Holiday Handmade Crusade 2010 :: INACTIVE (Search for the 2011 Thread)

[pinkricepudding]

Oooh, those look gorgeous. A quick question about salt-dough ornaments, though. I tried to make some last Christmas and failed miserably. The ornaments themselves turned out fine, but when I went to paint them with acrylics, they got, for lack of a better word, soggy.

Is there a way to prevent that? Do they need to bake again after you paint them?

I was really disappointed because I rather liked the way they came out other than that small hindrance.

[PixieVal]

I have a question about salt dough ornaments too, I don't think I've ever seen them in person... Are they very heavy?

[playswithneedles]

I've seen some that were a bit heavy and bent the bough, but they were also pretty thick (made by kids!). I've also seen ornaments made dough out of applesauce and cinnamon, they had kind of a gingerbread color to them. I bet they smelled yummy too! Although they may have had glue in them as the binder....

[rockon]

Those ornaments are cute!  I have, since signing up, started a dishcloth and knitted a cat blanket for a good friend who is always looking for stuff for her 4 kitties.  I think it will be a birthday present, as I have decided to try for a handmade year, bdays and all.  Her birthday is sometime in Feb.  I have a block against Feb. birthdays, and can never remember the exact dates, but I know that I have 4 to celebrate that month, so I hope to create a handmade gift for each of the four and still squeeze out a couple of gifts marked for next holiday (probably production line gifts).  I also made 2 poop bag pouches from this tute:

http://theb-line.blogspot.com/2009/06/lets-make-pet-pouches.html

I am still trying to perfect my execution of the pattern, as I am just starting out with sewing.  So I will probably give the pouches I already made to my mom's dogs when I see her this weekend . . .

I am being lazy about picking up double As, so I can't post pics of the stuff I have made so far now . . . none of it is that exciting, but I will post them when I can.

Rock on!

[stellato_escuro]

Well, I may not actually be crafting right now, but I am getting work done! I started my Christmas notebook. For this year, I made note of what I gave everyone (so I don't duplicate gifts). I also started making notes on who is getting presents with space for me to write ideas. Here's my listy!

Individual gifts;
My brother
Brothers fiancee (wife by Christmas!)
Mom
Dad
My husband
My daughter
Mother in law
Father in law
Sister in law

I also have 3 couples to make basket gifts for. But other then that, I will do my best to not let that list grow. That way, I can make a budget and stick to it. Also, I can focus on making a really great gift for each person.

[christephi]

Oooh, those look gorgeous. A quick question about salt-dough ornaments, though. I tried to make some last Christmas and failed miserably. The ornaments themselves turned out fine, but when I went to paint them with acrylics, they got, for lack of a better word, soggy.

Is there a way to prevent that? Do they need to bake again after you paint them?

I was really disappointed because I rather liked the way they came out other than that small hindrance.

Last year I checked out a fantastic book at the library about salt dough ornaments.  It said any time they get a little soggy (from humidity in the air, etc), you can bake them again to dry them out.  It recommended using a very low oven temp (200) for a very long time (such as putting them in the oven all evening for several days in a row).

The only thing I can think of is that maybe yours weren't dried out enough before you started painting them.  I suggest you give it another go.  :-)

[lapoli]

Just doing a status report! I haven't finished anything this week, but I've been working on my mother's one row lace scarf and I cast on a pair of socks for my dad.



Hopefully I'll be able to get both of these finished up within the next week!

[marcusandila]

what a luxury handknit socks. i would die for a pair. literally. i cant afford them LOL but i can drool over all the ones that redboots made last year & now lapoli is here with handknit socks to make my wisty mind jealous. lol  looking great so far.

i havent started anything.
my sister and i made 2 shirts for our dad (Cheech and chong heads & below that it says "CHEECH & CHONG") (the other is a tribal skull. so awesome too) & we made a superjew shirt for her bf. but we decided to give them the shirts now rather than wait til christmas. soooooooo without furtherado: i have nothing to report lol

[sunshinesmiles]

Ooh this seems super fun! I think I stumbled across the '09 one, but completely forgot about it since that happened in like July

I looove this and will try to post to keep me accountable throughout the year! Plus, having things to do each month *should* help me avoid the last minute crafting on Christmas Eve! (That's when I made my brother's fleece tie blanket!)

I have Christmas presents to still craft for 2009, so will those count for this year...? :-P

[stellato_escuro]

That sounds like it counts to me! Even tardy crafting is crafting.