A Year of Homemade Gifts! - 2011-2012 - Are YOU in?

[Fullmoon]

I'm sorry that happened! Makes me glad I try to avoid Canada Post o_o;;;

Non-crafty news:
Good news: My mother found my other bamboo knitting needle. It got lost in the limbo of my bedroom back home LOL.
Bad news: I have to clean my room
Good news: I got a bunch more of my stuff, now I'm just missing my bike, some of my books, and my gardening stuff
Bad news: Now my room is messier than before
Good news: My mom bought me a new iPod!!!! Soooo happy!!!! >w<b


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I'm curious. You've seen the yin and yang chainmaille inlay I'm making Boyfriend, but now I've started on another yin and yang that looks a lot better (It uses a craft hoop which helps round out the pattern). Should I give him both, or just scrap the older one and give him the newer cooler looking one?

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Also, I found that recipe on here today for Dandelion wine. Unfortunately all the dandelions are dead here, but I'm gonna make dandelion wine in springtime I'm planning to gift some to my parents, to Boyfriend, I might keep a bottle for myself because I'm awesome like that (But I honestly doubt I'll drink it. I know it's "cool" and all to drink underage, but I don't like the taste of alcohol, and wines burn my throat so I'm not sure I'd wanna drink the wine. I'd probably just keep it to brag that I made it XD ), and probably some other relatives and people.

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Although it isn't really gifty, I think I'm going to make pumpkin donuts and chai tea cupcakes soon. Yummmm.... <3

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I know it's weird that I divide each thought, just go with it LOL.

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I went in to buy a specific paint brush, and came out with two sizes of one style of brush, and another of a similar but better-ish style, three sizes of multi liners (Mom said no to the Copic ones because they were 8.95 a pen, but was fine with the cheaper multi liners), a caligraphy pen, ink, and a small moleskin notebook thingy because it was discounted in cost because it was a discontinued style <3

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Oh, and also, I'm gonna try and get a set of jewelry together and also finished so I can mail it out to my biological mom soon Her birthday is on the 25th.

[meleriffic]

As for the Yin Yang inlay, I would just give him the nice of the two and save the other for a last minute gift you hadn't planned for.

[lieutenant_crunch]

Got my friend's drink books done and gave them to her. She loves them. In fact, she said they're the best present she got this year Here are some more pictures. Sorry they're so dark. I tried using the flash, but the glare from the lamination made the pictures impossible to see.

















Also, I didn't realize that our other friend's birthday was today, so I made her a quick gift too. She loves Harry Potter, so I made her a candle using a potion looking bottle I had as a mold.



It didn't turn out quite like I wanted, but she liked it a lot. Sorry the post is so pic heavy, but I'm proud of myself

[lieutenant_crunch]

Also, Fullmoon, I second the idea of giving him the nicer looking one and keeping the other one in case something sneaks up on you and you need a gift on short notice.

[idioskosmos]

Just got back from my husband's 25th high school reunion in San Diego (yes, we are that old!)  I didn't do any crafting all weekend, althoug I left a stocking cap to block.  Time to start Halloween - my 6 year old wants to be the cone head zombie from plants vs. zombies, and my 7 year old wants to be some sort of Pokemon....

[lieutenant_crunch]

Updated list! I had an idea for my grandma/great aunt. I don't think I'll have time to make grandma a walker bag, plus I don't know what I'd make for my aunt. So, my mom usually buys them each a wreath for their house as birthday presents (an early one in my aunt's case). Do you think it would be feasible to make them?

October:
     -Friend's birthday: drink books
     -other friend: polyjuice potion candle (added that just so I could cross it off )
November:
     -Kate: sushi cupcakes
     -Marcus: rubiks cube with Magic mana symbols, tetris pixel cookies
     -Dad and uncle: company shirts
     -Grandma: wreath?
December: Christmas!
     -housemates: sock monkeys, cookies/candy/etc., stockings
     -boyfriend: Mario blanket
     -brother: freezer paper stencil shirt of some kind.
     -dad: notebook for song lyrics
     -mom: wind chimes?
     -grandma and great aunt: Christmas dinner
     -puppy chow/peanut brittle/fudge/oreo balls, etc. for random people
January:
     -brother: probably another shirt, and something else
     -2 year Anniversary: dinner, shy guy t-shirt
     -great-aunt's birthday: might make her a wreath as well, as an early birthday present.
February:
     -Valentine's day: cake (http://www.bakerella.com/a-valentines-day-gift-box-of%E2%80%A6/), card
     -boyfriend's birthday: Tama
     -friend's birthday: d10 fuzzy dice for his car.
March/April: Nothing
May:
     -Mothers' Day: seed paper
June:
     -Fathers' Day: still stuck on this one
July:
     -Mom's birthday: ?
August:
     -Parent's Anniversary:?

