Christmas Gifts

[southernbelle81]

Last year I made ornaments to give out to friends/family as Christmas gifts. Does anyone have any ideas of something different to make? I really want to get started so I'm not in any hurry.

THanks!

[sscg]

I remember one time someone posted about the trivets/coasters that you fill with rice that you heat up...okay, I'm losing that thought...

anyway, I've come across sites where someone has posted for the trivets/coasters stuffed with different things & scents & then when you sit a hot mug on it or a hot pot/dish, the scent comes up...

[gracie]

What kind of ornaments did you make last year?

[Dor1949]

I haven't done it for a few years but my standard house gift was:

a loaf of my homemade cranberry bread with walnuts and mixed peel - frosted with ornamental icing and decorated with green & red cherries on top. I freeze these as I bake them (wrapped in tin foil).

I keep my eye out for really pretty Christmas tea towels - have used just plain red & white or green & white check if I can't find what I want.

I wrap the loaf in a tea towel, tie it up with thick yarn - red for a green tea towel, green for red - into a bow.

I buy three inexpensive wooden spoons and place them diagonally under the bow.

It's a great gift - one you don't have to put together until the last minute and if you have any left over, you can eat them. I do recommend keeping the loaves frozen right up until to give them to people as they seem to slice easier when frozen.

[Nutsy]

You may find that since you made ornaments last year, they'll want them again this year. LOL I've had that happen.

And it could be a nice tradition. I did this for my nephews for years, so when they move out (now! they're all pretty grown!) they'll have some ornaments for their own trees.

[southernbelle81]

I have decided that it would be nice to make ornaments every year. Do any of you have any suggestions? Last year I took clear glass balls and painted a crescent moon and palmetto tree (SC flag) on them. I'm not the best at painting, but they turned out pretty well for my first try. I have also thought of taking the clear glass balls and putting sand and little sea shells inside (I grew up on the coast and that is where most of my friends and family are). I tried that out last year...I just put the sand and shells in and it just needed something else and I couldn't figure out what...so I just used my SC theme instead. I appreciate any of your ideas. I am pretty new to this.

Thanks a bunch!!! :D

[01grits]

Last year I made homeade coffee creamors for my hubby's sister and brothers/wives. I also gave them a set of everyday pot holders and towels. I was not sure what to get them and knew this was something everyone needed...I loved the creamors and they all drink tons of coffee so it WAS a hit!!

[snowshrew]

I don't know if you have access to a color printer, but my mom made my sister and myself beautiful ornaments that she had glued copied pictures of our family to. She printed the pictures out on acid free paper and then glued on a clear glass ornament. She covered the pictures with glue to "seal" them. Then she tied the top with ribbon. It is really one of my favorite ornaments!

Hope this helps!! Let us know what you decide to make!! :)

[BetsyS]

This isn't ornaments, but I'm making one niece about 10 homemade cards to use throughout the year. I'm making another niece a journal with a decorated front cover.

For some of my friends, I'm making ice cream baskets--homemade prailine topping, homemade hot fudge, and homemade pineapple, all in a pretty basket, with some neat spoons or dishes (got to get looking for the spoons)

[scbshell]

You could make your own potpourri by drying apple slices, lemons, cranberriers, and oranges in the oven. Then you could add cinnamon sticks to it. Put it in a pretty bag and that would look nice in a bowl. Maybe add some cloves to it.

[southernbelle81]

Snowshrew...

I love that idea!! What kind of ornaments were used though? Just plain, clear, glass balls? What is the approx size of the pictures that are on the ornaments? I am very interested in trying this out!!

[snowshrew]

Yes, the plain clear glass balls, but quite large-- six inches or so in diameter--- like the size of a grapefruit, but I wouldn't think you would HAVE to do them this big.

The pictures varied in sizes and she cut the pictures out and overlapped some of them, like a collage.

I think you could do "theme" pictures, like the families at christmas, or pictures of them when they were children. Mine has pictures from my wedding, my sister's wedding, and my parents' anniversary.

My mom has a scanner, so I think she scanned a lot of the pictures in and them printed them off to use.

You could also tint the glue with some ivory or tan paint (very light though) and give the pictures an antique look.

Good luck!!! :) :)

[Missi]

I usually give homemade goodie trays (a pretty holiday tray filled w/ various goodies, then tied up w/ colored cello. and a raffia bow); homemade mixes in a container to use (brownie mix in a Pyrex dish w/ a holiday pot holder or dish towel; flavored coffee creamer mixess in a pretty mug; soup mix in a serving bowl, etc.). One year I made loaves of orange cranberry bread and put it in a holiday basket lined w/ a pretty cloth napkin.

[dizzylizzy]

My DS's (ages 7 and 3) painted my DM a beautiful picture for her b-day, and I think we'll do some more for Christmas presents.

I bought an 8X10 canvas at Ben Franklin's (for about $3). I painted the entire canvas a color to coordinate with her home, then drew a simple daisy with a pencil. They filled in the flower with plain white paint, and I put just a few touches on it. It really turned out beautiful, and she loved it!