Holiday gifts part 2

Today can we talk about things we can make?

I knit and sew and cook, so the handmade gifts I give are all of the knitted, sewed, or baked variety. I know what I'm going to knit for my friends from college this year (some of whom read this every once in awhile, so I won't say it here). I'm going to sew a long furry snake (don't ask) for my younger son.

A really nice gift is teaching someone else how to do something you can do. Not only do you get to show someone how to do something they want to know how to do, but you also get to spend time together during the lessons.

Alice jumped the gun yesterday in her comment about making their Christmas tree each year, but I think that's an amazing idea. If I wasn't so addicted to the smell of pine I'd steal it and pretend it was my own idea.

What else are the rest of you going to make?

Comments

[amy]

@emily,
It sounds like you may have moved to my neighborhood. Do your neighbors talk to each other? Mine don't. None of mine leave their houses.

Pnuts mama's process for who to buy for is a good one - who would you buy a bday gift for? Probably none of them, if you're new to the area. Maybe wait and see if any of your new neighbors and coworkers give to you first. Sometimes I add to the bday-gift list on a one-time basis, like a new neighbor or coworker. I personally don't expect every gift I give to be reciprocated, so it wouldn't be any big deal if I gave you something (knowing you were new) but you didn't give me anything.

[amy]

This year, I'm planning the ultimate evil. Those of you who've endured the endless stream of calories in your house that is "Amish Friendship Bread" will know exactly what I mean.

I'm making Friendship Bread starters that will end right before the holiday get togethers. Then I'll make mini loaves and the resulting starters and hand them out as a pair: mini loaf*, starter, instructions (perhaps printed on holiday paper, if I can get that organized).

Moo hoo ha ha ha.
*The mini loaf is kind of a "Here, kid, the first hit's free" thing. They will never ask me to make anything for them again...

[Charisse]

For ornaments--we had this awesome babysitter when I was a kid--Colleen, I still remember her--and she brought this over as a craft project when my sister and I were maybe 4 and 6 or 5 and 7.

You take old holiday cards and cut out circles (use a biscuit cutter or something to draw around), then draw/score an equilateral triangle on the back. Fold along the lines, stick 8 of them together with glue & punch a hole for a ribbon on one of the edges and you've got colorful, weightless ball-shaped ornaments. I still have some of the ones that my sister and I made 30 years ago, and they now adorn the lower part of my tree since they're completely unbreakable and won't hurt any little ones who might pull them off.

[wendy]

Several things I have made and have been well-received:

-We make cookie dough logs, wrap them in parchment, tie them with string and write baking directions on a tag. Then we deliver them to friends (they have to be home) to put directly in their freezer. Then, they have easy slice and bake cookies all season long.

-homemade granola (old martha stewart recipe) in nice package
-spiced nuts (also old martha stewart)

- I take old kids' books with beautiful illustrations that I find at second hand stores and library book sales, take the books apart and frame individual pages.

-homemade jam, although I haven't done this since the baby was born.

[rebecca]

Somewhere - might have been the previous post but I thought it was this one, someone mentioned making a christmas tree out of what was on hand... of course, me being a make-it girl, that stuck in my head. And then I saw this on the internets:

http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/2007/11/who-needs-a-chr.html

Very clever.

And for you crafty types, I think this is a GREAT idea. It's a customized serving tray done in a DIY yet tasteful way. :) You could also use a child's drawing and have a really charming gift for less than $15.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/11/diy-wednesdays-birdie-serving-tray.html

[gifts Philippines]

Wow! that was a great gift ideas thank you oso much fro bringing up this. Will certainly visit your site more often now.

vitton