Wednesday, November 20, 2013

It's Coming, It's Coming!

Hello, friends!
I'm sorry things have been so quiet around here since the end of RR,
but I just have one thing to say to that.
Christmas is coming!!!
 
Do you know what this means?!
 
This means I have less than 34 days to make all my gifts,
AND fill an order for eight of my crocheted mermaid dolls!
On top of that, I've returned to serving as my dad's carpenter assistant,
so that makes for long days, which means even less time to make everything!
 
But don't worry,
I'm a chronic procrastinator (for evidence there is this post, and this post, AND this post).
but if there is one thing I've learned, it is that I work best with the panic of an impending deadline!
 
That means things will be kind of slow here on the blog for a season,
but I know you all have your own busy holidays to tackle,
so maybe one less post to read will be good for your schedule as well.
 
I would love to share with you my finished products,
but there are several people who read my blog that I will making things for,
so those will just have to wait until after Christmas.
 
Here are a few projects I intend to tackle that I can show you!(JOSIAH )Noodlehead: celebrate the boy tutorial: basic boys wallet
Isn't this darling?!
I have a little brother who needs one of these.
Whenever he wants to go out and spend his hard earned chore money,
he brings his entire, jangling money tin.
I think the little man needs a wallet of his own.
This great tutorial can be found here.
{ELAINE} LOVE this idea!!! 1. Google any silhouette 2. Print on colored paper  3. Cut them out  4. Place in frame  5. Voila!
Little sister. Pink princess cutouts, framed.
Need I say more?
denim clutch: Elisa?
Here is another project I'm considering recreating for my little sister.
There are no directions with this Pinterest link, but I think with some tinkering I can figure it out.
 
 
ASPEN- ELISA-- Lemon Salt Scrub: 5 tbsp. sea salt, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 lemon...{In comments, other added the zest of the lemon; vanilla; honey; sugar instead of salt etc.}
Homemade Lemon Salt Scrub.
All natural, easy to throw together, and a great pampering gift!
I plan to make several jars of these.
ELISSA- Make lipgloss from lipstick! #DIY
Along the same lines,
I found this pin on making your own lip gloss.
This would be a great stocking stuffer or part of a spa gift package for the ladies.
 
 
That's all I can share with you for now,
which is sad, because the projects I'm most excited about making I can't show you yet!
 
Isn't it wonderful that Christmas gives you an excuse to actually make
some of those amazing pins you been stockpiling?
 
Are you making your own gifts this season?
Where do get your inspiration and ideas?
I'd love to know!

12 comments:

  1. thanks for the good ideas. I always make homemade gifts, but normally, not as much as I'd like.

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    1. I know what you mean. Every year I purpose that I'm going to start working on making gifts much sooner so I can make more- but, sadly, it has yet to actually happen! :)

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  2. Those goodies are so adorable. I love Christmas too because to wrapping the gifts :) :)
    Anyway, I cant wait to see the final look of your handmade. I bet they must be beautiful.
    Thanks for sahring :)
    Love,
    Delvalina

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    1. I'm with you, I love Christmas! Isn't it just the best time of year?! :) As always, Delvalina, thanks for your sweet comments!

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  3. Thanks for sharing. I absolutely love your mermaid dolls. So cute!

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    1. Thanks, Trisha! I'm slowly working my way through refiguring out how I made them, and writing a pattern as I go. :)

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  4. There is so much out there to do, and be inspired by, isn't there? I really like the ideas you have chosen. And your mermaid dolls - I love the details! (I was one of those girls who loved dolls of all kinds, and I would have loved yours for all the little details)

    I used to make Christmas gifts when I was younger but haven't done it for a long time. But I do make things to sell at fall craft sales - just started last year and I was worried I'd run out of ideas but it's just the opposite - for every item I make, I find ten more I'd love to try. Good luck with your crafting!

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    1. There truly is!! I'm with you- for everything I make, dozens more ideas pop up to take their place. I find that I need to slow down and enjoy the creative process more instead of viewing it as a checkmark on my list so I can move onto the next! I would love to see some of your craft projects- do you have a blog or an online site you post them to?

      Thank you for the comment on the mermaid dolls! After the holidays are over, I'm considering selling PDF's of the pattern on Etsy..??? We'll see if that happens and how complicated it is! LoL.

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    2. I do not have a blog or other online site, but here are the links for the inspiration for a few of the things I made for this year:

      - button flowers http://www.teaching-tiny-tots.com/toddler-activities-button-flowers.html#.UpF-iiemWwk (although this is on a children's site, the craft requires an adult to twist the wire, and can be made more complicated than shown)

      - felt ornaments http://www.christmascrafts.com/ornaments/christmas-tree/felt-christmas-tree-ornament.htm (except I used tiny beads instead of buttons to "decorate" the tree; I also made red stockings with sequins)

      zippered pouches http://chicenvelopements.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/easy-zippered-pouch-tutorial/ (Beth's site, the clearest tutorial I've found)

      I also made draft blockers using salvaged material from discarded clothing both for the casing (finished size 7" wide x 40" long) and cut up to make the stuffing - I chose material because it was the least expensive, but also I figured that rice or beans could attract pests, and fibrefill was too lightweight.

      I also made some placemats (bias tape sewn to rectangular pieces of factory quilted material (oh, this was a learning process for sure, mitering those corners!!), button snowmen ornaments (using white buttons of varying diameters to mimic the shape of the snowman, and black or coloured buttons for the hat, strung on twine).

      Can you tell I love buttons? :) I also like to use salvaged materials, this year using reclaimed fabric, zippers, beads and buttons. I tried to challenge myself to find something in what I already owned rather than head out to the store. Mind you, I did have a lot of new stuff I had bought over the years and never got around to using, so that was a big help (such as felt, beads, remnants of material, floral wire, etc).

      Sorry to be long-winded. You tapped into a huge area of interest of mine :)

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    3. Wow, lady, you get busy!! :) How fun-- I love the button flowers! Those are adorable! And the felt ornaments, that is a great idea. Every year, we make a new ornament for each of us kids (and one for mom and dad), so we are always looking for great ornament ideas!

      Uhg, I can imagine doing bias tape on rounded corners is NOT easy! I haven't come up against that challenge yet, but I'm sure I will sometime down the road.

      That is awesome that you were able to use what you had on hand instead of buying lots more supplies.

      I bet everyone loves your crafts! Thanks for sharing, Jenny! :)

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  5. The day after Christmas this year let's all start working on gifts for 2014! Homemade is best but i spend too much time dreaming and not enough making. I'll be hoping to see your finished gifts after the wrappings are torn away!

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    1. Haha! That sounds like a great idea! To be honest, I have done that before and then completely forgotten about what I made the following year! Oops! :) I'm the same as you...too much dreaming and planning and not enough doing! :)

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