Making stocking stuffers for next Christmas

[Azure]

At my mothers house for Christmas we do very inexpensive stocking stuffers ($1-2 range) for everybody. It is always a blast to see what is in the stockings. I try to remember to buy stuff throughout the year but mostly forget. So this year I have decided to make stocking stuffers all year as part of my Goals for 2015.

I have 5 sisters, parents, an aunt, nieces and nephews and now great-nieces and nephews. There are a lot of us! I know that there are a lot of readers in the group so I am going to make a bunch of book marks to begin with. I am posting here in order to try to keep myself accountable at this.

Yesterday I was looking on Pinterest for ideas now I just need to decide on one style to get started.

[Ali]

I'd be very interested to see what ideas you find .... I need to be more organised this year :-)

[sweetana3]

If you can do simple sewing, Lazy Girl Wonder Wallet, makes a useful, simple and inexpensive gift. I have gotten lots of compliments on these. http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/products/wonder-wallet Or their Perfect Pouch pattern. Instructions are clear. I have made bunches of both. There might be sites with free tutorials for similiar items.

I found bear claw extendable back scratchers for next Xmas.

I get great ideas from an hour or two on Pinterest. Sometimes way too many ideas.

[KayLR]

Love Pinterest...what a time suck tho, it's true.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Azure, I have made bookmarks in the past and wish I had laminator to make them hold up longer.

[Tussiemussies]

I have also seen quilted bookmarks that were beautiful, if you sew...

[KayLR]

I just made some of these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/vintage-coin-purses-renaissance-ribbons)--- because I had leftover ribbon from making these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/nordic-faux-fur-ribbon-christmas-stockings-deck-halls-fabriccom) and these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/ribbon-faux-suede-wrist-loop-key-fobs-weekend-wonders-returns-fabriccom). This site is a time suck too, but such nice ideas and projects!

Also have everything ready to make this (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/ribbon-and-faux-suede-soft-touch-shoulder-bag-renaissance-ribbons).

[flowerseverywhere]

KayLR great link. I do a monthly workshop for my quilt group called scrapbusters and skill builders. We make all kinds of little projects. One idea for a family is to make each one a placemat or pillowcase. Mug rugs (large coasters) or coasters are popular gifts. One year I made little sewing kits that had a needle case with a few sewing needles, small scissors spool of thread and a zippered pouch to hold it all. Here are some great links

http://www.modabakeshop.com/category/accessories


http://www.gwennypenny.com/2011/08/pencil-pouch-tutorial.html

http://www.quiltmaker.com/articles/Pillowcases?bc=c

http://www.allfreesewing.com/Dining-and-Kitchen/13-Free-Mug-Rug-Patterns-and-Placemat-Patterns

if you knit or crochet you can make great hats, mittens and scarves. If you don't knit there is a thing called a nifty knitter round loom that is easy to make really cute hats on. I make them for cancer patients with a group. One year I knit everyone wool. felted mittens with long cuffs.

Just a a little time each month will make your holiday season stress free and fun.

[Float On]

I have also seen quilted bookmarks that were beautiful, if you sew... I make a lot of quilted bookmarks - long enough and with a button to hold in place. Kind of a string quilt method and I get to use all the crazy stitches on my machine.

This year I failed on creativity for stockings - ended up with just candies and gift cards at the last minute. Will try to be on the look-out and may even start a new pinterest board to get an early jump on it this year.
No chapstick went in this year. Last year we realized one boy had 4 years worth of chapstick still in his stocking.

[Azure]

If you can do simple sewing, Lazy Girl Wonder Wallet, makes a useful, simple and inexpensive gift. I have gotten lots of compliments on these. http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/products/wonder-wallet Or their Perfect Pouch pattern. Instructions are clear. I have made bunches of both. There might be sites with free tutorials for similiar items.

I found bear claw extendable back scratchers for next Xmas.

I get great ideas from an hour or two on Pinterest. Sometimes way too many ideas.

My mother made some of those for all of us last year. Very cool!

I can do simple sewing but do not have a sewing machine any more.

[Azure]

Hi Azure, I have made bookmarks in the past and wish I had laminator to make them hold up longer.

I have this little portable laminator I could probably use. I think I have also used clear contact paper when I made book marks in the past. Good reminder, thanks!

[Azure]

I just made some of these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/vintage-coin-purses-renaissance-ribbons)--- because I had leftover ribbon from making these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/nordic-faux-fur-ribbon-christmas-stockings-deck-halls-fabriccom) and these (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/ribbon-faux-suede-wrist-loop-key-fobs-weekend-wonders-returns-fabriccom). This site is a time suck too, but such nice ideas and projects!

Also have everything ready to make this (http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/ribbon-and-faux-suede-soft-touch-shoulder-bag-renaissance-ribbons).

