Homemade/Handmade Gift Ideas Archives

A Christmas Heirloom in the Making | Hand-Sewn Advent Calendar

December 30, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

My mother-in-law/Michael’s mother/(the kid’s grandmother, if you are not catching on to who I am referring to yet..lol), seemingly got quite crafty this year, and we surely benefited from her doing so, in the way of wonderful gifts this Christmas!

A package full of goods arrived from Florida in early December, but there was one that we were instructed to open right away. So we did, and I literally gasped, and naturally, because I am becoming more of a sap with each passing day in my older years here, teared up. I guess I kept saying, “Oh my gosh….I LOVE that!”….because Michael said, “We KNOW Honey. We HEARD you. You LOVE it!” lol. He loves it too. We immediately started discussing where we could hang it.

It’s an Advent Calendar she sewed and quilted herself.

I love the art of the scene, there at the manger in Bethlehem, that starry, blessed night.

I love the royal colors!

Every numbered day is a little pocket too, to be able to put little notes or treats in for the kids, I would imagine. And they need to search for the day on the calendar.

{O}, who didn’t yet understand the purpose of the numbers being mixed up, said “Grandma did a really nice job making this, but I just can’t believe she doesn’t know her numbers yet!” lol.

I love the little details.

Do you see the light coming down from the star on the right there? It’s twinkle dust that she applied.

This angel has a flower-sequin in her hair.

We decided to put it right next to the front door, where every one who comes and goes, can enjoy it as much as we do through-out this Christmas season.

Honestly, this is a gift to our family, that I will truly treasure, every year for the rest of my life. I’m sure we all will! It’s one of those truly meaningful things I’ll be anxious to find first, and dig out of the boxes of Christmas ‘stuff’, every year when we bring out the decorations. In time, it’ll become a family heirloom. Everyone knows what our faith means to us, and how much we soley focus on the true meaning of Christmas. So that in itself makes it a wonderful gift for us. But what makes it a TREASURE, is that it was made with love, by someone we love, for us. It matters none to us, if she made more, or who else got one too. This one is ours, and it came from a loved one 2 generations back (to our kids.) I know I’ve talked much about how much I love ‘family pieces’ in our home, so I guess I’ve made my point well enough now.

Suffice it to say, it will bring us joy, every family Christmas to come, that we ever blessed to embrace and celebrate.

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Wrap Jewelry – Craft Tutorial

August 23, 2009 By Laura 9 Comments

This is a fairly easy craft project tutorial where you can create some really fun or beautiful wrap jewelry for kids or adults. Depending on the materials you use, you can really get all kinds of styles using the same concept. Also, keep in mind; they can be homemade Christmas gifts, and made ahead of time! We’ve made these as Christmas gifts before, and they were very well received! So this may be a great idea for all or some of the little girls and ladies on your list. Or, maybe you’d like to add to your own accessories! The pieces we created so far have been more for girls, from little girls to women, but with a little creativity and thought, we think we’ll be able to come up with some boyish pieces as well.

wrap jewelry tutorial

You don’t need much in the way of supplies!! Here’s a quick run down, depending on the design of the piece you are making: Memory wire, bottle-nose pliers/cutters, a bead assortment, charms, waxed cotton cord, and possibly acrylic nail polish.

This is memory wire. It is called such, because it keeps it’s nice shape, no matter how you try to bend it. We threw out the packaging, but this wire can be found in any jewelry supply aisle of any craft store. There are a 2 or 3 sizes, and this is the largest for necklaces, but it works perfect for grown ups or little ones. The above is one piece, and you just cut off what you need.

memory-wire

memory-wire_2

Above is a piece cut off to be just the right size. Using bottle nose wire cutters, we cut it to be 1-1/2 circles, and that seems to be just about right for grown ups and little ones alike.

Next, using bottle nose pliers (the same tool that has a cutter on it as well), you want to twist a little loop at the end of the wire. This little loop is to keep any beads you put on from falling off on the other end. You’ll only do this on one end to start, because you need to slide on your beads first on the other end. When all the beads are on, you loop the other end to finish.

So…..you grab the tip end of the wire, and …..

….just twist the wire into a little tight loop.

