A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity Special crafts or gifts for christmas

You folks are so creative, I just wondered if any of you do some homemade things, or small gifts for folks. I am not into the commercial side of christmas, every year I am more appauled by it. I like things from the heart. Just wondered what all of you do.

I always had my kids make things for their aunts because they appreciated them so much. Usually those items had more to do with a way to deliver their school pictures; so frames.
For instance, I got very inexpensive plain wooden frames for a 5X7 pic. (dollar store). And those alphabet beads. I drilled tiny holes near the bottom of the frames, each side. The kids strung something on wire and we strung the wire across the bottom of the the frame. One of Jonni's says ":ding: 4 ANT JAN ". (Yes, I left the misspelled aunt there.) The alphabet beads come with blank spacers and the hearts and such.
On another thread, Christmas recipes something, I posted a couple of "gifts in a jar". I have a site with a lot of those to share if you would like.

Who are you talking about crafting gifts for?

I made the terees skirts for my mom, MIL, sister, and now the girls.

I had the material to make my brother one but didn't get there---his girlfriend at the time made it--it was beautiful, but I felt bad, for not doing it myself.

I make the "tea" I put in the recipe thread, and gift it sometimes too.

anf then I give homemead breads and cookies to various people as well.

My brother helps his kids make canned jellies & such so they can have a h and in the gifts they give to prople. I think him teaching them to do such is a good thing.

We have bought clear wine glasses at thrift stores and made gel candles in them. It is fun to pick things to put into them to show through the gel. They have wonderful scents you can add.
We make wax dipped pine cone fire starters for our neighbors and friends with fireplaces. We add a lot of spicey scents to them.

One year I made wheat pillows for all of our friends and neighbors. I sewed bags of approx. 5X8 or 4X9 inches and filled them with wheat kernels I purchased at a feed store. With directions to put a mug full of water into the microwave next to the bag and heat for 1-3 minutes and apply bag where needed for warmth. Those were a hit. I had to repeat the next year. I guess people use rice filling too. And add some essential oils for fragrance. I love the toasty oat smell of the hot wheat kernels myself.
(The mug of water on the side helps keep the innards from 'popping')

I had not heard of using wheat.

around here we use rice. Mom has jsut made me one.she used soft flannel.

she says to put it in the MW--and said that for the first few times, she said it would feel damp. I guess there is moisture in the rice for first??

I had forgot about those--they make a nice gift.

I'm trying to think of other things we have done. But I would like some input from Kim as to exactly what she had in mind. Does she sew, crochet? Who is she crafting for? Are there kids involved in the crafting?

Tina that is a good point. If we had some of that information it might jog our memories a bit, right??

We do homemade cookies and candy at our church. It's fun but very time consumming. And if I don't get rid of the trojan horse on the new computer where all of my recipes are I won't be doing anything at all. Grrrrrh.

tree skirts are a great gift but I need mine before Christmas please. :wink:

And jelly....yum. My mother used to always give me blackberry jelly that her friend made but her friend died.

Sorry friends, I have been AWOL. I just have a few people.. that I like to give something neat to.
One is the lady who owns the barn where I keep my horse. I love her shes a real sweetie. And the lady who I am taking Pottery classes from..Just something thoughtful. I am by no means crafty. But I like things that are useful and people will say.. aww I got this from Kim..

do you sew?

MAybe a button occasionally! LOL
No I am talentless when it comes to crafts. I train horses my whole life, Used to raise tropical fish, and exotic birds, Trained protection dogs, Animals are my forte~
This pottery thing is the only creative thing I have ever done.
I can take pretty awesome piccies however. I was just looking for simple ideas, like your ones on the recipe page.. I may do those. Like I said talentless in the craft department!~

Those are awesome and rewarding talents, Kim.
Ok, I am PMing you a site with other gifts in a bottle that are very simple.
There are a million and one easy ways to dress up a simple frame to show off your pics or someone else's too.

How about a framed photo that you've taken? Maybe of her horse barn.

KIm, anuyone can mix up a recipe in a jar--or my Holiday tea--and as I ZTHINK I posted, I cut the recipe in ahalf.--that is a gift tht could be consumed, and weho would not like a warm cuppa after being out in the cold???


Somewhere there is also a hot chocolate/cocoa recipe mix--THAT would be good as well.---Anyone can "dump ingredients into a bowl" & mix them up---then you jsut put them into whatever size jar you want, print out the directions on an adderess lable and slap it on the jar---and you are done.

Now thats an excellent idea.
I did get a really good head shot this fall of one of her favorite horses.
I have not shown it to her yet but YES thats what I will do!
Thanks. I just do not do a lot but there are a few folks that I really have grown to like this year.

great.