Homemade pressies anyone?

[geisha]

Would be great to hear ideas about homemade pressies you have made/received. Would really like to have a go this Christmas/autumn birthdays. Particularly interested in gifts for children.

I don't know about pressies but if you Google 'cards to colour in' you will get lots of black and white templates you can print off and the dc's can colour in. Cheap, homemade and good for last minute panics!

Last year we bought simple wooden picture frames with a few 'openings' and did pictures for the dds' friends with several coordinating pictures to go with their bedrooms; then decorated the frames with beads etc. They went down well.

Also if you look on MSE they have ideas for 'journal jars' which might be nice for pre-teen or teen girls.

Nice jars filled with sweets usually a good one too.

How did I manage to kill this then?

For dd's birthday a friend made her a) a fleece two-tone blanket (no stitching required) and b) a air-dried clay name plate, both of which I thought were lovely and she swears they were both easy to make!

Have read on other threads that home-made play-doh has been popular.

I always give homemade presents, at Christmas we give out homemade mincemeat - in advance , pickles etc in decorated jars. I sometimes customise a piece of clothing for my sister or do a piece of embriodery to give away.

The frames sound nice Janeite.

Customised clothing = a fab idea. Not one I'm clever enough to do unfortunately.

I'm going to start chutney making soon. I collected wee baby food jars and plan to make mini jars and give people 3. (we'll see if this actually happens!)

I like homemade sweets or any baking.

My SIL has painted mirror tiles for kids which are lovely. Other friends have done bunting. I don't have the patience for either.

I'm making some of urs thisb year. trying glass painting this wee (with a massive project that has to go on public display- don't do thinks by halves LOL) so if that works out I may personalize some cheap wine glasses for my sister and BIL with a bottle of red (was thinking abiout brandly glasses with home amde fruit brandy as an alternative). Doing those layered cookie mixes as well from the boys as they are nice and £6.99 at the farmers market

Last year I made biscotti and truffles for christmas, and spicey tomato chutney the year before that. All appeared to go down well!
For children I make crayon rolls (google for loads of tutorials), tutus, soft toys or car travel bags.

For family gifts we make clay fridge magnets, cut out shapes, stick on a phto and let DD's decorate, look hideous but older generation seem to appreciate them. I made shopping tote bags for my sisters birthday out of a cream sheet and then let DD's loose with permanent marker pens. Equally hideous but they get used!

Friend and I are making truffles for people, dead easy and so scrumptious

I will look for the recipe

YUMMY

I buy cheap canvases from the Works, then give DS two oil or acrylic colours that co-ordinate with the reciever's room decoration colour and leave him to it.

The finished painting always looks prtty cool and goes down well with the person recieving it as it instantly works with their existing decorations and room theme etc.

Problem with Truffles is they are expensive to make, so a lovely present but not credit crunch stuff.

My mum once made shortbread and gave it as presents in nice shop bought tins. Cath Kidston-like tins, but she got nests of 3 for about £5 from BHS or Tesco or somewhere. She makes wicked shortbread mind, and the tins were presented really well. Lovely present.

My sister once made me a pincushion with my name embroidered on. Unfortunately I don't sew (apart from hems, buttons and nametapes), and clearly neither does she! It was really not very good.

I make a lot of presents for people, last year I made chutney for relatives, and shortbread and biscuits. (Good for those 'difficult' older male relatives) I also make jewellery for friends. Last year I made aprons, which could easily be scaled down for children for baking purposes, maybe with a set of novelty cake cutters. I have also made tote bags from pretty fabrics, look in charity shops for bedding or curtains for retro prints at a low cost.

I was thinking of making customised t-shirts for friends children this year, but decided against it, as couldn't decide who should get one, and won't have time to do one for everyones child!

truffles were not expensive, as the chocolate cost me about £3 and plus cream etc ingredients cost about £4.50

and made 60....

I made lots of truffles for under a fiver, I bought value chocolate, oranges and then some cream, had cocoa in teh cupboard.

Lots of lovely ideas. I have nearly all girls to buy/make for aged 2 to 5. Just 2 boys aged 9 and 2. We don't usually but for adults but it would be nice to make something edible as a gesture

Watch this Little girsl will love you!

Or this one uses elastic

Love those tutus - what a shame I only know little boys now.

wow, i might try those tutus, love them!

ds made snowglobes recently with good friend. glued a figure toy into a jam jar, add water/glycerine/glitter and that's it. He absolutely loves it. Thought these could be v cool christmas decs.

Well one year I made my own sloe gin to bottle and give away as presents.
We kept some for ourselves of course and the result was a gorgeous ds nine months later!!

Have just tonight found out what the little icon at the bottom of my screen is...it's called LIGHT SCRIBE ??? Tried it out and it is for when you burn your own CD's you can customise the actual CD with your own photo or art work..also make your own CD box insert with the Artwork Colour Text boxes absolutley nimphs to use very personalised and better still...FREE !!

All the little girls I need to but for would adore the tutu's - thanks jack. Decision made!!