubles/ cute shapes to hang on tree or around door handles. Or door stops/ draught excluder weighted with beans? Or patchwork on tshirts for the kids... Or toiletry bags/ show bags/ kit bags, or even a bag that can be folded up as a spare bag to keep in bottom to handbag, can be folded into a nice shape like a strawberry or hedgehog or owl etc?

I'm making hooded towels with their names on to use at swimming. Also making angry birds and bad piggies hand warmers/ bean bags. Making them with my Christmas present which is a new sewing machine.

I'm not at all crafty but two years ago my children received personalised blankets. Big fleece blankets with fabric letters of their names sewn on. They were their hit present that year and they still love them now, if we're staying away from home the blankets come too.

Possibly not the best link, but fleece character hats are cheap and easy to make and fairly easy to customise to their favourite characters. If you search fleece hat with ears turoritals that will give you the basic shape.

(For the DC, not aunts etc!!)

I'm making changing bags/nappies/baby wipes for my girls (if dp's mum ever comes up to sort my machine