Homemade With Love - 2008

Updated to add: I'm not trying to sound vain, but please link back to this post in your own Homemade with Love post! Thank you.

Sorry for the delay -- as usual, I had problems with Blogger! I hope Mister Linky is working. Let me know if you experience any glitches. Also, please forgive some of the poor photos. You win some, you loose some, and I really had to pick my battles!

Once again, I present you with my annual Homemade with Love Gift Idea Exchange! Each year, I try to come up with new ideas to share with you, and again this year, I am so excited to share with you some new homemade gift ideas. I'm also excited to see all the creative ideas YOU have to share! But first, let me just say that while some of you may think I'm ubber creative -- I'm not. I'm somewhat creative, but there are so many crafty chicks out there, I can't stand it!

After surfing a gazillion blogs and craft websites, I was left with so many ideas this year, but because I'm preparing for a craft show that is coming up in two weeks, I can only share a handful of them today. I promise to continue posting pictures and links to tutorials and websites as I complete each project I'm preparing for the craft show. For the projects I feature today, you can go to the links I provide you to other blogs, or to my "Extra Kisses of Sunshine" web site to see details, links and instructions (including cost information).

This year, I've got a mixture of ideas and medium. Some require higher skills than others, while some are simple enough for even the non-crafter to make. Regardless of your crafting skill level, I'm confident that everyone will leave with at least one idea you'll be able to implement and make your Christmas gift giving more homemade. Also, the sweetest form of flattery is that someone copies something you made, and I've taken a few ideas this year from other much more talented women than myself, and I'll link you directly to their tutorials, not only because it is their original idea, but because they say it so well!

If you have a Homemade with Love idea to share, post it (along with instructions or recipes) on your blog today, then come back and add your name and the link to your post on the Mister Linky, along with your gift idea next to your name (i.e.: GiBee: No-Sew Poncho). And don't forget... please link directly to your post, not your home page. Also, please link back to my original Homemade With Love post.

Reminder: You can CLICK HERE for cost, directions and materials needed for each of these crafts (or links to tutorials). I'll provide the link again at the end of this post.

This is the scripture I based my Homemade With Love idea around:

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"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

(1 Peter 4:10)

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And, really ... that's what a homemade gift is -- not something that is perfectly made and coordinated, but rather, a little bit of God's grace, like a piece of your heart, that you've taken the time to share with another person.
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Again ... please remember that not all of these ideas are original, and if you see your idea here and I didn't give you credit (because I just didn't remember where I saw it, but I truly did try to be careful), please email me privately off line and I'll rectify the situation.

Now, without further delay, here we go!

Christmas Gift Idea #1: Hand Decorated Platter -- This gift idea requires a very basic skill level, and can be personalized for the recipient. I got this idea from a gift shop I visited in North Carolina (but can't remember the name). Basically, I took a plain white plate that can be purchased at any dollar store, Target, WalMart, etc. I decorated it with permanent sharpie pens, and baked it for 20 minutes on 350 degrees to set the color. You can decorate any white platter, mug, bowl, serving bowls -- anything that is white. This is also a great idea for children to create for their grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, teachers, etc. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #2: No-sew Girls Fleece Poncho -- Cute, cute, cute! What little girl wouldn't love cuddling up to this adorable poncho? This project requires basic crafting skills -- if you can cut and tie knots, you can make this! If you can hold a needle and thread in your hand, you can embellish the raw neckline. By the way ... it is important to note at this time that I really did come up with this idea all on my lonesome! CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #3: Sassy t-shirt -- There's nothing better than a comfy t-shirt... unless, of course, it has a little bling on it!!! Trust me when I say... this project is super easy, and the only tools this project requires is an iron! No crafting skills required. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #4: Grace Violet Chic Stationary Set -- I couldn't let another year pass without creating something with my favorite gunky stuff... Mod Podge!! I love how easy this was, and with such a wide selection of scrapbooking papers, even the ugliest pad of paper can be made to look chic! I got this clever idea from Grace Violet (click directions), and Etsy. Basic crafting skills are needed for this project, but once you get the main principles, you can pretty much run with the ideas! CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #5: Gourmet Salt Grinder --Anyone can make this cool gift, and any gourmet foodie will love receiving it. A simple salt grinder with some gourmet salt that you mix together in your own kitchen with items you probably already have in your spice cabinet. No crafting skills are needed for this project. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #6: Cute 2-year Planner -- You can put together a cute planner for very little money, and it would make a cute stocking stuffer, or gift for coworkers. I ordered all the supplies from the internet, used scrapbook paper, and voila... a cute planner. Basic crafting skills are needed for this project. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #7: Adorable Hair Accessories -- Little girls love to fix their hair, and this little project would make an adorable stocking stuffer or gift at a very low cost. No crafting skills are needed for the hair clips, but basic sewing skills are needed for the headbands. You can slip on over to Grace Violet HERE to get instructions on one of the cute hair clips. CLICK HERE for headband directions.




Christmas Gift Idea #8: Skip To My Lou Travel Tissue Holder -- Loooove it! This is an awesome stocking stuffer, gift for a shut-in, or a gift for a co-worker. I made these as thank you gifts for group leaders and coordinators for our women's retreat last weekend, and a couple for door prizes. It was so easy, and I had them made in no time flat! I'll also be giving a few away at work for Christmas. Go to Skip To My Lou for directions or CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #9: Fabric Coffee Cup Sleeve -- Everyone has "Going Green" on the mind, and this is a great way to start -- you know all those cardboard coffee cup sleeves we get? The ones that are made of recycled material, but are no longer recyclable? Well, replace them with one of these Fabric Coffee Cup Sleeves!! No more waste, and it is washable. I made them from 100% cotton on one side, and fleece on the other, so they provide a bit of insulation. They are so cute, but sadly, I'm not sure what happened to all pictures I took, so I've borrowed a picture from Etsy, and I'll take some more and re-post them later this week. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #10: Peanut Butter Chocolate Nut Clusters -- OHMYWORD -- sinful. I had these clusters at a women's retreat at the beginning of the month, and begged the poor lady for the recipe... which she recited off the top of her head. This is a cute and simple gift idea for co-workers, neighbors, kids at church, teachers... you get the idea! Simple, cheap, yummy. Love it. CLICK HERE for directions.



Christmas Gift Idea #11: Tulip Bulb Thank You -- Make this simple little package for the teacher your child loves... a Sunday school teacher... a boy scout or girl scout leader, or the special coach in your kids life. It is inexpensive, adorable, and says "Thank You" in a special way. Add a little card that thanks them for planting knowledge and wisdom in your child's heart and mind, or thanks them for encouraging your child to bloom or blossom. CLICK HERE for directions.





Christmas Gift Idea #12: Personalized Picture Vase -- This is an adorable gift for grandparents. Using an inexpensive square vase, you can personalize it with a picture of your child, seal it with a couple coats of poly, and have a unique gift under the tree for grandma and grandpa. Sorry I didn't have flowers to make a nice arrangement -- just use your imagination! CLICK HERE for directions.

If you didn't get the message, you can CLICK HERE for directions, more pictures, recipes, vendors, complete project cost breakdown, supply lists, etc.

Now it's your turn!! What special Homemade With Love gift do you have to share? It can be easy, or difficult... sewn, or baked... cut and glued... colored or painted. There's no limit to your creativity, so share it all with us! And, please link back to this original post!