Michael does this for me, because honestly, my hands are not strong enough to do it myself. But don’t let that discourage you, because {A} can do it on her own just fine. So I guess what I’m saying is, I’m just weak.

This is what the little loops should look like. It’ll stop any beads from being pushed off.

Here’s some of our assortment collection of beads. These container organizers are really nice! We’ve done lots of projects using beads, so collecting them and keeping them sorted like this is fun and efficient.

wrap jewelry tutorial

Here are two little girl’s necklaces, all done. All kinds of charms and gems can be found in craft supply stores, or online. These charms matched some beads we had perfectly! {A} made these.

wrap jewelry tutorial

Here’s another little girl’s necklace.

wrap jewelry tutorial

This one is adorable…

wrap jewelry tutorial

…..it’s a crayon box, as you can see. {A} made those as well.

As we’ve said, there are all kinds of charms in craft stores, but there are also

lots of great charm places online, and here is one we’ve ordered from: charms

And for some older looking pieces, we just found this place and this place as well.

handmade-wrap-jewelry-tutorial-4

Here’s another option, above. In the jewelry section of craft stores, you can also find little sets like this, all ready to go. This set has 4 wooden colored beads, a beautiful polished stone, and dyed waxed cotton cord.

wrap jewelry tutorial

So I used that set to make this necklace above. This one wasn’t quite AS quick to make as the all bead ones. I looped one end of the wire, (well, Michael did), and put the stone and beads on first, centered as I could, and then looped the other end right away. Then I wrapped the colored cord around the wire. It did take a but more time, and patience. I wanted the cord sort of twisted and irregular, but you can also wrap the two to make it striped, all the way down the wire. There are a couple of small challenges with this design, but I’ll share some solutions: 1) The cord tends to just slip around as you wrap it, making you quickly realize you are getting nowhere, fast. So you need to start by tying the cord at the loop end of the wire, and then wrapping around the loose ends. I used acrylic nail polish right in the beginning there, to help secure it.

2) The other challenge is just checking as you go, to be sure the beads and stones are going to end up centered on the piece, as they should be. It’s a little tricky, and I think mine is a little off. But use the two ends of the wire to gauge wear the center of the piece as a whole is. Is anyone following what I’m trying to say here? lol

wrap jewelry tutorial

I made this one for ME. : )

wrap jewelry tutorial

I LOVE it!!

Here’s some other kind of assorted wooden beads that would work.

They would look really nice with these natural shades of hemp cord. Together they would make a lovely necklace for a neutral or warm toned outfit.

Here’s another idea: They sell much smaller memory wire, so you could make matching bracelets to go with any or all of these necklaces! For instance, you could do the necklace with the beads and charm, and then a bracelet with just the matching beads!

handmade-wrap-jewelry-tutorial-8

Here’s our little model, {O}, who by the way, made her own necklace!

So kids can do this craft project with very little assistance, using the beads and charms. They just need a little help to cut the wire, do the loops, and maybe put the charm on. These particular charms we ordered just have a regular round necklace clasp with the little lever. So they can put it on the center after all of the beads have been put on, and someone loops the ends of the wire.

wrap jewelry tutorial

It appears about the same fit on kids or adults. It’s just with kids, it overlap wraps around at the back more so than on adults. But I find them pretty comfortable, and definitely stylish.

wrap jewelry tutorial

Cute, huh?

We hope you enjoyed this craft project! Let us know what you think, and if you have any questions at all, just ask and we’ll be happy to clarify! We hope it makes for a great gift idea for someone, even if that someone is yourself. : )

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May Basket Delivering! – SO FUN!

May 1, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Our May Basket Delivering Day was so fun! We wanted to share it all with you.

There was no schooling on our agenda today – just delivering our May baskets for May Day, and the kids could not have been more excited! But, first, I had to have some of my own fun, taking just a few more photos, as detailed memories.

Ok, now I was ready. So next the kids loudly debated about which May basket was ‘theirs’, based on the tag they made, and who was going to who’s door, ringing the doorbell, and running for their life. Once that was settled, they were very eagerly ready to go! But you know I’m getting a photo of them first, and they know it too.

