Homemade stocking stuffers?

[razz]

I was thinking that it might be nice to have a list of stocking stuffers that could be made at home and shared with family and friends. As a break from the commercial offshore stuff maybe?

What kinds of stocking stuffers do you make and/or receive that you enjoy? Would you share please?

Chris, you are great at finding special small creative and useful projects. Are some unique stocking stuffers on your list?

[shadowmoss]

Hand made knitted or crochet (can't spell that word right...) cotton dishcloths. Come to think about it, I should make some for my nice new neighbors around here. If it is for kids, you could say it is a personal washcloth?

[Gardenarian]

We have made lip balm, lotions, and bath salts for people in the past. Very easy to do; there are lots of recipes around.

[SteveinMN]

We've done IOUs: coupons good for "One trip shopping at the fabric store", "Two hours of yardwork", or "Your favorite lasagna dinner". There does not have to be a cost involved and it can be tailored to the individual's likes and dislikes.

[razz]

The IOU's are a great idea but the family members are too far away to give these. We only give small modest stocking gifts and I am struggling to come up with some to give, some to mail as well. I do have lip balm, will make some taco seasoning mix, a car shoulder strap protector out of quilted fabric, some glue sticks

[sweetana3]

I made neck coolers from this pattern:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sew-Very-Useful-Neck-Cooler/

I got the Miracle Grow Water Storing Crystals from a local hardware/garden store. Amazon has them too. You only need 1 teaspoon (really) for each neck cooler.

I figure each one took 4-5 inch strip of fabric (1/8 yard), 1 teaspoon of the crystals, a baggie plus some time.

I tested the first one by soaking according to the instructions and it worked perfectly. Took a long time to dry but now I can put it away for next year. Oh, and each present came with a printout of the instructions for care of the cooler.

My husband requested one for each person in a volunteer group he works with. Easy to gift. I had some "cookie" baggies with a design.

[SteveinMN]

One item which has worked well and is easy and cheap to make is luggage tags made of random fabrics; the brighter and bolder the better. I bought some at a fundraising auction one year (knew the sewer) and they worked great for picking out our luggage on the bag carousel. DW's made some since, for her family. Everybody's got a bag somewhere. The bags should be identifiable. Win-win. :)

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Razz, am thinking you are looking for men and women's stocking stuffers. One thing I have made that was inexpensive was a body sea-salt shower scrub. My one sister just loved it. If you are interested in that I will tell you how to make it. Do you have any essential oils on hand? You can also use them in the body scrub depending on what type they are, and then make a body powder from cornstarch where you mix in some of the essential oils to make a body powder. I go to a store like Bed, Bath and Beyond and get a shaker can to put it in. These cans are in the baking/cooking utensil section. You can also make a matching body spray by putting Everclear alcohol, which isn't always sold in just any liquor store because it is 100% alcohol, so you have to call around to see if they have it. You can get a nice spray bottle, put the Everclear in and about twenty drops of the essential oil. These are not super cheap gifts to make, but if you make the same for a bunch of people it brings down the costs. You can get really creative about the types of containers you use and can make special labels too.

There is a site where you can make body products like lipsticks, homemade mascara and other items, but she uses some exclusive items:

http://www.humblebeeandme.com

I will keep a lookout for things for you. i did see on simplicity.com that they had patterns for makeup bags and jewelry wraps. Don't know if you have extra material laying around.

Another site, theprudenthomemaker.com, she is making a gift a day and she made some nice homemade bookmarks with rubber stamps. She may still have them on her site.
Here is a picture of them, you could use rubber stamps you have or borrow some?
http://theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-gift-day-day-nine-medieval-and-london.html

Some other body care items that are easy to make with essential oils are bath bombs and shower bombs. This is probably cheaper to make like the body scrub. The shower bomb is baking soda with a few other ingredients and a wake up essential oil like peppermint, they are formed into balls and you put it on the floor of the shower where the water will hit it and you get a nice wake up aroma or if you have a cold euclyptus oil. The bath bomb is the same idea but I think you can make some that fizz. Once I made tea bags for the tub. They are very large tea bags that you buy from a supplier and you can put herbs and oatmeal in them then you iron them shut and they are used in the bath...

I will keep looking for less expensive ideas!

[Tiam]

I found the cutest little Cloisonne box today at goodwill. Probably paid less than a dollar for it. I want to put something it and give it for a gift for Christmas. It's probably big enough to hold a deck of cards. What could I put in there. (Besides bath salts). It seems like it should be something that can stay in the box as a storage item, not something that would need to be removed and stored elsewhere.

[SteveinMN]

I want to put something it and give it for a gift for Christmas. It's probably big enough to hold a deck of cards. What could I put in there.
Farkle (http://whatisfarkle.com/) game (you can make your own)? Koan stone (and instructions) or rosary (depending on the recipient's faith)? Cut-out pictures of kitties or dogs or some other favorite topic? Unassuming place to store unused credit cards and such?

[iris lilies]

One item which has worked well and is easy and cheap to make is luggage tags made of random fabrics; the brighter and bolder the better. I bought some at a fundraising auction one year (knew the sewer) and they worked great for picking out our luggage on the bag carousel. DW's made some since, for her family. Everybody's got a bag somewhere. The bags should be identifiable. Win-win. :)

Bit of a thread jack, but--
I took my ubiquitous black fabric suitcases and painted designs on them with regular acrylic paint. I don't care if they are ugly, they are easy to identify. One has hearts all over it, the other has a sort of paisley design.

[Tiam]

Farkle (http://whatisfarkle.com/) game (you can make your own)? Koan stone (and instructions) or rosary (depending on the recipient's faith)? Cut-out pictures of kitties or dogs or some other favorite topic? Unassuming place to store unused credit cards and such?


Well, looked what I learned today! Farkle!

[sweetana3]

I painted a garage sale black suitcase with a big paisley design. No one would ever WANT to steal that one and it really stood out in airports and in stacks of luggage.

It was fun and lasted even better than the underlying suitcase. Somehow it was much easier to do to a garage sale one.

This would be fun for kids too. They could each have their own bag to store treasures in.

[SimplyAlicia]

My daughter is eight and loves her American Girl Doll. My friend found a cape pattern for the doll and gave me some scrap yarn with which to knit it. Free! Should be a quick knit.