Holiday Gift Brainstorms
My family doesn’t read this so it’s safe to divulge my plans. We’re down to about 8 weeks before Christmas and I’m kicking my gift making into high medium gear. Here are a few of my plans that are partly underway.
The Quilted Note for my niece. I ordered two yards of custom fabric from Spoonflower, who is now accepting orders from anyone! You no longer need an invitation to order. The fabric I ordered is just text in the form of a note to my niece talking about how awesome she is and how much I miss her and how special it was to me that I used to get to spend everyday with her. Especially since now we’re no longer in the same town. The yardage has no repeats. It’s just one long note to her. (The actual fabric has text larger than appears above. I hope it turns out!)
The Jenkins Jumpin’ Recipe Book for my sister and sister-in-law. My mom has my granma’s old recipe box so I am working on copying all of her handwritten recipes so I can get them bound with coil binding at Kinko’s or some such office store. So far, I have done the covers and title page. The cover features my Recipe Writing Stamps which I want to laminate and the title page has some of my favorite stickers from The Perfect Note desk set. (They have fancy penmanship on them and stamps and cards!) I need to copy all the recipes and then I’ll be trimming them to the same 5″ x 6″ size for uniformity. The book will also have some blank pages and envelopes for adding to it and then it will hopefully all be wonderfully bound for easy flipping.
The Daydream Terrariums for the hard to craft for folks following these instructions, using these containers (pictured above) I picked up for cheap at Ikea and, with little to no woods in my day to day, I’m adding a few mosses and lichens I ordered from here to compliment the stuff I’ve found on my walks. I’m considering adding some accessories from here or here if I can’t make them fun enough on my own. We shall see. I just hope I don’t kill them before I give them out.
Entry Filed under: craft
14 Comments Add your own
1. Denise | October 29th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
You are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your ideas. :)
2. Anabela | October 29th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Whoa. That fabric/quilt/letter is AMAZING! What an incredible aunt you are.
3. TheKidsAreAlight | October 30th, 2008 at 4:08 am
You’re so organised! Everyday I say I have to write my list of crafty christmas presents, and the time is getting away from me! I’ll do it today
4. homedotmade | October 30th, 2008 at 8:42 am
A potential investment for your recipe books and future crafts might be the Bind-It-All. I bought one and have made all sorts of mini books already. It also allows me to not be at the mercy of Kinko’s, etc. and I can make my crafty projects whenever the mood strikes!
Not affiliated with the company, just a satisfied customer.
5. Maryellen | October 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
What would I do without all your amazing and inspiring ideas? I just love them all and wish you were my aunt (lucky girl!). My daughter, Clare, just loves her vanity that you made for us last Christmas and our woodland pals rubber stamps are the talk of the town.
Also, just noticed that Qoop.com is creating spiral bound books and calendars from customers images/custom info.–might be an easy way to make a large number of your cookbooks or small object calendars for lucky friends and family.
www.qoop.com/photobooks/flickr_user/login.php?frob=72157608508831931-cb3547170e6c6b38-1218192&extra=|||||||||
6. ant | November 1st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Oh my, you are a gift giving super hero. I wish I could have you in my back pocket every time I am utterly stumped as to what to give. Keep em coming Sarah
7. Randi | November 9th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Love the fabric!!! The concept totally rocks - I’m sure your niece will love it.
8. ela | November 10th, 2008 at 12:34 am
please, please post your finished lettered note
Spoonflower fabric when you get it, and how did you make it up? Wonderful!
9. Apryl | November 10th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I love the writing fabric (or idea anyway) its a really great idea, and has such love in it. I have an account at spoonflower but am not techy enough to put any of my ideas into the works to become real fabrics… not that I can really sew anyway. I’m slowly teaching myself though..although so far I have only made a scrap owl and a robot embroidered cushion.
I really love to recipe book idea though, its a lovely way to keep track of everything, I cook alot and blog quite a few of my concoctions but I really should try to get my dad’s recipes from him and put them all together in a book… one day..
10. Danette | November 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I am inspired by your creativity. It is my plan to do all handmade gifts this year. But, this, what you have come up with, is incredible. Wow. Good work.
11. amanda @ www.kiddio.org | November 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I love the font (I have a similar outline one that I’ve never known quite what to do with). Totally inspiring! Thanks for sharing :)
12. kelly | November 11th, 2008 at 12:35 am
I just left my niece after spending the afternoon with her and when I got out of the car, she called out after me “kelly is my best” and my heart shattered with how much I love her. this is beautiful, such an amazing idea.
13. suesue | November 11th, 2008 at 7:20 am
too cool fabric. wonderful idea!
14. patricia | November 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 am
your quilt idea is wonderful!
I'm curious about your two cents. You smart cookie!
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