Hand made Christmas presents--an idea

**Cricket1** · 10-24-2006, 04:44 PM

I've just been brainstorming Christmas presents and I've come up with an idea. I found nice lip glosses on sale for .99 (no, not at Goodwill--ewww!) and I have a lot of women on my to buy for list. Our local Goodwill always has beautiful purses so I'm going to make "glamour girl" gifts. In a cool purse, I'll put the lip gloss, a hand made bracelet or necklace w/vintage beads (I already have all of the beads and supplies), a hand made scarf w/fancy yarn (which is on sale this week at Big Lots for $1.00 and right next door to Goodwill!). I may put in a small hand lotion also--which I probably already have a bunch of them from samples, etc. I could also make jewel box magnets which is just a bunch of gems (pulled from broken costume jewelry) glued onto a magnet.

What do you think?

Anything else I should add? Also, do you think it's cheesy to put all the gifts in a used purse? It so happens that most of these women have boys so I think they could all use a little glamour in their lives right about now.

**baxjul** · 10-24-2006, 05:31 PM

I would love to get that as a gift! Sounds like a good idea!

**Emerald_Mommy** · 10-24-2006, 05:52 PM

Good idea!

I'd know I'd appreciate a gift like that

**AmyMCGS** · 10-24-2006, 06:01 PM

Sounds good to me!

And BTW, I was shopping at Missy's Avon site yesterday and picked up several lip balms for $.69! You might check there for other deals on the lotions or whatever.

**Missy** · 10-24-2006, 06:13 PM

I think it is a great idea! One could expand the idea too and do a mens "kit" with mens stuff in a black or blue, brow, grey whatever...colored zippered bag. you could include a pretty notebook and pen also. or something like that...

**Cricket1** · 10-24-2006, 08:44 PM

I may have to revise this idea as I went to Goodwill tonight and their purses were all really used. Bummer. Atleast I still have time. Also, I noticed that their prices have gone up!! I saw some brand new slippers socks that I wanted but they were $6.00.

Anyway, if I can't find purses, I'll use bags or baskets.

**slowtypinwoman** · 10-24-2006, 09:36 PM

Just a thought, but when I give my Christmas gifts of baked goods I take a plain old brown lunch bag and draw on a seasonal scene. I also have a set of foam Christmas stamps. My Dd and I paint and stamp on the bags. I think this whole venture for wrapping cost way under $4.

**Gotonenerveleft** · 10-24-2006, 10:29 PM

I sell bath & body items and I've gone to the Dollar Tree and found small purses of all kinds. I use them for gift baskets for little girls. They turn out so cute. They have had some in the past that were big enough for an adult but were pink and white...perfect for a girl.

Check the clearance items in the department stores. I just bought a purse for my daughter that was only $2.74...Goodwill wouldn't be much cheaper, would they?

**Scattymum** · 10-25-2006, 01:48 PM

could you make your bags? I made this yesterday for my DD, I made it out of the bottom of a pair of jeans and added a pocket and embellishments
front

back

it was so easy to do! I'm making a few more and putting pens and notebooks in for gifts

**kittyrose** · 10-25-2006, 01:53 PM

the cutest gift i received from one of our friends was a paper bag rolled down and then stuffed with toiletrie items (like the lip gloss and etc.. ) and some home made goodies... she then took xmas pic (like from a magazine) pasted them on and made a ribbon out of some yarn... even the card was homemade (out of construction paper)... really cute and thoughtful!...

**MTS04** · 10-25-2006, 02:18 PM

I was going to suggest the jean purse idea too. You could make 4 bags out of a pair of jeans using each bum cheek, and each front pocket area and the bottoms of the legs. If you wanted to embellish that, you could add iron on appliques.
I don't know if you have any thrift or Salvation Army stores nearby, but there is a Sally's near me that does family day every wednesday and all pink tags on this day are 1/2 off. Sometimes you can get a pair of jeans for 75 cents. And walmart or Joanns sometimes has some really pretty appliques for a dollar or two.

**ironmaiden** · 10-25-2006, 04:19 PM

And hair scrunchies. I make them with ribbon yarn crocheted around regular hair elastics.

**mcphlips** · 10-25-2006, 05:26 PM

How do I make the purses? Is there a sight that will give me directions...I am sewing impaired

but definatley willing to try and I have a few people that would love these!

**Scattymum** · 10-25-2006, 06:41 PM

well, i sew mine by hand but you could use a machine either
basically I cut off the end of one leg
take one of the pockets off another part of the jeans and sew it onto one side of the leg bit i cut off
Sew or iron a motif onto the pocket ( alot of jeans have motifs embridered on so i just cut them out)
sew up the bottom to make a bag then turn in the inside of the top part to make the opening.
The handle i make from the waistband or other bits of the jeans sewn together.
I use embroidery thresd and use a blanket stitch when sewing

I have to say i'm not the best sewer at all but i find these fairky easy to do
I hope that makes sense - im not good with directions LOL
Ill have a look and see if i can find any on line instructions