I was so grateful that the light rain we had going on, went on hold for us once it was time to get down to business. I didn’t mind the gray overcast day—it’s actually better for the photo taking. : )

Our first stop was right at the end of our road……

This is the home of a lovely elderly couple who have nearly ancient history in our neighborhood. This home of their is new, but it is built right in front of the old and smaller home that they raised 11 children of their own in! They are so sweet. So {A} placed the basket on the porch, rang the doorbell and ran. We were ‘seen’…..their visiting daughter opened the door as she and I were climbing back into the van up the road some. Last year their visiting son saw us the same way. Now…our hopes are always that our intended receivers would come to open the door, because that would give us more ‘get-away’ time, if you know what I mean. ; )

Next stop was up the main road a bit……

{J} was up for his hit and run. lol. This is the home of Sr. Jeremy—the long time nun resident of our parish. She has done marvelous and wonderful things within our church family. We love her dearly…..and she loves children, DEARLY!! She is a HOOT, if you know what I mean, and she has no reservations about speaking her mind. Ever. My kind of Girl!

I was hiding behind a bush with my camera, and I couldn’t have been more tickled pink with getting this shot!! Look how his feet aren’t even touching the ground! He was hysterical, trying to run before the door opened. We got away in time, but did spy with our little eyes, Sister open the door, see the May basket, and look everywhere for the sneaky one. lol

Next stop was a little ride, and it was {S’s} turn…..

This is the home of a lovely older couple from church, who dig us. And we dig them. We always sit all together in 2 pews in front or behind each other. They adore our kids, and are smitten with their church behavior. They are probably in their late 70’s, and have great senses of humor.

Now, I have to tell you…THIS was a tricky one. And we got TOTALLY BUSTED! See, here’s the thing. We were pretty sure these Peeps were going to be home. The brick sidewalk leading to this door, is very windy. It actually does a zig, and then a zag. So sidewalk is actually shifted very much to the right side, walking towards the door, and then does a zig to straighten head on to the door. So as we are walking, we are looking RIGHT IN the big window door-right. And we see movement in there. Oh dear! So {S} puts the basket down, and tries to hurry ringing the door bell, which is of course door right….

…and as he rings, he finds himself face to face with Mrs. G….coming to the door. DAG NABBIT!! Do you see her? Need help?

Do you see her now?? No?? It’s ok…it’s ok…it happens to the best of us. (Well, not really….I just don’t want you to feel bad…)…look again…

Now?? Because that’s really all I can do to help you. lol

So anyway….she’s coming, {S} sees her, but he starts ringing the doorbell anyway, and again, and again, because really….he was NOT missing the opportunity to ring a doorbell like everyone else! (We don’t have one on our house…lol).

Mrs. G opened the door, and laughing she said “WHAT are you DOING?”…and {S} said “Happy May Day!“, and she replied with a big laugh, “Aren’t you just the sweetest thing!“….and he has been repeating that all day. I think he believes her! lol. No…he is. So anyway…I was laughing so hard, from the nerves and getting caught, I forgot to take photos of her standing there, pleased as punch with their surprise. Then we ran away, with her yelling after us…‘Thank youuuu!!!”

We had ONE more stop, and it was {O’s} turn……

This is the home of our friend, Dr. Ann. She is a veterinarian, and she has become quite attached to our kids too. (And us, her.) We also know her from church, and we also sit near her. (She saved a pew for us on Sunday morning, because we were running late, and it was JAM PACKED because it was a First Communion Mass….bless her soul!! We were so thankful!) Anyway, she calls the kids ‘The Children‘….and if you heard her voice. LOVE her voice. She’s a lector too…which is so lovely hearing her read Sunday readings to us…and she is also a singer. (She got us all tickets to her concert this Sunday!) Anyway….she knows all of he kids names, but she always says to the kids “So how are THE CHILDREN today??!! HmmMM??”….and they all giggle, and say, “Gooood.” She’s a doll.

We knew she wasn’t home, because her car was not there, and she works long hours at her business in town, her own Veterinary Hospital. But…the kids enjoyed the fact that her cats were in the window watching us. lol. So at least SOMEONE saw her in her cool hot pink slicker, even if they did have fur!

That was the last of our May basket deliveries! Met with BIG groans and sighs by ‘the children’.

