xmas - getting ideas early

[perSue]

ok i gotta dh who's got it all, likes electronics & i've made pillows, blankets & scarves in the past....
knitting/crochet or sewing... even plastic canvas or other easy crafts desired!!!

i also gotta 17 y/o dss who's got it all too... he isnt into sports, likes video games, his guitar, his friends & is thinking about college.
he's also into electronics.
i've made scarves, blankets, pillows & pillow cases in the past.

anything you've got i'd love the idea for.

i do have 1 idea for dss... a quilt w/some of the scraps of other sewn projects i've done, but i need to "mature it up" some (kiddie stuff won't fly w/him when he's off at college).

you all are great & many thanks ahead of time for your ideas.

[pollypurebred39]

I found this idea. I think this could be done on a very adult level. You could make a checker board with a very masculine feel by giving it a nature or wildlife border. Pine cones/deer/bear/bear paw prints, Or a rocker and roll theme. Or make a backgammon board. Heres a link for free stencils.

Free Stencils -- Free Stencils Collection to Print and Cut Out

You could use 2 shades of river rocks as checker pieces, or you could use 2 different colored guitar picks.

{The idea I found}
Bottletop Checkers
Make a homemade checkerboard. I’ve made some from cloth with a checker pattern; I’ve painted old found wood as well to make a checkerboard. The fun comes in with the bottletop caps. We’ve done a big board with peanut butter caps (red and blue) and milk caps (pink for the 2% milk; blue for the fat free) to make two sets.

In keeping with that idea, but expanding;

You could keep it really simple, like a canvas board, or over the top like make a game table. This idea could go even further if you wanted, like stenciling a poker table. Sometimes you can find end tables, folding tables, or even dining room tables for just a few dollars at a yard sale. I think turning a folding table into a poker table, along with a deck of cards would be a great gift for just about any guy.


For the guitar loving son, maybe?

http://www.crochetville.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=98237

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/...75cc411a_o.jpg

This is something EVERY guy in my household would love.

Create a secret hollow book. Find a cheap musty old classic at your nearby Goodwill or used bookstore. Glue the pages together, use an X-Acto knife to hollow out the center of the book. Now the recipient can store his treasures!

[pollypurebred39]

Maybe some hand warmers?

Live in a cold climate? Give your friends the gift of warmth with a homemade hand warmer. If you know how to make a beanbag, you know how to make a hand warmer. Use wool or cashmere or felt material, but instead of filling the bags with beans, fill them with ceramic pie weights. To use these toasty treasures, simply microwave them for a couple of minutes and then slip them in your pockets.


Here's a neat idea I just found.

Its a Dave Ramsey Christmas... I was lamenting over what to get for my father-in-law for christmas, the budget was only $8... normal budget was only $5 but I was under budget on some others and was able to increase here.

Still it was hard. So it hit me on the way out the door when I was checking the time... he likes tools. A tool clock. So I went to micheals with my 50% coupon and paid only $3.50 for battery operated clock mechanics that comes with the arms and everything.

Then I stopped at Harbor Freight and found the cheapest circular saw blade I could find right about $3. Then I picked up a little pack of washers, I was lucky to find a small container with mulitple sizes.. including very large, like a half dollar.

I went home and started assembly. Fumbling through, ad-libing, and using washers to make hole smaller and a couple of smaller ones to fit inside the hole so it won't wiggle, (my husbands idea).

And a sharpie to write in the numbers, they have number kits you can buy but I thought that a sharpie was just as good.

I don't have a working camera anymore so that is when I had an ah-ha moment and went online to get a picture and found instructions... just google "make a saw blade clock"

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/hom...ade-clock.html

Another idea;

I am making some of the men in my family reindeer poop in a mason jar (I am making some of the ladies the gifts in a jar and I thought these would match and the guys wouldn't have to cook).

Gourmet Reindeer Poop recipe
1/2 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix butter, sugar, milk and cocoa together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonful (larger or smaller as desired) onto wax paper and let harden. They will set up in about 30-60 minutes. These will keep for several days without refrigerating, up to 2 weeks refrigerated and 2-3 months frozen. Pack into zip-top sandwich bags or a large Mason jar for gift giving.

Attach the following note to each bag or jar:

Gourmet Reindeer Poop:

I woke up with such scare when I heard Santa call...
"Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
I ran to the lawn and in the snowy white drifts,
those nasty reindeer had left "little gifts."

I got an old shovel and started to scoop,
neat little piles of "Reindeer Poop!"
But to throw them away, seemed such a waste,
so I saved them, thinking-you might like a taste!

As I finished my task, which took quite awhile,
Old Santa, passed by and he sheepishly smiled.
And I heard him exclaim as he was in the sky...
"Well they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!"

[pollypurebred39]

I know you said no sports, but this is too cute, and maybe you know someone who would like this.

I took small paint cans +lids and covered them in fabric that fit their football prefrences.
Now I'm working on bad call bricks (sponge made to look like a brick), costers, and snacks to go inside. I just need to find a store that sell clear bags to put them in.



Hoodie Laptop Sleeve is pretty cool! Scroll down.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gift-Ideas-for-Men/

A few more ideas;

http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.co...or-fellas.html

A Quillow?

Sew a "Quillow". It is a special pillow with a blanket folded up inside. The blanket folds out and the pillow pocket is an ideal pocket for cold feet. Go to any crafts store for more details. I made one for my husband and he loves it!!!

A grill tool carrier?

http://curiositys.wordpress.com/2009...rier-take-two/

[pollypurebred39]

A bunch of different ideas

Happy Handmade Holidays: Gifts for the Men in Your Life | Craftster.org Blog

[perSue]

wow great ideas... love them!

and some of the ones that may not fit my guys, i know people who I can pass them along to or make for other guys in my life!

LOVE these!!!

[Rayne]

I don't know if you only wanted ideas of things you make, but my son is into guitar and he can always use picks and strings. A guitar tuner is nice if he doesn't have one. One year I went to a music store and bought my son a harmonica. He really liked it, but I think I got the wrong key, lol. Who knew harmonicas came in different keys?

He also likes band tees. You can usually get them on sale for 10.00 at JCPenny and Khol's.

[wjcalderon]

i do have 1 idea for dss... a quilt w/some of the scraps of other sewn projects i've done, but i need to "mature it up" some (kiddie stuff won't fly w/him when he's off at college).

Maybe you could make him a checkerboard quilt or throw using fleece in his college school colors.

[Momto5RN]

what about something made of fabric or felt to hold his spare strings or picks in .
or a guitar strap ??
band tees like someone else said are good- you can even get them on sale for 5.99 sometimes at penneys.

[Momto5RN]

also in reality sometimes making things isnt always a cheaper gift if the supplies are $$$.

rather than spend 5$ on supplies see what you can find in clearance areas of stores etc.

i do christmas rather frugally but dont do alot of home made stuff.

[mauimagic]

Okay Polly - you are now the Queen of gifts for men!! My DH and BIL are getting reindeer poop - perfect!! - also for the men in our department!! Mahalo for all the great ideas!!

[shoiji]

For the few people I do buy for they will be getting a gift card and a small item. Fortunately we do not spend a lot on each other.

[Momto5RN]

ohh what about those marshmellow shooters
i k ow you can buy the but theer also instructions inlone to make them yourself/

[mauimagic]

Okay, I give up - what's a marshmallow shooter?

[Momto5RN]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgWib9yAZCg&feature=related]YouTube - Product Demo: Marshmallow Shooter[/ame] storebought


there are instructions on how to make them out of PVC pipe on youtube