Homemade Gift Ideas

The Christmas season is in full-swing.

 

Have you started making any of your gifts yet?

 

 

I haven't!

 

But I sure have spent a good deal of time on Pinterest finding great gifts to make.  If I actually got off of Pinterest and started making some of these amazing gifts, I might be in good shape.

 

 

Every year, Imani and I try to make at least a couple of homemade gifts.  One year it was Christmas ornaments, one year it was cookie mix in Ball jars, and one year we knitted gifts.

 

I also try to make something for Imani each year.  I've knitted her fingerless gloves and even made a quilt once (I'm NOT a seamstress . . . AT ALL).

 

Making homemade gifts shows the person to whom you're giving  that you actually took the time to create something for them.  Anyone can slap down a little cash or a credit card at Target and check someone off their list.

Another reason I love homemade gift giving is because it's quality time spent with my child.  We enjoy the time making something for someone else . . . and it teaches generosity far more than purchasing something in the store.

The problem is, we're all pressed for time . . . so of course I buy gifts in the store just like everyone else, but I do make a point to make at least a few gifts each year. 

 

Here are some of my favs from the wonderful world of Pinterest.

 

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to make at least a couple.



Photo Coasters

People love getting gifts of photos -- whether the photos are of memories you shared together, your kids, their kids, their dog, or an artistic photo, this is sure to be a winner.

 

Source: homemade.tipjunkie.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Cinnamon Honey Butter

Seriously? Who wouldn't want this?  I little jar of goodness.  Yum.


 

Source: tidymom.net via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

 

DIY Photo Canvas

 

Photo canvases are all the rage. You can find companies all over the Internet with various sizes of photo canvas options.  I love the idea of trying to make one myself.

 

 

                                                                              Source: theshabbycreekcottage.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Photo Board

If the photo canvas isn't your thing and you'd like something a bit more rustic, try this photo board, using just an inexpensive board from your local hardware store and Modge Podge!

Source: mommymodelsblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

Cute Chalk Board

This one is a dollar store tray turned chalk board embellished with a ribbon.  I LOVE it.  I would like it even more if the tray were a vintage tray, but I love it nonetheless.  It would make a great hostess gift. 


 

                                                                                            Source: pin2fun28.blogspot.com via Stephenie on Pinterest



Recipes in a Jar

 

I  had to include this one because it's one of my favorite gifts to receive and to give.  Let's face it, everyone is busy.  I love having a little jar of yummy where all I have to do is add oil, water and eggs and I have my recipe done.    There are so many "food in a jar" variations.

 Quickbread
 

Source: the36thavenue.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

Homemade Hot Cocoa

Source: heygorg.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granola

Source: annapolisandcompany.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 
Photo Pillows


Can you tell I like to give photo gifts?

 

Source: pocketfulwhimsy.blogspot.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Recipe Tea Towels


Transfer a family recipe to a tea towel.

Nostalgic. 

Easy.

Practical.

LOVE.

Source: blog.spoonflower.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Ice Cream Sundae Kit

I once got a gift like this when I was a teacher and I thought it was the cutest idea.  I love ice cream . . . and I like to make my ice cream fancy with LOTS of toppings but I hate spending money on all of those toppings.  So this gift is right up my alley.

Source: mixingbowlkids.typepad.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

There are so many wonderful ideas for homemade gifts on Pinterest.


What are your favorite gifts to make?  What are you making this year?

 If you see a homemade gift idea that you think is extra special, post it to Decorating Addiction's Facebook page wall, email it to me or put the link in the comments below.   I'd love to see it!

 

 

Christmas Crafts for Procrastinators

I should probably start Christmas crafts in July or August when I have more time, but I think I've told you before that I'm a bit of a procrastinator, so you would never find me thinking of Christmas in July or August.  I've tried to change myself on numerous occasions to be more of a planner . . . and a morning person too . . . but neither has ever worked.

So Christmas crafts come to me in December, when there isn't a lot of time to get them done.  In any case, here are a few holiday ideas I came across on Pinterest. I hope to try at least a couple with Imani over the next few weeks. I hope you find something here that will raise your Christmas spirits.

