Christmas ideas....

[smsturner]

Does anyone make christmas or holiday presents? What's your favorite?

Every year since the kids were 2 and 4 we have made ornaments at christmas for them to give as presents. They love it and everyone saves them and you can see the progression from easy and cute to harder and older on every christmas tree in the family lol

I have done some great projects (and a few big flops lol) to give over the years. I did an awesome cross stitch from my mom's pic of her puppy last year that she loved. I'm decent with a crochet needle, and i LOVE playing with candles!! One year I made really awesome stars out of wire, golden spray paint and gold glitter. They came out awesomely.

Looking for ideas for this year actually. Trying to interest my two older kids (11 and almost 13) and for me to do.

[MissyJ]

Hi Susan!

I've been looking at various sites for ideas as well. One of the sites that I stumbled upon
(Homemade Christmas Gifts) has several ideas we are going to try:

One that my daughter (12) wants to work on is this Brown Bag Basket only we may opt for a box as our base over a bag to help it be sturdier.

The boys are lobbying for this gift for dad: Remote Control Pocket Pillow

Another we are putting together for grands (and I want one too! LOL): Mod Podge Family Monogram

What type of candle crafts do you like? I have a few ideas that we have used in the past.

[smsturner]

Hi Missy

That site is awesome! Thank you I love the pringle can bracelets and that basket. I would love to see how that brown bag basket comes out. Trying to decide if that's in my skill level lol My daughter is twelve too and would have fun with that sort of thing. Right now she's excited about the idea of crocheting something for her baby sister at her dad's house. There are some cute ideas that a beginner could do.

I'm crocheting a minecraft 'creeper' scarf and hat set for Marcus which has been fun. He loves that game.

I like this idea here for the kids to make:
Pinup Containers | Familyfun November 2010 | FamilyFun

or this...
Craft: Mosaic Flowerpots (Gift Idea) | Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make | FamilyFun

Might do some of these for our ornaments, they are cute
Holiday craft: Family Faces Ornaments | Homemade Christmas Ornaments | FamilyFun


So far, for candles, I've some simple ones like home dipped and layed pillars. We made some more complicated ones last year, we used damp sand in boxes for kind of a freeform mold, and put shells from the dollar store on the inside. Made the candles light blue-green. Then when dry you tip the box over and you get a cool candle with lumps and bumps and shells, very ocean-y. The sand molding was fun for the kids, i'm wondering if I might try some variations of that? I'd like to try ice candles this year at least. I always think I have ages to do this stuff and then it's too late!

[MissyJ]

Oh my gosh! We are so going to have to do those Family Faces ornaments -- or at least the older ones can! (No way am I allowing my younger set to deal with acrylic paints. I think we are still recovering from our last painting adventure!)

My grandmother used to make beautiful embossed candles. I would love to try to create something like this. We used to make homemade taper candles in the backyard of her home over a huge pot! She would have the wicks tied to something akin to a broomstick that was dipped in over and over. Those things lasted forever but gosh my shoulders would hurt at the end of the day. LOL

Let me know what you come up with! I'll share pics of the brown bag basket if I can get my act together soon!

[mom2robbie]

One of the things I am making for the craft show that I have 2 tables at, is snowman ornaments. You take a clear ornament, fill with mini marshmallows and then draw on eyes, nose and mouth. I will try and get a picture posted soon. Cute and easy!

eta: I am using the Sharpie paint pens to do the faces.

[mom2robbie]

Missy, I have made tons of those baskets in the past. I always used a light box for the inside (the weight of a shoe box). I used to make them and fill them with baby stuff for baby shower gifts.