T’was the night before…. and it’s my turn!!

I have really been enjoying all the fabulous and creative ideas that have been shared this week by so many talented ladies! I am quite honored to be along with them, opening up my “idea box” and showing a glimpse of what’s inside. I hope you all have found some ideas to help spear head your creativity this year. It’s not too late, either! Remember, these are quick and easy ideas so you could wait ‘till the last minute if you really wanted to…. but I wouldn’t recommend it!

The wonderful Pat, who blogs at Life in the Scrappatch, sent me some beautiful items, all in my favorite color combo! I’m not sure how she new that, or maybe she really likes them too…either way, I’m super happy with them!

The pouch is a wonderful size to put small goodies in. It “snaps” shut, like it has one of those snap bracelets at the top like I had in middle school (oh goodness, did I just date myself there!). There is no need for a snap or zipper, for it closes itself once you let go. That’s nice and handy! To the right is what looks like a coaster, but it’s actually a tool to help get those pesky jar lids open. And it works great! On the other side of it is the rubber mat kind-of material (like what people use in the bottom of their sinks for no slippage).

The pinwheel is an adorable key chain of her own creation and then there are the extras she included. A mini charm pack of Simply Style from V. & Co., a spool of lovely blue Aurifil thread, and a pair of cute green scissors.

The “book” on the left is actually a tea holder! I am a serious tea drinker and this is a wonderful things for me to have, for now I can travel around with my favorite tea!

And wouldn’t you know it… she already included my favorite teas! Lemon zinger and black tea. Thank you so much Pat!!

Pat is posting the links of all these goodies on her blog, so go and visit her if you are interested.

On Monday, you’ll see the goodies that I sent to Bea Lee of Beaquilter. I had quite a bit of fun deciding on what I would make and then actually making them! (I’ll give you a hint: the gifts weren’t just for her! )

Below are some ideas that I have done in the past, or I’m doing for this Christmas, that go along with the theme of this blog hop perfectly!

This is a potholder/trivet size project that folds the fabric in a unique way and the tutorial can be found on the here on the Moda Bake Shop.

This is another mini wall hanging that uses fabric origami for the middle star. The tutorial is also found here on the Moda Bake Shop.

I know that almost all of the ideas within this blog hop are for those who are handy with needle and thread, which is great, but what if you don’t sew? Don’t despair, for I have ideas for you, too!

This is an easy idea for that hard-to-buy-for teen boy in your life. Simply tape some favorite candy around their favorite drink, then wrap some dollar bills around the candy (we held them in place with paper clips).

   

For the teen girl in your life, how about filling a jar with items one needs for “doing their nails” and then wrapping it up in a scarf she can use? Pretty and practical!

Give a jar full of hot chocolate essentials to warm your loved one. One of my boys did this for their Christmas person this year and the only change we did was he wanted to added the green mints to the jar as well as the red mints. We also bought a nice winter-themed mug from Goodwill to go along with this gift. He’s 8 and did this all himself! (we used 1/2 a bag of each the green and red mints, mini marsh mellows, and a box of 6 packets of Nestle hot chocolate, all stored in individual sandwich bags) My apologies for not having my own photo. We wrapped the gift before I remembered to take a picture!

Sometimes we come across cards that speak directly to us that were either given by someone to you or they are for someone from you. You can keep them forever, and make them special keepsake gifts, by putting them in a frame. It not only allows people to appreciate the saying or the picture, but it’s a nice and easy way to add to the décor of your/their home.

Old windows can be found just about anywhere, esp. when a house is being remodeled. You can use them as picture frames, putting in them such things as a person’s favorite scripture, or pressed flowers, or a child’s artwork. They can add quite the personality and a bit of vintage to your décor.

A seamstress/quilter can never have enough pin cushions! These little pots were found at the dollar store and with a bit of fabric, poly stuffing and hot glue, a cute little pin cushion is created!

Last, but not least, if using paint and some sand paper is more your style, this is a cute easy project. Take a scrap board of whatever dimensions you want and paint it with primer, then your base coat  (in the case above, I used dark brown). Next, on contact paper or a blank Avery peel-and-stick sheet, print out the words “keep the change” in your desired font and cut them out. Stick them onto your board where you want them to be. Carefully paint your board with your top coat (I used a brownish cream). It’s okay if your top coat peels the letters a little bit. Once your top coat is dry, peel off your letters and sand in various places to give it that “vintage” look (places like the corners, along the edges, and lightly over the letters). Finally, buying a hose clamp from the hardware store, screw that onto your board and insert your jar (I used an old pickle jar).  And Viola! A lovely bit of décor to keep your loose change in (or as I use it, for the various coins that come through my washing machine!).

So there you have it, a plethora of ideas to get your creative juices flowing this Christmas! Giving gifts that are handmade do take more time, but they add such a unique flavor and they tend to make the recipient feel more special with the time it took to make such an item.

Please visit all these other talented ladies to see what they have to share along with me today!

Deonn at Quiltscapes

Elizabeth at Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Patty at A Stitch in Time

Kris at Krislovesfabric

Pat at Life in the Scarpatch

Jennifer at The Days Dewings (That’s ME!!)