These little bottle cap art are adorable. I would turn them into a magnet or a necklace. I love that you can use patterned paper or fingerprint sized art.

Source: urbancomfort.typepad.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

I've seen a lot of these little trees in stores and on the Internet. Some are made with feathers or other materials. This one is made with wax paper and is super cute. I would do a couple in different sizes and put them on an end table or mantel display.

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Love these simple ornaments with black lettering. Super easy; super cute.

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

What little kid doesn't love any craft with candy? 

Source: marthastewart.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

Turn them into an ornament, magnet or pin. Whatever you decide to do, these little button snowmen are whimsical, fun and simple.

Source: urbanpaisley.blogspot.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

I love that these are natural and organic. 

You could use them indoors or outside as a treat for your  furry or feathered friends.

 

Source: onepartsunshine.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

I love texture and these twine covered ornaments will add an old-fashioned feel to any tree.

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

 

Every year I plan to make an advent calendar and every year I fail to do it. I love this one and hope to make it a reality . . . maybe if I start in July or August next year?

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

I love the monogrammed ornament and the bubble ornament. Again, these are really easy to make and would make a great gift.

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Stephenie on Pinterest

So there you have it . . . a few quick and easy holiday crafts to inspire you if you're a procrastinator like me. Let me know if you make any of these or if you have any to add!

 

Candy Cane Valley and Sprinkle Delights

A few weeks ago my mom came to visit me and wanted to make "cake balls."  I'd never heard of them and when she described them to me, they sounded like a whole lot o' calories, so I politely declined.

And then I was on a search for special treats to make for friends for Christmas and I came across this recipe.

We didn't get a chance to make them in time for Christmas, so last night, Imani and I decided to make them for a special New Year's treat that we could give to friends.

Imani didn't like the name "Cake Balls" so she renamed them  . . .Candy Cane Valley and and Sprinkle Delights.   I love it.

  We made some with a chocolate coating

and some without.

 

They are absolutely delicious.

I should have listened to my mom. :-)


Happy New Year!

From the Heart

My favorite gifts to give are not purchased at the mall or in boutique stores.

They are homemade gifts. 

The problem is . . . I'm a huge procrastinator.

I always have a big list of gift ideas of things I'm going to make for friends and family and by the time Christmas rolls around, I've usually only made one thing for one person (unless you count cookies and candy).

This year I'm proud to say I did a little better.   I made two gifts for one person.

I love making gifts for Imani because she truly appreciates them.  I feel like we've done something right in raising her so far because she gets almost more excited from receiving homemade gifts as she does when she opens all of the toys she's asked for from Santa.

She understands the meaning of gifts from the heart . . . even more so than some adults I know. 

I love that about her.

Like when I made her fingerless gloves last year for Christmas.

She did a little dance when she opened them and then she wore them to school almost every day.

So this year, I made her another pair, except I put her initials on them. She's going to be so happy when she opens them.

Knitting isn't that much of a big deal for me though because I love to do it and I've been knitting for a long time now, so I can knit a pair of fingerless gloves quickly.

The real labor of love came from something I've never attempted before.

I decided to start this project back in the Spring time when I was inspired by Katie at Philigry.  She made a beautiful quilt for her daughter and I had great ambitions to learn, start and finish one for Imani before Summer.

I went to the Salvation Army and bought a few sheets with patterns and colors I liked.  And then the cutting began.  I had no idea what I was getting into.

My friend Claire came over to my house one night to help me make the cuts because I was clueless (I did purchase a mat and rotary cutter though!)

I became overwhelmed by all of the cutting and quit in the Fall.   I think Imani forgot about my ambitious project.

I pulled out all of the pieces just a couple of weeks ago and somehow managed to finish last night.

I'm so proud of myself and I know Imani is going to be psyched that my first quilt is for her.  Technically, this isn't my FIRST quilt, because my mom and I made one by hand when I was young, but we never finished it properly and it fell apart.   But this is the first quilt I've done all alone and it's the first quilt I've actually made cuts.

I was a little nervous to show it to Jason. 