As we all climbed out of the van in our driveway, they were still talking about how they wish we had more homes to go to. They had SO much fun. WE ALL did. We just LOVE doing these kinds of things. Especially for other people. The whole process….planning surprises for others, shopping, making and baking things, and just having fun making someone’s day.

Here they all with mission accomplished: Basket-less!

Later on tonight, we got a call from the old woman at the end of our road. She left the sweetest message on our machine, expressing how wonderful that May Day gift basket made her feel, and the memories it brought back to her of the May Pole at school when she was a little girl. If you heard her sweet, sincere and shaky little voice, well….

That’s what it’s all about.

We can hardly wait until next year. I’ve heard the kids talking, and I can see this getting WAY out of hand next time.

But who cares??!!

Hope you all had a wonderful May Day!

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Winner of Our 1st Giveaway Received….

April 20, 2009 By Laura 4 Comments

For those of you who have been itching to know what the winner of Our First Giveaway received, this is the post you’ve been waiting for!

For those of you who are new to our blog, and have no clue what we’re talking about here, these links may help:

Announcement for our blog’s First Giveaway!

Winner Announcement

Now that we’re all on the same page, here we go…….

The first thing the winner received, was the box itself, that we put all of our hand-made gifts in! I’m telling you, I just loved this box. We did not make it, we bought it. It was just the perfect size, sturdy, and simply lovely. The cover had a front flap that magnetics closed! I opened and closed it several times, just for the fun of it! : ) The cover adorned the phrase: Live well, Laugh often, Love much. Wise words we try to live by around here. It really was a great box. One could use it to store all kinds of things, like letters, cards, drawings from your children, or any kind of special momentos.

But here’s what WE put in it…..

….an assorted collection of handmade gifts.

One of my favorite handmade gifts was this sign….

This was my idea and I designed it, but Michael actually made it. We bought the sign unfinished, and Michael painted and lettered it. The paint is not solid, but more old looking, which is also one of the things that I love about it. It’s rustic, and humble, and I think he should make me one now.

Next, I made glass stem bracelets….

For those who are unfamiliar with these little doo-hickeys, these bracelets go on the stems of wine glasses or pedestal mugs. They are made with wire rings and beads, and any other functional charms. These glass bracelets have a couple of purposes: The first is simply to make your glass sets more festive and pretty. The second, is for social gatherings involving several guests, and therefore several glasses around. The assorted bracelets help people differentiate which glass is theirs, on the counter or table-top. This was my other favorite gift we made. I think they are beautiful, style-ish, and frankly, I feel fancy and clever having them on my wine glasses.

I made a set of eight different bracelets. It was really hard to photograph them together, and make all of the sentiments readable, so I labeled them all for you, because I have a thoughtful side. : )

Also, while I was making them, I was mesmerized by all of the colorful beads on the table, and lost control with my camera once again. I loved this shot, so I’m throwing it in here to share. There are people out there who understand this problem I have, in needing to take such photos, and they appreciate it!

Next up……..I bought this wooden carved word, which is very important to me, and many of you: FAMILY. I painted it pale yellow, and then just rubbed on some floral and ladybug decorations. That came out like this…

(Candle not included.)

The soaps we made as Christmas gifts were a big hit, so I made a few more (one of each color) for the Give-Away. I love glycerine soap, and we scented it a lovely apple aroma. I didn’t take a new photos of the new soaps alone, though….this photo is from the Christmas batch, just for a closer look…

I also threw in some bookmarks, which honestly were from the abundance of leftovers we still have from making them as Christmas gifts.

Lastly, a charming little hand-painted pot….

Michael painted this, and even pulled the painted stripes free-hand around the pot, with a fancy long-haired brush. I think it came out really cute.

That would conclude the up-close review of the hand-made gifts given to our First Giveaway winner. We plan to plan (lol,) another Giveaway, of some sort, soon. We’d like to wrap up our over-due ‘Michael Project’ we started first. IF, that is, you all are interested, in another Giveaway?? If so…speak up People! We’d love to know what kind of interest is out there.

The Regan Camp reports that the favorite items were the sign and the soaps.

What would your favorites have been?

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Making Friendship Bracelets – Kids Craft

February 19, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

(This post contains an affiliate links, for which we may be compensated for.)

