Home made gift suggestions

We have craft fairs in this area from October to December.  If you can find some in   your area, go see what people are making and selling. You can get some great ideas there. (Take a notebook along and sketch--of course when you get away from their tables).  Last year I did some  "welcome"wall hangings, and also painted some small rocks white, painted a flower on them and added appropriate sayings with a black marker.  The one I kept and get lots of comments on says "A clean house is the sign of a warped mind."  You could also make a kit for children with a rock, a bottle of white paint, and some eyes  & mouths from a craft store for them to make their own pet rocks.  It would be cheap. Or paint their names on the rocks and a ball of some kind if they are interested in baseball, football, etc for their rooms.  Another  gift for adults would be something you made in your kitchen, cookies, candy, or ingredients for one of your special recipes, together with the recipe.  You might also check out the dollar stores if you have some in your area--you can buy candles, soaps, etc. and could make small baskets.  Hand-made ornaments are also nice.  Can't think of much else for now.   Hope others come up with some good idears for you.  I think it's fabulous that you want to do this.

Hi, 

  Wow, l love this kind of question.  If you're not into making anythin, but still want handmade, please check out this website:    www.etsy.com   it's a place for all things handmade.  I have a shop on this site called www.handstosew.etsy.com    I think you will find something for everyone.  Just type in what you're looking for in the top box one you're on the site.  It's really a simple user-friendly site.  Good luck

I have made purses, quilts, matching apron, pot holders, and placemats.  For guys I've done "collectable" collages in a deep picture frame.  Look in pattern books there a lot of great ideas there.

Good luck!

tablerunners, "border print" easy fast and themed material is great for the holiday's.

Make Hallah bread...Its braided, its pretty, its cheap to make. It can be made plain, or sweet or cheesy...Wrap it in colorful celophane see through..You can even freeze it and everyone is so impressed, "you baked it yourself"...

Make a family booklet with information about your family (If this is for a relative) put into it data like you would find in a family tree like birthday  death of deaths photographs  the list of things you can put into it are endless a paper notebook done with notebook paper works grea!

Cheryl:

I've read all of the great answers.  Here are a few more ideas for you to consider:

• Wood carrier for someone with a fireplace [KwikSew pattern]
• Heavy-duty denim apron for the workshop [brother turns wood]
• Sewing accessories, like a seam roll, machine pin cushion or pressing ham [Simplicity 5422] for the sewer
• Flannel shirts, robes, scarves, ties...
• Bags-- for craft projects, shoes, groceries...
• Jellies and jams-- we like raspberry jelly, apple jelly [with a cinnamon stick in it], lemon marmalade, and strawberry jam.
• Small loaves of bread, like banana nut or cranberry orange
• Wall art [painted, cross stitched, embroidered, quilted, or sewn]
• Plate of homemake cookies/treats for the nonbaker. [My brother returns the cleaned tray and gift wrap so he'll get more the next year.]

 I've made them all.  Some had input from the recipient... i.e. fabric, colors, designs and needs.  Hope yours enjoy their gifts!

-Nita

I guess that both genders are worse than presents