Christmas is coming - let's share craft ideas for gifts!
 

These are darling!

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/...ery-totes.html
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1eI7tS4s_B...s640/bags2.jpg

And just think how you could do with it a quick iron-on transfer with your digi supplies!

Oh. Christmas. Reminds me how I promised to myself to start the 2011 calendar in August. *hides*

Those bags are darling. :-)

These are soooo cute!

This reminds me that I've been knitting a penn state blanket as a christmas gift for Jordan's baby sister for 2 years now......

I actually rarely make gifts for Christmas. I make the christmas cards and that's hard enough usually, lol.

Also? Those bags are adorable AND awesomely cool for being so green :)

I'll be watching this thread, we started a new tradition with our kids/family 2 Christmases ago, "Homemade Family Christmas". {aka: only the kids get presents that were bought, everyone else gets something that was crafted, baked & made with lots of love}
On my list so far:
-Tea cup candles
-Jewelry (matching earrings/necklaces) for the moms/grammas/aunts
-Family Receipe book, for my mom's side of the family, with my Granny's recipes in it
-I'm thinking the grandparents will get brag books/accordian albums??
-Some new ornaments (not sure on the style/type yet)

So far: For my girlfriends I'm giving them a colleciton of cards (made with digitial scrapbooking supplies). I've also made 2 dozen jars of jam. Last year I did little notebooks covered with my son's art. I bought a few little 'books' to do that again.

Christmas!!?*!&??? I haven't had my summer holiday yet :p

i need to come up with an idea - will be watching this thread closely!

Calendars, bragbooks, canvas wraps and some customized decor for friends.

i am doing vinyl saying on 12x12 tiles. i will cut the vinyl with my cricut.
making some little wooden blocks with sayings done with digi supplies.
made jam and plan to make homemade quick breads using pumpkin and zuchinni from our garden.
not sure what else...

I don't make a lot of gifts other then calanders and regular ole photo books but the kids and i do love making ornaments!!! Here are some we did last year!!!

Wishing Spool
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/c...00ORNAMA04.jpg

Mice Ornament
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/c...100COOKA10.jpg

Filled Glass Ornaments I usually use the big books of coordination scrapbook paper for this and roll it up to make it curly. You could totally print digi papers on cardstock and use that
http://www.graciousrain.com/wp-conte...ojects-027.jpg

Santa Lightbulb
http://www.kaboose.com/imageLibrary/lightbulbsanta.jpg

These would make nice gifts and I often give these type of gifts to the bus driver and the kids teachers, they all seem to love them!!!

Actually I'm dreading the pre-Christmas period. I usually want to do everything myself and with my megalomaniac tendencies it becomes overwhelming. Of course, nobody MAKES me do anything, that's all my doing, but well... let's say it's really too much to try to do too much.

Last year I did:

- a wall calendar for everyone,

- individual laminated calendars,

- these Christmas decorations,

- hand-painted/decorated canvas cards similar to these (except the link is to those from 2008, I haven't posted pics of the 2009 set).

Actually, those painted cards are fun and not hard to do. I don't think I'll make any this year, but I'm pretty sure a wall calendar is a must and, hm, those candle decorations were so addictive... :-)

What I'm thinking about are individual laminated bookmarks, a different one for everyone. That might be fun, too.

These are all so cute!

I will definitely be watching this thread.

I was thinking calenders, photocubes or explosion boxes?, soups or cookies in a jar (recipes in a jar)

I know I'll be doing some photobooks and I will definitely be watching this thread.

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, while I LOVE the idea of those bags and think they are really cute. I'm a little leary about melting plastic and the possibility of releasing toxic chemicals or polluting the air in my home. Just a heads up for anyone with kids who have asthma or might want to think twice. I had a bad experience with a very old apartment dishwasher that had a tendency to drop through plastic and melt on the heating element and the smell was very bad news. As you can see I really loved the idea of the bags and went to look how to make them. *stepping off of soapbox and apologizing to Darcy because I really love that she shared the idea and started this thread*

i'll do calendars (only half got theirs this year...i never got them printed/bound - which reminds me I need to look into a binding machine - gift for me -hee hee).

I love the Santa/snowman lightbulb ornaments -that was on my list last year too - even saved some burnt out bulbs but never got around to it:(.

Some others I've thought about - photo cubes, greeting card packets (for MIL, GM).

I'll be keeping my eye on this thread for sure!

DS will make the grandparents some ornaments, and I might try those bags for me! lol :D

Two years ago I made these for my friends and family using 2-year pocket calendars from Michael's. Now that the calendars will be running out, they are all expecting them again this year.

https://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com...endars_001.JPG

Last year I made all my friends aprons for our annual baking day. They were so surprised - didn't even know I could sew. ;)
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/r...ar6/aprons.jpg

I've also made journals - these are paper, but you could definitely turn these into digi hybrid.
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/r.../notebooks.jpg

I think I am doing layouts on mini magnets this year. It has been a few years since I gave them as gifts and they need current ones!

Last year homemade hot cocoa mix was a hit so the boys will make that again.

Omg these are adorable! :D What an awesome gift!!

I usually do calendars for the grandparents. I've also done magnets from Something Blue as well, but didn't do that last year because Christmas snuck up on me. I'm actually planning to be pro-active this year. We'll see LOL

I also see a lot of my friends have Etsy shops where they're selling all kinds of super cute hand made items, so I might look into something like that. I don't sew and I'm not too crafty, so sometimes it's just better to have someone else do it.

One thing I always do myself, is design my Christmas cards.

I have it easy this year ... dh is really getting into woodworking since my parents gave him money last year to get a dust collection system for his workshop (cuz it's in same room as laundry) ... he bought a special attachment for his lathe and will be making WOODEN turned bowls as presents!!! ...so guess all I have to do is make his calendar for his cube ... yay!

