christmas presents

[loukr]

I'm completely broke this christmas so I'm going to make presents.. Does anybody have any good ideas on kinds of things I can make? I'm into art so can do/make pretty much anything ... or try at least.. any suggestions much appreciated!! x

[saxy_jag]

Well, my American cousin's going to get a friendship book from me.

Basically, that's an approximately quarto sized notebook (but you could use any size), which you buy or make. I'm starting it, by putting in a little poem about what a very special friend he is, and I'll probably get some of the family to contribute too - poems, words of wisdom, drawings etc. - with names and dates, of course, and maybe even photos too. Then when he receives it, he can ask other friends to add to it as and when and build it into something really personal.

All it's cost me is the price of the notebook and a little time and effort.

[silverdaler]

do you have any artists materials like paints, clay etc. ?
could you paint some small pictures and perhaps get some frames from a charity shop or boot sale ? or make mosaic picture frames ? if you could buy vases, mugs, or lamps cheaply and decorate them yourself to spruce them up or personalise them maybe . hope thes ideas help.

[loukr]

jag that's a really good idea, and so is yours silver, only my dads side of the family, who I'm supposed to be spending christmas with this year.. well only half of them due to circumstances i won't even go into.. :(, anyway, they're VERY ungrateful, and as they spend money on me, they expect the same from me, even though I'm only 18 and this year, have no job.. this is so not fair :( xx

[loukr]

and yes, I have loads of art materials, and fabrics too and a nice shiny brand spanking new sewing machine... ooh does anybody have any ideas what I could knock up on that?? (not the most talented sewer..(sp?? hehe) xx

[what..the?]

What about making quilts with your sewing machine. Go out to charity shops and by clothes etc in nice washable fabric's then cut them into squares and then sew them togther with a little padding in the middle.

In such cold weather a nice cosy throw/blanket would go down a treat. Nice cozy fleese would be good. Try and find out what the persons favourite colour's are and maybe personalise the quilts too by sewing names of people, places, pets, etc on them.

[CSG2306]

Hi Loukr,

With all due respect, have you not left it a little late to take on this task?

Regards

[loukr]

hi csg2306, I asked the same question in august, http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion279932.html.

Since then I have been thinking solidly about it, until things happened in my life which unfortunately have made me change these ideas to a lesser thought..

It's only now that I've been able to take my mind off this event and concentrate on the good things.

And thankyou what the, the idea sounds god I might give it a go.

[loukr]

sorry: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Q uestion279932.html

[Eve]

What about some custom made cushions for a bed or sofa with some pretty beads and such sewn on.

A patchwork or embroidered or beaded beadspread.

A handmade table cloth for older people. Maybe embroider something and make a pretty pattern round the outside with overstitching.

A rag rug.

A fake flower bouquet in a pretty basket, vase or pot, maybe handpaid it.

Hand painted glasses with special glass paints.

Little trinket boxes/jewellery boxes. Either paint glass or plastic or cover with material and beads and such.

A handknitted scarf and/or hat. Or a poncho/wrap.

Handmade jewellery.

[shineybomb]

I made my mum a large canvas painting for xmas 2 years ago after i lost my job a month before - she loved it and keeps asking me to do more and sell them to her friends. You could do that

OR

Buy some cheap clothes patterns from a charity shop and make some clothes for the family on your sewing machine

I expect they would all understand that you could not afford to buy them anything, just explain you are not working right now and agree that you don't exchange gifts or have a �5 per person budget each.

[loukr]

jenna those ideas are wonderful, but the thing is I've never made a quilt, pillow cases or table cloths before, and I'd be worried that if I tried I'd mess them up and ruin the fabric.. hehe. I guess I could have a go though!

and shineybomb, it's funny, I was just chatting to my mum and I came up with the canvas thing.. just what to paint?! x

[Eve]

Try these...

http://www.ehow.com/how_5859_make-tablecloth.h tml

How about some pretty bags and purses, you can make all different kinds and decorate however you want.

Get copies of special photos and make a collage with them and maybe some special quotes or memories and such. and frame it.

Homemade stationary eg get some plain ones and decorate.

Personalised towels.

Do some caligraphy quotes or poems etc... on decorated paper with a personal message and frame them. Wedding vows can be a nice idea. Or do it as a wall hanging.

Looking into things on people birthdates can be a lovely nostalgia such as what happened on the day they were born etc�and present it in a decorative fashion.

Decorated crockery or things such as ceramic egg cups.

Flavour some olive oil with sprigs of herbs such as Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Oregano or Parsley and put in in a pretty decorative jar like the plain corked ones you can get really cheap and tie a thin ribbon round the top.

Make some seasonal sweets such as special toffee or fudge and make up a little basket with them. Posted some recipes in food for ideas.

Homemade stationary eg get some plain ones and decorate.

Personalised towels.

Do some caligraphy quotes or poems etc... on decorated paper with a personal message and frame them. Wedding vows can be a nice idea. Or do it as a wall hanging.

Decorated crockery or things such as ceramic egg cups.

Flavor some olive oil with sprigs of herbs such as Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Oregano or Parsley and put in in a pretty decorative jar like the plain corked ones you can get really cheap and tie a thin ribbon round the top.

Make some seasonal sweets such as special toffee or fudg

[Eve]

Hand make honey bath oil by mixing together a cup of light baby or olive oil with 1/2 a cup of honey, 1/2 a cup of liquid soap and a drop each of your favorite essential oil eg vanilla. Mix together gently and put in a pretty bottle.

You can make your own soap too, bath bombs, sugar scrub, face masks etc...

http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1897.htm

http://www.teachsoap.com/bombs.html (fab site!!!)

http://www.makeyourcosmetics.com/

Get some different coloured candles and little jars/holders and melt the wax in to make multi coloured candles, do in stages for a clearer effect. Make sure you add some wick before it sets completely.

Record a favourite book onto cd.

Make your own keychains.

Home made calendar with personal dates and such in.

Get a copy of an old photo and have it touched up and framed.

How about a soothing pillow filled with lavender or pot pourri or a decorative piece which is sealed, put some dried flowers in and such.

Home made recipe book.

[loukr]

WOW :D Jenna thank you... these are really something to think about thank you very much :D I was also thinking about the bags and purses, I certainly have pleanty of beautiful fabrics I have picked up in the remnants bin at my local fabric warehouse (some cream pure silk which I can dye or paint onto, deep red silk, satin.. etc) I'm the kind of person who buys stuff because it's there, then doesn't knowwhat to do with it!! hehe. these idea's are so great thank you soooo much xxx

[WendyS]

One thing I always find really useful is a selection of blank decorative cards I can send out for birthdays, thank-you's or other "thinking of you" occasions. How about making some little packages of these?

[loukr]

cute i love that idea wendy :D

[Clanad]

We received a set of 5 or 6 greeting cards from a starving college student friend that were beautiful and homemade. They were a mixture of birthday, Christmas and other typical cards. The stock was very nice and they were all hand lettered in calligaphic style. They were bound together in ribbon and the presentation was so nice, we've not had the heart to actually use any of them. The sentiments were homespun without being maudlin... thoroughly enjoyed...

[BBWCHATT]

This website has directions for making those purses:

http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aapurse 0504.htm

and this one has directions for making them from place mats:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/1679178/d etail.html

[loukr]

ahhh so much stuff to make :D thank you all soooo much xxx