what craft would you re-do next year??

[brideOFkniterstein]

yes, i know the gift-giving winter holidays JUST ended, and most of us are probably trying to get our heads on straight after all this crafting and gift giving.

i wanted to ask this while it was all still fresh in our minds:

which crafts got such a rave review, that you are definitely going to repeat??

also, what crafts are you definitely going to add to your repertoire?



for me: i'm going to repeat marble magnets... i was shocked at how much people liked them. i'm also repeating book thongs. as far as adding a new project/gift to my list... i'll be adding washcloths.

[LOLMegan]

My marble magnets were a hit too! 
Chocolate covered pretzels also went well, as always.
And book thongs is a good one, especially since almost all of my friends are in honors LA with me (Which means reading to NO END), so I think I'll add that to my list 

[LadyCregga]

My embroidered pillows and diapers went over well, so did my embroidered tote bag.
The quilted throw I made, made my mom giddy.
And my MIL loved the mermaid doll I made her.
So all of those or just some of them will be in the line up next year.
As well as pin cushions.
Already have three done for next year.
Probably will do about thirty.

[lbaptiste]

This is a great post that gets me thinking about what worked and what didn't...

Actually, this year I was so lucky, since everything seemed to go over really well.  For my sister's boyfriend, I made PJ pants with a flannel that had flames all over it and she called me right afterwards and told me he put them on immediately and loved them so much!  I made jewelry sets for all the ladies on both sides of the family (Necklaces, Bracelets and Earrings).  The thing that I'd probably skip next time would be the bracelets.  It is so hard to estimate the right size for different peoples' wrists and now I find myself with a pile of them to adjust (I offered to fit them to people after they opened them so that they could wear them!).  Next time, I'd probably just do necklaces and earrings.  I also made stockings for my brother and his fiance and they LOVED them... they were so touched when they opened them, so I was happy about that.

For next year, I've already started to think about what I want to do.  A couple of things that I want to learn are: glass etching and more advanced knitting (right now, I only know the basic knit stitch, so that's all I can do!), I'm also going to do a bit more sewing next year.

Happy holidays everyone and happy planning!

Lisa

[naelany]

well, this wasn't something for Christmas, but a big hit was a scarf set I'd made for my MIL's birthday. My niece requested a similar one. Sadly I ran out of time to finish it for this year's Christmas, so it's in the works for next year instead.

[plucky1_08]

This is a mix of this years and last years presents simply cause I love to decoupage (my main craft) and so I do something each year with it.  Last year I did the marble magnet thing, I did a holiday set, and I also did family photos.  I also made a set of wine charms using family photos (a lot like marble magnets).  


This year I made photo albums for my dad and cousin and I took the covers and decoupaged baby pics (me on my dad's and my cousin's kids on hers) on the front and back.  They were all black and white.  Forgot to take photos.  The pics resembeled my fave gift of the year.  One of my best friends is a drummer and I took a drum case and decoupaged black and white photos of him from the past ten years with his different bands all over the lid.  I told him if he didn't like it I was keeping it.  lol

The top:


and side:


Everyone loved everything so much I've already started pondering next year cause it's getting hard to out do the previous year.  lol  

I almost forgot I also made wine charms and a wine tag to go with the wine glasses I bought for my uncle, here is the wine tag on the bottle.    

[FluffyVallieres]

plucky1_08 I love the wine charms!!  i've been making those marble magnets but never thought of them to make wine charms... especially since i personally need them... at a Christmas party this year i was forced to tie a big green bow on my wine glass because i kept missplacing it... thanks for the idea... i may try and make them for my New Year's eve party... better get cracking!

[pawnshoppromises]

My mom, aunt, and MIL all loved the crocheted dishcloths I made this year, so they'll definately be seeing a comeback.

My FIL also loved the NY Sucks (he's originally from Boston) t-shirt I made him, and now his dad, brothers, and a couple of poker buddies want one as well. So, stenciled items will be appearing next year, too.

My cousin also loved her star baby blanket, but we'll see if anyone I know is expecting next Christmas...

As for new items for next year, I just started doing melt-and-pour soaps, so those will definately be gifts for next year.