There are a TON of gift ideas (some great, some really cheesy...I mean, leg warmers for CATS? Um, don't they already have FUR? but I digress) here:

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/categor...-free/page/25/

ETA: apparently the kitty leg warmers were an April fools' joke!

I love the idea of chocolate mix, or cookie mix jars.

I usually make my own cards - though never enough & always last minute...

I want to do calendars, but need to investigate getting them printed rather than doing it myself. If anyone in the UK has a suggestion for a printing service, please shout!!

I also make mini baskets or bags with mini make-up, or bath bombs or sweeties in as stocking fillers too.

LOVE LOVE LOVE that site! I am so gonna make some of that stuff this year for Christmas! I think I'm gonna make the fancy dishwashing gloves for my Mom and MIL so they have something pretty but functional. Oh man now I'm in trouble....more projects!!!

Thank you for posting that site. I'm finding lots of ideas. And I'm thinking of trying to sew the Swiffer covers for myself.

I'm doing little mini books of the kids for the relatives back home. Its been over a year since they've seen them in person and think it might be neat for them to have something to hold and look at :)

I saw this idea on the news awhile ago. Some young kid started a business making grocery/tote bags using old t-shirts. You basically just cut off the sleeves and sew the bottom half of the shirt together. They look something like this (except they used smaller shirts than the ones pictured):

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/p...t_Tote_Bag.jpg

Here's the link I found the picture at but the actual bags I saw on the news looked way better.

I"m hoping to make some key fobs for some people on my list.

And I've started making cute little amigurumi animals - they are so fun! So I might see about using some of them as gifts.

Really not sure what else to make this year... really hoping this thread gives me a few ideas!

I absolutely LOVE your Wall Calendar! Wonderful choices in kits and your arranging of layers is to die for....What I wouldn't give to be able to have your talent in arranging your elements & photos....

I also do wall calendars for the grandparents and mini hybrid books of 1 picture for each month of the last year. This year I am thinking of also doing bath bomb cupcakes that someone posted earlier this year. Not sure what else. Since I have been doing shared gifts for my step-sisters and their husbands now, they are much harder than they used to be.

I'm just doing calendars this year, again... even though not sure why I bother... the grandmas don't use the calendar... LOL!

Sheila, thank you! You have just made my day! *beams*

Oh this is perfect because I'm going to start Christmas shopping soon...I love Elizabeth's ornaments...Great ideas...

I love these...I'm so going to try these out...

I'm attempting these (after I finish my daughter's sweater and my son's scarf) for my grandmother:
http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Kn...D50882220.html
http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Kn...D10204220.html
We have a long standing tradition of giving each other all types of tea sets.

*GASP* Did you just said Christmas? :blink:
If I just didn't have a moving to do and DD's b-day party...
I think I'll be able to start thinking about it just by October. Which means 'too late'. Again. :(

Has anyone tried these yet?

I did & I still need to find the right combo of bags/heat, I had a combination of bags from 2 different stores. But I have 1 imperfect bag done, a 7x8x11.

Imperfect or not - lets see it!!

I'm with Jae...let's see that bag chica!!!

I am making those photo cubes for my girlfriends for XMAS and I think my DD want's one so gonna make her one too and may even make one for the inlaws...gonna make my mom a photobook of random LO's that I have done throughout the years....and I already printed 12x12 Digi LO's from my BIL's wedding {4} and gonna put them in 4 frames and give them for XMAS :) I also want to make those cute clocks for my nieces and nephews for XMAS, so we will see if I can get around to it!!!! They LOVE homemade gifts, so we will see :)

okay... finally got these off the camera. here is the bag
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_6256.jpg

I've decided on a couple other things for gifts:
-MIL gets one of those awesome photo cubes with some personalized pens.
-Dad/SM are getting hand beaded wine glass charms orange/black & I'm going to try to find some motorcycle charms for them

I try very hard not to make anything for Christmas except maybe a Shutterfly book or two and the Christmas card. :p

I did buy my daughter the dress she'll be wearing in the family pictures we'll be taking in a couple months for the Christmas card. Does that count for something?! *lol*

My God you women are talented. Loving this thread, so many ideas I wouldn't know where to start - so I probably won't :p

I just love Darcy's first suggestion and the pic - Icecream gets it's own bag? That's my kind of household :thumbup:

LOL Ebs - you are always sure to make me smile! :)

You guys are all SOOO versatile and talented! I am happy if I have time to scrap! These are all amazingly wonderful ideas!
All I have pinned down are these CD Desktop Calendars for my kids school teachers, and my co-workers.
I may print some calendars and little single sided photo flip books with Persnickety too, they are offering free binding on any project.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nW8TSKXFH_...400/CdCal4.jpg

http://persnicketyprint.blogspot.com...calendars.html

I forgot to mention that I always bake cookies and make candies with my other bff .... but here are just 4 of the items dh has made so far... he is obsessing with these bowls right now ... lol I absolutely LOVE the stacking bowls... thinking would be good for chips and dip or fruit and dip.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...y/100_8967.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...y/100_8965.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...y/100_8966.jpg

this one is turned from a tree stump...keeping the bark on the edges:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...y/100_8964.jpg

Your bag is so cute Amanda!!! And I really love the idea of making wine charms.... Now if I can get my act together I know what I'm making for DH's side of the family! :D

I've decided on a few things...

Ribbon Key fobs (just need the ribbon to get started)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ry/KeyFobs.jpg

Crocheted mary jane slippers for my sisters

some cute little Amigurumi crochet animals (I'm thinking of turning some tiny turtles into key rings for my sisters, and making a teddy bear or doll for my DD)

And I just have to figure out what to do for my mom and inlaws, I'm thinking... maybe photo cubes?