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!!)
Great gifts from Pat, and you had wonderful ideas for gifts, yourself! Thanks for sharing.
You have so many ideas and the pincushion-family is so bright and nice 🙂
And I totally agree with you, your gifties are really nice!
Lots of Beautiful Gift Ideas, so many I don’t know which would be my favorite!! Thanks for sharing them All! Have a Wonderful Holiday!!
Huggs, Nancy
Pat did you proud by what she sent. It had to feel just like Christmas when you opened that pkg!
You have given us so many ideas for quick gifts. How can we ever choose a favorite! I love that change keeper idea though.. That would be great by the washing machine! My hubby is always leaving change in his pockets and I find it in the washer or dryer!
Lovely gifts received from Pat…love that tea book. Your gift ideas are great too. In my house, people have gotten tired of giving me money, they’ve gotten pretty good at emptying their pockets lol. We’ve often given gifts like the soft drink idea…(back in the day) video rental coupons, popcorn, and pop. I just love ideas like soup in a jar, or a cake in a mug. Thanks for sharing…oh and I love your vintage window idea too!
Some nifty gifties from Pat. She is sew creative. I love your ideas, and how sweet and thoughtful of you to share ideas for those who don’t sew. Love the hot chocolate jar idea. Your son did a wonderful job on that.
You received wonderful gifts from Pat, and shared some unique gifts ideas with us. The flower pot pincushions are so sweet!
such treasures the change jar had me smiling ….lots to think of t.y.
Wonderful gifts from Pat! I love your ideas for kids. Sometimes they are the hardest to find gifts for! I’m putting that in my idea bank! 😉 Thanks!
What lovely treasures you received from Pat! And some great gift ideas from you, thank you.
I LOVE that you included projects for people that don’t sew alot. I do sew, but right now (being 32 weeks pregnant) I am trying to find other crafty things to work on while I put a some of my sewing on the back-burner. 🙂 You have great ideas! Thank you for sharing. Nice work!
-Brittany
Looks like Pat did some blog stalking to get some great gift ideas for you! All of them are just wonderful!
What a wonderful gift package you received from Pat! And that Loose Change idea – I need that beside my washer! The good part is that I keep all change left in pockets. 🙂 Wonderful post Jennifer! blessings, marlene
You received some lovely gifts. Love the teabag “book”. Thanks for all the great ideas you shared with us too. Nice to have some non-sewing ideas. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your holidays.
I am so happy that you joined in this hop, Jennifer! You have so many ideas for creative, practical and lovely gift giving. Thanks so much for sharing them in this hop. 🙂
I am happy that you are enjoying your gifts. I did visit your blog and enjoyed reading back and trying to figure what to send as I really had no idea what colors or fabrics to choose. In the end I let my quilty muse decide.
It is so nice to meet a new quilty friend through this hop. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas … 🙂 Pat
these are some great ideas, thanks, I especially love the idea for teen girls
Pat is so creative and really sent you an amazing package of goodies…lucky you! Thanks for all the great gift ideas!
Your gifts received are lovely. Thank you for all the ideas, I love the pin cushions in pots and the change jar!
Happy Holidays 😀
Your gifts from Pat are great…especially the take along tea bag wallet. So glad to see gift ideas for non sewers. Hope non sewers find your blog and are inspired. Everyone should try the handmade gift route.
What wonderful ideas for making small gifts. I am going to make some of those. Thank you for sharing. You received some really lovely gifts.
What great ideas you have shared, but I really like that you shared non-sewing ideas too! thanks! yessewingisfun@yahoo.com
Great ideas! I especially like the “keep the change” jar!
Your ideas are all wonderful. I can’t wait to see what you sent to Bea. You received some beautiful gifts too. I love that jar opener idea.
Good gift ideas. Merry Christmas.
Love the presents you received. Can never have enough pouches. You have some great ideas for non sewers. Thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays.
Oh goodness all around…your little gifts were precious…and WOW! I love the items you posted for gifts…sometimes I don’t want to sew…because I know the other person would rather have something else…you GAVE ME LOTS of options!!!!! and I loved seeing and reading all of your children’s names…what a blessing!
I love your ‘keep the change’ holder and your teenage boy gift. What great ideas!!
Lovely gifts from your fellow hopper Pat. Also love your non-quilty ideas. Great ideas for a quick gift. Hope you have a Merry Christmas, it was nice to visit you today. ~Cori
Wow! You’ve got some fun gift ideas here. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Lovely gifts from Kris! Enjoy
great ideas- even for those non sewists! what fun!
Love that you included the non quilters in list of ideas, wonderful of you. All of your ideas were great. Loved the gifts you got too. I really need to make the tea bag holder.
What terrific ideas you have. I love the chocolate jsr. Your son can make me one. 🙂 Teens are hard to buy for and cash is always the safest present. I like how you added a little with them.
Wonderful ideas and love how you gave suggestions for non sewers. Thanks for sharing!
Those were all such great ideas. Thank you!
You received lovely gifts. I like the tea bag holder a lot…gotta give those a try. I like that you included gift ideas for the non-sewers out there. “Jar” gifts are one of my favorite quick things to do. So many great ideas on how to fill them.
Thanks for sharing so many projects.
Thank you for all the fabulous gift ideas!!! I’m working on getting the family to exchange all homemade gifts, so I’ve bookmarked this post for all the awesome ideas!!!
That Pat, she always has great ideas and she has really done her part to give you sweet treats. You have some absolutely delightful ideas and non sewing ones too. Great post, thank you!
Wow, “plethora” is right! Such great ideas for gifts – Pat’s thoughtful gifts are terrific – so fun! And your ideas are wonderful too, thanks for including the no-sew stuff. Love the change jar!
Great projects all over the place. Thanks for sharing yours.
Wonderful gifts received and given. You have shared so many great ideas. Thank you sew very much for participating and swapping/hopping. Creative T’Was the Night Bliss…
From the looks of it Pat did a wonderful job of stalking your blog! All lovely gifts she sent you! Thanks for sharing all your great quick gift ideas with us,including the ones for peeps who do not sew! (great idea)!
Super clever ideas for everyone on my list!
Wow, you have some great ideas, especially like the 8 year old’s. I’m thinking he has a great mentor. And Pat was a wonderful Santa too!
love the idea of using a scarf to wrap the gift in. cleaver.
Teenagers are the toughest!
Nice set of ideas and beautiful gifts 🙂
So many fun ideas! I love pincushions lately, and those little flowerpot ones are adorable!
Such sweet gifts you received from Pat. I love your crafty ideas. The pop bottle/candy/money is a great idea for my teenage grandson. The picture frames, and old window frame are another idea I can see my self using.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Great ideas! How nice of you to think outside the box and think of those who don’t sew/quilt. I’ll be watching tomorrow to see the gifts you sent. Isn’t this a fabulous idea for a hop – gifting?
Lovely gifts from Pat and some really great ones you made. Keep the change jar is clever.