[Onyxnox]

I will likely make jams again next year - but getting the smaller 125 ml bottles sooner.  I may recruit my best friend and do them with her because she is looking to do small homemade gifts for friends from work too.  This is the second time I have done it and it was just as successful as the first time.  Maybe I may make some marmalade next year too (my mom loves marmelade)

Definitely food gifts are appreciated - the almond roca always gets rave reviews and this is the second or third year I made it - many of my co-workers dive into it the moment they get it.  Same with shortbread - problem is with shortbread, I eat as I make.

The snowflake ornaments went over big - think I will make more, in different patterns next year - love how they catch the light on my own tree.

Probably will make more coaster sets for next year - and maybe add trivets if I can find the right sized tiles for them.

Definitely more necklaces - perhaps variations on the fringed, definitely some other kinds.

[cheesedip]

stencilled shirts were this christmas's hit : nobody would believe that i made them. i will definitley repeat this gift idea.

[catdaddytn]

anything fleece is great to repeat.  Scarves, blankets, etc. 

I need to complete my fleece projects ... well, first I need to completely figure out the project.

thanks.  catdaddytn

[danfreek22]

i'm definitely going to continue making my famous peppermint pinwheel cookies next year and i'm hoping to make some picture bracelets too.

[Onyxnox]

The thing that I'd probably skip next time would be the bracelets.  It is so hard to estimate the right size for different peoples' wrists and now I find myself with a pile of them to adjust (I offered to fit them to people after they opened them so that they could wear them!).  Next time, I'd probably just do necklaces and earrings.  

What about doing memory wire bracelets instead - that way they have some give and are more self adjusting?

[Polkaroo]

I'll definitely be doing a couple more no-sew knotted fleece throws next year - but I'll start MUCH earlier.

I made one this year for my aunt and totally underestimated the amount of time it would take to tie knots on 2 yards of fleece!  I was still tying up the last few knots on Xmas Day.   However, my aunt's reaction was absolutely worth it.

Planning how many I want to make and what colours I want means I'll also be able to take advantage of the "buy 1, get 2 free" sales that happen every so often, which would be nice since the fleece was fairly pricey when I got around to buying it.

However, I'll skip the homemade gift bags (I made drawstring bags out of festive red and green fabrics).  Everyone seemed to busy pulling out the stuff inside to notice the wrapping.    It would've been quicker and cheaper to go with dollar store gift bags, which is what I'll do next year.

[mycupoftea]

Plucky 1_08: I absolutely love the wine charms - could you give me a tutorial on how to make them? I've never done the marble magnets, but I understand how to do them, but I don't understand how you attach the marble to the wires. This would be such a perfect gift for my brother and his wife.

[BrushfireFaeries]

What a good idea for a post!

I gave record bowls to a few friends this year, plus a mixed cd and set of coasters I made with mini-cds (the kind you put in cameras sometimes). Those gifts went over really well, so I'll be making record bowls for more next year!

Two years ago I made my four closest girlfriends stockings that looked like high-heeled boots in fun fabrics, complete with "laces" and fringe. I put silk-ish lining in them and filled with goodies. They absolutely loved them - just to throw the idea out there.

And I always give tons of cookies, fudge and chex mix. Always, always, always a hit!

[doeayes]

everyone knew who was my secret santa when the crafty stuff came out.  heck i don't have money to be doing some little stuff every dang day that i can't create from my own stash. 

i like the pipe cleaner candy canes they make great present toppers.

i am going to steal the mable wine tag idea!!!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

fun foam letters to i.d. pressies.  i liked it.  No one else did it, but they knew it was me.

i'm searching now for secret santa stuff now because i don't want to be rushing at the last minute.

[Jillie]

Cookie-mix-in-a-jar.  Everyone loves that stuff!

Also, some knitted scarves and purses.


Although, I'm also trying something new and gifting socks!  Never done that before.

[Ashling]

I made ceramic scented oil warmers for all the women in the family last year.  Unfortunatly, one exploded in the kiln and I didn't have time to start over.  So I'm going to make one for the family friend who didn't get one.

I made wine charms for my father-in-law a few years ago, and they went over well.  I made them with pre-cut hoop earring wire and plastic beads I already owned.  The best part was the total cost was only $1.39 for the wire.