What are you making???

[Christyne]

For Christmas that is??? I am trying to come up with some new ideas and drawing a total blank.

Got any good ideas for me? Recipes in a jar (they are always a hit, but I need some new ones!)? Cookies? Scarves? Blankets???


HELP!

Christyne

[lunchbox]

I knitted a bunch of scarves. For chicks, I used large needles and two strands of yarn, one novelty and one plain in garter stitch. For the guys, I used a wool blend and a 2x2 rib with matching hats. I am knitting a set of 6 coasters for my mom - plain red yarn. I knitted a shrug for my SIL.

I also did a bunch of jams and pickles this summer.

For my mom, I wrote out 12 new recipe cards from new recipes that I used over the year. She is always complaining that she cooks the same old things.

[hrnewbie]

I'm cross stitching oven mitts. I found the pattern in a Better Homes & Gardens Cross Stitch magazine. It's really cute. I did mine in about 2 weeks and hope to get another 2 done before the holiday.

[Muffin's Mommy]

Fleece No-Sew blankets. And I think I'm going to try fleece scarves too. Take three or four strips 4-5 feet long and maybe 12 inches wide (I'm guessing here, haven't tried one yet but that's what they looked like when I saw them). Stack them all one on top of the other and run one seam (maybe 2) down the center of the strip. Then cut into the strip on each side of the seam, in approximately 1 inch wide little tags, almost to the center, towards the seam. I saw one the other day and thought it was really cute and looked easy enough to make, I'll let you now if it comes out or not.

[jacbyrd]

I am making recipe cards using the recipes that dh's grandmother used before she died. I'm including a picture of her on each card and laminating them and then hooking them all together with jump rings.

[Corrie]

I'm knitting a bunch of various items. Mostly hats and scarves, and some fingerless mittens. I'm knitting my brother a hemp belt.

I just hope I can get it done in time! My only chances are during my carpool and after the boys go to sleep.

[Ruby]

I'm doing to small wall quilts for my grandmothers. I just have to quilt them, bind them and sew some buttons on and I'll be done. Nothing else really this year craft wise.

Last year I did monogramed cross-stitch book marks and a really cute pattern where you attach a snowman's head and arms to a basket (so it looks like he's hugging it) They turned out great and were easy to do.

[Debra]

We are making some bead ornaments (I just got kits). We are also making "fingerpaint" ornaments -- DS is fingerpainting some wooden ornaments and then we are 'fixing' them with spray. We are also planning to do some with either his footprints or his picture.....

I also did some crabapple jelly this summer. The red color looks great when I top it with green fabric. (I made it from the apples that grow outside of work and am giving it to co-workers).

Also: (this is from past years) have you ever made beach bags for people? You can stitch together towels, bright fabric, or plastic mesh into big bags (just remember to make the handles long enough so you can throw them over the shoulder). You can give them as gifts with various beach related trinkets inside or just by themselves.

[Starlet]

Here are some ideas & I am doing each of these

Candy Cane Bath Salts:
# 2 cups epsom salts
# 1/2 c. sea salt
# 4-6 drops peppermint oil
# 2-3 drops red food coloring

Place one cup of epsom and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil.

Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes. This makes a great holiday gift for friends.

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Here is one I found that I find truely awesome, I am going to do this, this holiday season for a few people

Make a "Journal in a Jar." We put about 100 strips of paper with questions on each into a colored-glass jar from the dollar store and gave with a blank journal book. The questions included "What did you want to be when you grew up?" and "What is your favorite holiday and why?" We gave it to my dad and my mother-in-law, and they are picking a strip out of the jar occasionally and writing the answers in the journal. This will be something we always cherish from them.

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Christmas Mugs

Take 4 or 5 cinnamon sticks and dip them in melted chocolate. Place them on wax paper and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy.

After they dry, wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon.

Place the chocolate cinnamon sticks in a coffee mug along with some packages of cocoa.

Instead of cocoa you could add small packages of coffee


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I have also crocheted a blanket for my niece

[*Debbie*]

I have a home daycare...for the daycare parents we (the kids & I ) will be making pretzels dipped in chocolate. I am using the flavored wafers that they sell at craft stores (light chocolate, dark chocolate and vanilla flavored) The kids will dip the pretzels into the chocolate - I bought little boxes to put them in. We are also decorating 4x6 picture frames - AC Moore had them on sale last weekend, I bought some little wooden snowmen decorations - the kids will paint the frame, glue the snowman on and I will put a picture of the child into the frame.

I am cross-stitching some little designs to put into small curio/shadow boxes that I bought at a needlework factory outlet this summer. These will be gifts for my SIL's, MIL & my mother. I am doing another cross-stitch project for my neice.

I am making some fleece scarfs & matching hats (I posted a link for the hats a couple weeks ago) for the daycare kids.

[H'OHara]

I"m doing bath salts and body scrub, knitting a few scarves, making a journal in a jar and we also did Calendars. :)

[Becks2]

You guys all have some great ideas!! I'm making homemade turtle candy for the neighbors. Here's the recipe. It is super easy and very tasty.

Pretzel for bottom - Christmas tree shape if you can find it, otherwise regular mini pretzel. Then melt a caramel on top in oven for approx 5 min. Then add a little melted chocolate (melt chocolate chips). Then add a toasted pecan. (Just toast these in the oven for about 5 minutes). They look so cute and are so good! I'm not real specific in amounts with recipes, so just do what looks right!

[PaulaSue]

I just helped make over 400 scaves for the kids and staff at my DD's school from the PTO. We had a blast but I am (the other Moms are too I am sure) so done with making handmade things for this year.