Home made Christmas ideas.

**Russ** · 08-05-2008, 01:45 PM

Greebo said in another post Christmas is only 5 months away!

So lets hear some Home Made ideas for Christmas.

For my SIL -
We are going to go to her house this fall and prepare and build a raised bed for a garden.
This accomplishes 2 things:
- fresh veggies that she can grow on her own.
- saves her gas money. (she doesn't come to our house to raid the garden).

**DJ1972** · 08-05-2008, 01:55 PM

I make home-made cookies, breads, and candy for teachers, bus driver, FIL, and step dad.

**Neeley** · 08-05-2008, 01:58 PM

I am making my grandmother a DVD from old family pictures set to music.

I made both of my parents one last year for Christmas and my Aunt one for her birthday last week. They are a huge hit, bringing lots of laughs and tears to everyone who watches.

**Russ** · 08-05-2008, 02:01 PM

Secretly taking notes for wife.

**staciah** · 08-05-2008, 02:01 PM

Last year I made homemade Beef Jerky and Fudge for my FIL and DS. I will make that again this year and I will also make some carmel popcorn with nuts.

My DH is a wood worker and in the past he has made: wine racks, trivets, shelves and end tables.

**staciah** · 08-05-2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Neeley

I am making my grandmother a DVD from old family pictures set to music.

I made both of my parents one last year for Christmas and my Aunt one for her birthday last week. They are a huge hit, bringing lots of laughs and tears to everyone who watches.

Last year we also made 2008 Calenders with family pictures as the main pages. My mother loved it.

**DJ1972** · 08-05-2008, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Neeley

I am making my grandmother a DVD from old family pictures set to music.

I made both of my parents one last year for Christmas and my Aunt one for her birthday last week. They are a huge hit, bringing lots of laughs and tears to everyone who watches.

That is a great idea. Did you buy a special program to do those? Our grade school does video year books on dvd instead of paper yearbooks, also a huge hit.

**Neeley** · 08-05-2008, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by DJ1972

That is a great idea. Did you buy a special program to do those? Our grade school does video year books on dvd instead of paper yearbooks, also a huge hit.

You can, but I just use the Windows Movie Maker program that came on my computer. I actual have the program on all 3 computers so assume it is a program most would have on theirs.

**Michelle** · 08-05-2008, 02:51 PM

~Calendars w/pictures of the kids from the year before...I try to get ones that correspond to the month where I'm placing them. For example, I had a picture of Kathryn holding an umbrella, and I used that picture for April (April showers and all that).

Photo collages--pictures in those frames that have multiple spots for photos.

~Mouse pad w/picture of kids (vistaprint is good for that)

~Homemade candy & treats...especially candy & fudge.

~Candy Cane bath salts...made w/peppermint extract & epsom salt.

~Jam/jelly, banana bread, date nut bread

~Cloth napkins, quilted wallhangings, placemats, lap quilts.

~soaps--either cold pressed or melt & pour

~ornaments--can be really simple or intricate

~coupons for services (babysitting, home cooked meals, car wash, etc...coupon determined by the recipient's interests/needs)

HTH

**blitzen** · 08-05-2008, 02:59 PM

In the past, I made my MIL an apron. She loves to bake, especially with my kids so I thought it was a good gift. A friend of mine makes lavender sachets for her business (as well as other things) and I gave her one last year. She loved it. It would be fairly easy to make.

This year, I am thinking about making some bath stuff like soap and bath bombs. My goal is to give MIL gifts that she can use up rather than clutter her home. Last year we gave her some reusable grocery bags! Another big hit.

For my kids, I have made them boxer shorts and flannel pj bottoms (super easy!), stuffed blocks, and tote bags.

**AmyBoz** · 08-05-2008, 03:26 PM

I always bake for my colleagues.

I just finished a scarf for my Mom and am starting a hat to go with it.

I also plan on knitting a scarf and hat for dd and hats for the boys.

I'm also using MovieMaker to create a dvd set to music for my parents.

**Maine Girl** · 08-05-2008, 05:14 PM

This year i am doing grocery bags, lunch bags, scarves. Last year i did bath salts and shawls.

**known2him5** · 08-05-2008, 06:15 PM

rice bags

"stained glass" pictures - pictures printed on transparency paper, then framed in clear frames with a tea light behind it.

pick a favorite children's story ( for kids) and make a basket to go with it -- for instance, last year I got the book "The Gingerbread Man" , make a bag of gingerbread mix, sewed a toy Gingerbread Man", purchased a few inexpensive gingerbread man/girl cookie cutters, and gave as a family basket.

I make cloth bags for homemade mixes -- a bag that looks like a banana for banana bread mix, a silver "Kiss" bag for peanut butter cookie mix, etc.

**PB&J** · 08-05-2008, 06:17 PM

I'm going to do a lot of sewing this year. I'm going to sew a tablecloth and matching cloth napkins for my sister and mom. Maybe some matching kitchen towels with the thingy sewn to the top so you can hang it on the oven door.

**danni** · 08-05-2008, 06:44 PM

-my brother gets a baked good and a certificate telling him he has been enrolled in the baking of the month club, i then give him a baked item every month until nexxt year(i've been doing this for 3 years and he still loves it)

-my god chilDren will each be getting a certificate for a day aWay, i figure i will spend the day with each of them anD teach them how to bake cookies or decorate a cake or do a craft and they Will get to keep the finished project

-my sister anD dad are getting A bag of pinecones dippeD in coloured Wax to use as fire starters, i also make a donation in their name

-i make mixES in a jar, cookies, fruitcakes, chocolates, anD decorated cakes for gifts

-i also will use some of my canning for gifts, stuff like antipasta, salsa, applesauce, jam and syrup