Jason, who can work a miter saw and makes perfect cuts.

Jason, who has incredible artistic talent.

Jason, who is precise and neat.

Jason, who paints trim without tape because he has such a steady hand.

I am completely opposite. 


I rush.


I'm impatient.


I'm not neat.

And you can see it in some areas in my quilt.

But Jason's response was one of pride.  "Holy Crap . . . you MADE that?  Steph, seriously, you could sell those!"

This is why I love that man.

He didn't zoom in on my crooked cuts or crooked sewing.  He didn't care that my quilt didn't have a border.

And Imani will love it too.

Oh, and for the record, I would never sell a quilt.  I cannot believe people make these and sell them.  This was one of the most labor-intensive, time consuming projects and it wasn't even a big quilt (or a fancy one!).  I have a new found respect for quilters. 

I don't know if I'll ever make another one, but I am proud of myself.

I'm just happy I finished it.

I'm happy it's for someone I love.

I'm happy it'll bring her warmth and comfort.



Unexpected Surprises

I remember asking a colleague once when I was a teacher if she was excited for the Christmas break. When she replied "not really," I was caught a bit off-guard. We all loved the break from grading piles of papers, planning lessons and dealing with some of the difficult students. But then she continued, "I mean, I always look forward to Christmas, but it's the unexpected surprises in life that I really cherish. What I mean is, I know Christmas is coming on December 25 each year, and I know I will get time off, which is great, but it's the unexpected surprises I love -- you know, like snow days."

This weekend I had the pleasure of having an unexpected surprise. On Saturday morning I heard a knock on my door. I wasn't expecting company and I was still in my pajamas. Jason was still sleeping. I won't say what time it was because we'd be really embarrassed.

When I opened the door, there stood my Aunt Ellen and her husband Bruce, who live over an hour away. I haven't seen my Aunt since Thanksgiving and prior to that, I hadn't seen her in many years. She had never been to my house before so you can imagine how shocked I was standing there in my pajamas seeing her on my doorstep.

Apparently, she had read my blog and wanted to come surprise me and see my house in person. At first, I was embarrassed that my house was such a mess and I wasn't dressed.  As we visited and I showed them around, embarassment was replaced with warmth and joy.  It felt so good that they cared enough to drive over an hour to see me, my family, and my home.  We had a wonderful time together and I was so grateful they decided to surprise me.  It truly made my weekend special.

I also had an unexpected surprise last week.  I was getting ready for work the day after Jason fixed our bedroom closet doors with beadboard and I glanced up and saw that he had also put beadboard up on the back of the door to our bedroom and he had finally hung a full-length mirror.  He never mentioned any of this to me and he was already gone to work when I discovered it.  I know it sounds like such a trivial thing, but I was so touched by the unannounced gesture.  I just sat on my bed and stared at how nicely it looked. It was so thoughtful of him and I was completely surprised.

Jason is really incredible in that way.  Many times when he goes to the grocery store, he returns with "prizes" for me and Imani.  "Close your eyes and put your hand out," he'll say every time.  If you were watching just our reactions, you wouldn't be able to tell that I am 25 years older than Imani, because we both get equally excited to get our prizes.  Sometimes it's our favorite candy (Milky Way Midnight for me, Gummies for Imani), sometimes it's my favorite magazine and a small toy for Imani and sometimes it's scratch off lottery tickets (despite my ongoing lectures that they are a waste of money).

This past weekend we bought some old keys at Hub's Place to frame as artwork in our house.  (I'll post photos once we get them on the wall).  Jason put them all in the frames last night, but he was disappointed that we didn't have more skeleton keys.  Apparently, when we first moved into our house, there was a great skeleton key, but I have no recollection of it, nor does Imani.  Jason keeps insisting that we find the missing key that no one remembers because it would look so much better in the frames than the keys we bought.  He won't stop talking about how we need more skeleton keys.

So today, I stopped in a little antique shop on my way home and I found two skeleton keys.  I decided that I would surprise Jason and placed them on his pillow. I know he'll be happy to see them.

Brighten someone's day today by giving them an unexpected surprise, no matter how small. It makes ordinary life fun.