Those are all beautiful. I would love to receive any of them in my stocking! :)

[Azure]

KayLR great link. I do a monthly workshop for my quilt group called scrapbusters and skill builders. We make all kinds of little projects. One idea for a family is to make each one a placemat or pillowcase. Mug rugs (large coasters) or coasters are popular gifts. One year I made little sewing kits that had a needle case with a few sewing needles, small scissors spool of thread and a zippered pouch to hold it all. Here are some great links

http://www.modabakeshop.com/category/accessories


http://www.gwennypenny.com/2011/08/pencil-pouch-tutorial.html

http://www.quiltmaker.com/articles/Pillowcases?bc=c

http://www.allfreesewing.com/Dining-and-Kitchen/13-Free-Mug-Rug-Patterns-and-Placemat-Patterns

if you knit or crochet you can make great hats, mittens and scarves. If you don't knit there is a thing called a nifty knitter round loom that is easy to make really cute hats on. I make them for cancer patients with a group. One year I knit everyone wool. felted mittens with long cuffs.

Just a a little time each month will make your holiday season stress free and fun.

Those are all wonderful!

[Azure]

I make a lot of quilted bookmarks - long enough and with a button to hold in place. Kind of a string quilt method and I get to use all the crazy stitches on my machine.

This year I failed on creativity for stockings - ended up with just candies and gift cards at the last minute. Will try to be on the look-out and may even start a new pinterest board to get an early jump on it this year.
No chapstick went in this year. Last year we realized one boy had 4 years worth of chapstick still in his stocking.

LOL!! 4 years of chapstick is pretty darn funny :laff:

I bet those bookmarks are beautiful.

[Azure]

Bookmarks using buttons, old book pages & paperclips. No instructions for it but cute.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/174233079310142506/

Old book spines as bookmarks.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/174233079310142421/

Dried, pressed flower bookmarks

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/174233079310142485/

[Tussiemussies]

Kay all of those items are beautiful!!! What a great site!

[befree]

Wouldn't it be cool to make a dried, pressed flower/leaf bookmark personalized from flora you gathered on a walk or trip with your relative? And the old-book-page and button idea could make a hair clip if you glued a clip to the back instead of a paperclip. speaking of hairclips, they are easy as pie to make with faux flowers from the dollar store. You can make 20 in an evening while watching TV. How about homemade marble magnets? You can gift them in an Altoids tin. Could also assemble a tiny kit in a tin, too - like a sewing kit, a first aid kit, a camping survival kit. Homemade bath salts, sugar scrubs, lip exfoliants are all easy to make.

[happystuff]

I have this little portable laminator I could probably use. I think I have also used clear contact paper when I made book marks in the past. Good reminder, thanks!

Depending on the size of your bookmark, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to use clear tape... i.e. packing/shipping tape or the like. Simply tear off a piece longer than your bookmark, lay the bookmark on top of the sticky side and then put another strip of tape down on top. Trim edges and voila! Takes a steady hand, but doable.

[Azure]

Wouldn't it be cool to make a dried, pressed flower/leaf bookmark personalized from flora you gathered on a walk or trip with your relative? And the old-book-page and button idea could make a hair clip if you glued a clip to the back instead of a paperclip. speaking of hairclips, they are easy as pie to make with faux flowers from the dollar store. You can make 20 in an evening while watching TV. How about homemade marble magnets? You can gift them in an Altoids tin. Could also assemble a tiny kit in a tin, too - like a sewing kit, a first aid kit, a camping survival kit. Homemade bath salts, sugar scrubs, lip exfoliants are all easy to make.

Excellent ideas, all. Thank you!

[Azure]

I was playing around this afternoon. I used some scrapbook paper & stickers to make a few bookmarks. Then I used a paperclip & button with a cutout paperflower (with cute little bee). I don't have a hot glue gun right now so I actually sewed the button onto the paperclip but I think that is too flimsy. I think I'm going to cut out some another flower shape and glue it onto the back. I still need to laminate & attach ribbons but they're kinda cute.


http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af78/everyshadeofblue/bookmarks004_zpsbe402d6b.jpg (http://s995.photobucket.com/user/everyshadeofblue/media/bookmarks004_zpsbe402d6b.jpg.html)

[awakenedsoul]

Those are really cute, Azure. I knit a set of coasters for my Dad for Father's Day. (He has everything.) He and my mom love them. I just did a garter stitch border and knit the body of the coaster in stockinette stitch. I had the yarn in my stash. It was from a gift bag they gave me at our local yarn shop. (It was an anniversary sale.) It's a merino and silk blend. The coasters look gorgeous on their antique table.

Bookmarks are a great gift. I have two that Frugal One made for me a couple of years ago. They still look like new, and I use them and love them.

[Azure]

Thanks! I bet those coasters are beautiful!!

I am thinking that these might be fun for the guys who don't read much:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/174233079307087706/

[befree]

hahaha! Love the creative use of bubble wrap, Azure!

[Azure]

hahaha! Love the creative use of bubble wrap, Azure!

Thanks. And who doesn't love to pop those little bubbles. ;) I can get bubble wrap for free at work too.