To add to {A’s} ka-trillion other hobbies, {A} has taught herself the art of bracelet making, using the Klutz Friendship Bracelets Craft Kit (affiliate link) She just LOVES to make things, and will put hours on end into creating this or that. Or more of those things. : ) She is also passionate, about GIVING the things she makes, to others. Which is great for 2 reasons: 1) it’s a Christ-like thing to do, and 2) For all she makes, we’d be pushed out of the crevices of our own home, if she kept it all. : )

So she put in over-time in the weeks leading to Christmas, and made every one of us a bracelet in the colors that mean the most to us, as well as one for most all of her cousins. I hired her to make one, to give to my God-Daughter for Christmas. Plus, she made another for one uncle, who requested one for himself.

Each bracelet is a bit tedious and time-consuming process. But she doesn’t seem to mind it, as she sits and chats, or enjoys the peace and coziness of the fireside.
The craft kit and book gives simple directions to learn how to make these bracelets, step-by-step, with lots of photos, and a starter set of string colors to work with.

This is what the Klutz Friendship Bracelets Craft Kit looks like, and you can find it HERE.

She has made SO many, and has really had fun doing so . . . .

But most all of these are given away by now. The third one in from the left, is mine. It’s brown, with my kids birth colors, which are also the branding colors of my business. I LOVE it. She gave it to me on Christmas morning, as ONE of many things in a beautifully wrapped box. Some of the items in that box with my bracelet, were drawings from all of my children, made with love. (SO sweet. They make me 2 0r 3 a day, but you know, these were Christmassy-special), green-apple and water-melon lollipops (I have a little sucker-addiction as of late), and get this…a $50 gift card to Macy’s. WHAT?? From my 11 year old kid?? I was dumb-founded. Turns out, she rightfully earned it, working side by side with her Dad at a local firm. Impressed with the work she was doing for their company, along with her Daddy-Boy, they gave it to her. And she gave it to MOI (that’s ME, in French. You knew that, right?) , for Christmas.

Can I tell you how HAPPY I was to get that card? VERY!! I knew JUST what I was getting with that card. Something I just can’t get myself to spend money on (especially for myself), but needed pretty badly. Want to know what I bought? Because I WILL tell you. I am joyful enough in this grateful heart of mine, to tell you just what I spent that $50 on. I brought my daughter with me, to share in the happy shopping day, as I threw those items happily on the counter for the cashier to ring up. You want to know, don’t you. Are you sure?? Ok. I’ll tell you.

Bras.

Yes, it’s true!! These things can put a BIG SMILE on your face, when you really need them. As the lady handed me that bag, and thanked me for shopping at Macy’s, I turned to my daughter next to me, and jumped up and down hugging and thanking her for my new under-things. I might have even squealed, in my moment of excitement. She wrinkled her nose, and shushed me, as she often does in her cute-little way, when she is ‘slightly embarrassed‘. (<That’s a big expression with my kids.) But I knew it made her happy, to make me so happy. Though she could NOT understand WHY I would choose THAT to use my $50 on. But, she was happy for me.

OH!!! I’m sorry. We were talking about her bracelets, and not my under-things.Right. (But they are so nice!) So sorry.

So this is the latest new technique she has learned:

Cool huh?? It’s called ‘Broken Ladder’.

She wants to make lots more, and maybe have enough done to sell a few. She has more business-ventures going in that head of hers. I love her ambition though. She is good with her money too. She saves some, spends some, and often gives away some, in one way or another. Often times, to buy supplies to make things, to give away.

I always wonder, just what she will choose to do with her life, when she is all grown up. You know, on days when I can ‘go there’ and think about that. But for now, we mostly enjoy watching her ‘get there’. Because we can tell already, it’s going to be good, when it comes. And we’ll spend that time, in the future, looking back to these days, when she was on her way.

She’s a colorful one, for sure.

This craft kit really is a fun little gift, for girls or boys! They’ll spend hours making bracelets for their friends and family.
More embroidery thread, in a wide variety of colors, can be found at any quality craft store.

Thanks for dropping by, for another peek at what we’ve been up to.

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Hope you all had a wonderful May Day!

(This post contains an affiliate links, for which we may be compensated for.)

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