[elliot_anne]

Wreaths are SUPER easy! I've never made one myself, but from what I've seen on pinterest, it doesn't get much easier than a wreath. I have a whole board dedicated to them for when I can actually afford to start celebrating holidays, haha.

http://pinterest.com/elliot_anne/fun-wreaths/

Clicking any of the pictures should take you to the blog where they were originally found.

[lieutenant_crunch]

Awesome! Thanks so much!

[Mrs. Awesome_Pants]

This looks too fun not to join in, even late.  I think I'll extend this all the way to the end of next year, as well

Such an awesome craft-a-long comes at a really great time, since I have two big birthdays in November -- Mom on the 18th, SO on the 26th.  I'm a freelance writer and one of my big job sites just closed down (ack!), so frugal or free is definitely necessary!

My one amendment to the handmade rule is for Mom's Christmas -- she has been wanting a laptop for ages and I have committed to getting her one.  I'm going to buy it new from a local shop where I got mine, which means I can make interest-free monthly payments and seriously save some $$$.

So, my list:

November
Mom -- probably a scrapbook of us kids.  She got me a Cricut lite as a graduation gift, so it'll be good to put it to use for her.

Devin (SO) -- I don't know.  I have seen a plethora of things here and on Etsy he'd love, but a lot of it is out of my crafting expertise.  I did see a Captain American pillow on the Crochet forum he'd die for that I'll probably copy for Christmas.  He's a big gamer, grew up with retro 80s games.  Batman, Captain America, Mario Bros, MegaMan, Metroid.  I crochet mostly, but also sew and do some paper-crafting.  Any ideas, patterns, etc. are much appreciated!

December -- Christmas!

Mom -- laptop, but with some sort of handmade accessory, like a case or lap desk.

Devin -- Captain America pillow

Bro 1 -- Steelers pillows.  I'm going to crochet four granny squares in yellow and black and put them around some pillow forms.  This is perfect because we're currently painting their room yellow with black trim, lol.

Bro 2 -- I'm making a granny's daughter afghan with his name spelled out in the blocks.  I designed a diagram to follow and I've made a TON of squares...I just need to assemble them.


Sister -- Last year I made her mary jane slippers that went over well, but she moved to FL this summer, so the cold weather type stuff is out.  I thought maybe a nice framed picture of her black lab, which she had to leave behind with us until she gets her own place.

BFF and goddaughters -- stuffies for the little ones, maybe a home spa type kit for their mom

College friend 1 -- not sure.  She's in grad school for her teaching degree, plays the piano, loves cats and dry red wine.  We were English majors and organization co-presidents, and I want to do something really nice for her since I wouldn't have gotten through school without her.

College friend 2 -- She's an absolute enigma.  Loves rock music, good wine, spending money, travel.

College friend 3 -- Also wouldn't have made it through without her.  I'm going to put together a cooking box for her, with a customized apron, spice mixes, and some hot chocolate mix

Ex-boss/friend -- NOT.  A.  CLUE!

College friend 1's bf -- He's a writer like myself and a really great guy.  I'm thinking bookmarks and a good used copy of an author bio, perhaps an anti-stress kit geared towards men.

Whew!

[bookstorebabe]

Well, here's my mother on law's walker bag,modeled on DH's old walker. Dollar store purse $8.00. The Goodwill purses looked terrible and cost almost as much! So Dollar Store it was. Added wide black straps to convert it, had the straps and velcro already. Hand sewed the velcro for extra stability, instead of relying on the sticky backing. That way if she's out she doesn't have to mess with a walker bag and juggling a purse, and it zips shut in the middle to keep wallet and keys safe. I left the original handles attached-they're just tucked inside. So she doesn't have to transfer stuff to a purse, if she's leaving the walker behind. Just undo the velcro straps, tuck them in, pull out the purse handle. Mainly I'm hoping she'll use it at home for little things-tissue, cell phone, lipstick, ect. Don't know when we're seeing her, but she'll get it next time we do, instead of waiting for Christmas.
Not really a homemade gift, but it's a start!