Luggage Tags - GIveaway! - Facebook Crafters

In the Spring of '09 (yep, last year) there was a chain type thing going around Facebook. I rarely get involved in these types of things but this one was different. It promised a handmade item by the end of the year to the first five people to leave a comment and in return you had to give away a handmade item to the first 5 to comment on your post. Well, I forgot about it until it came up again a few weeks ago. I just missed getting them in before the new year but they will be in the mail tonight.

Luggage Tags - initial on front green print on back.

And if you look closely there is one without an initial on it! Leave a comment on this post describing (in a sentence or two) what you think I would like to do for my next vacation. The person who comes the closest wins the tag! (Comment by midnight on Saturday January 9th, 2010 to be considered.)P.S. The shadow lurking over the tags is Ray...

Christmas Gifts - Handmade

Here are some awesome handmade Christmas gifts that I received.

Fabric from Morocco that perfectly matches our orange living room walls and green couch. I'm thinking new pillows for the couch.

A bird feeder made by Daniel at Bittersweet Farms. Apparently when my Mom told him she was giving it to me as a Christmas gift he got very excited. I haven't decided where I want to hang it yet.

A book written by my brother and illustrated by my sister in law! It follows Manny the rubber duck as he travels the world and features, "Sam's Pizza" and "Ray's Reggae Bar". It is an amazing tribute to Manny, their little one they lost from a miscarriage, and their little one that is running around with her cousins.

Homemade Christmas Gifts - Part 3 - Baby Stuff

For my two littlest nieces (one will be born any day now!) and the little one I babysit for I made taggies type blankets.* I showed these on my blog a while back as well.

For my stepsister (who is expecting the niece that is due any day now!) I made a nursing cover. I made one of these for my other stepsister a few months ago just before my niece was born and word on the street is that it worked out great this week while they were traveling.

* I had a blog reader inform me that her child or a child she knows or something was sleeping with a taggie blanket and the loop wrapped around the babies finger cutting off circulation. Use taggie type blankets and toys under supervision. :)

Homemade Christmas Gifts - part 2 - BAGS

I made LOTS of totes for Christmas gifts.

I showed some totes in this post and another in this post and yet another in this post!

I made totes for all the little cousins ages 3-6ish with their names on them - 7 total I believe. They worked out great to put all their Christmas loot in!


ABC totes for (2) one years old girls that have fabric letters in them. The fabric letter idea came from this blog. (I kept the magnets out of the letters since the girls are a bit young for them.)

A black and white tote for my step-mother.
A tote for my sister in law (I used a charm pack for this one).

Homemade Christmas Gifts - part 1 - Moms Gift

My Mom requested a crazy quilt for Christmas to which I responded, "You're crazy!". I've never made a crazy quilt let alone a block for a crazy quilt, I'm new to quilting, etc. etc.

I decided upon a crazy quilt wall hanging in black and white and found this tutorial extremely helpful since I had no idea what I was doing!

More (handmade) Christmas Gifts

Since we celebrated Christmas early with Mike's family, I can show you a few more gifts that I made.


A tote for my Mother-in-law. Her favorite colors are purple and green.
A tote for my niece who likes all things blue, teal and brown. This was a big hit with her.

And a tote for my Brother-in-laws girlfriend who's favorite color is blue. I do not like this bag at all and I told her when I find some blue fabric that I like I am making her a new bag!

Packages, Boxes and Bags!

For the last several years I have had all my Christmas shopping done and everything wrapped by Thanksgiving.  I don't think I'm going to make it this year since a lot of my gifts are handmade and I have a shopping day planned with my Mom and Aunt after Thanksgiving but, I did get a jump start on my wrapping yesterday. 

To Answer your questions (before you ask them):

This cute paper is from the Target $1 section.  It is the perfect size roll for wrapping boxes and I am impressed by how many things I have been able to wrap (there is still more dog paper left!). 

Yes, the boxes are nicely stacked according to their destination. 

Yes, I have a list of things that are already bought, wrapped and what I have left to buy/make. 

Yes, I am disgustingly organized. 

Yes, if you want to buy me yellow steno pads (these are what my Granmda always made her lists on) that would be fine with me.  I'd probably even make one of these cute steno pad covers for it.

Tilt your head to the left...

Do Not Open Until Christmas (Here is Zoe's bag if you want to see it!)

I've always been a peaker as long as I can remember.  I would sneak in to the attic while my parents were out of the house, search their room, etc.  I think it started the year my parents didn't get the Christmas gifts under the tree before they fell asleep (we were always out super late at grandparents house on Christmas Eve).  My brother and I woke up in the morning and my parents promptly freaked and told us to go back to bed.  Of course we heard the scramble and the attic stairs being pulled down...

Are you a peaker?

So with out further ado I bring you Zoe's bag for Christmas.  Zoe is my cousin's stepdaughter.  I just refer to all of my cousin's kids as my nieces and nephews; it's much easier that way.  I was telling my cousin how much I love this bag and she is an avid peaker too so, I'm letting her peak if she wants to. :)

This is my favorite bag I've made.  Zoe's favorite colors are pink and black.

The "Linda" Bag

I completed my first ever "order" for a tote bag.  By "order" I mean, my Mom asked me to make one for her secretary for a Christmas gift.

Sew, Sew, Sew and Sew some more

In case you were wondering, yes, I have been sewing - LOTS in fact.  But most of it is Christmas gifts for people who happen to read my blog.  I'll have to post pics after Christmas.

I'll tease you with this cute little Taggies type blanket I made for my new baby niece.  I got the idea here.

Stocking Stuffers for (my) Kids

I don't remember stockings being a big deal growing up but Mike's family goes all out for stockings and I think it's lots of fun. Our first Christmas as a married couple I got Mike a giant stocking and have made a point to fill it every year. I can't share my ideas for his stocking since he knows how to read but here are some ideas for those that can't quite read yet.  Feel free to comment with your ideas too!

I don't think that DVD's, Cd's or diamond necklaces count as stocking stuffers (not that I'd complain if they were in my stocking). The following list is CHEAP stuff to go in young kids stockings (My boys are 18 months and 3).  I plan to hit up the dollar grocery store for most of these items.  And, NO I am not buying everything I put on this list!

Food is an obvious choice but we aren't big on giving the kids candy. Nonetheless, here are several food ideas.

1. Individual serving bags of crackers, goldfish, cookies, etc.
2. Fruit snacks
3. Raisans
4. Juice Boxes
5. Pez dispenser
6. Popcorn

Toys

7. Wind up toy
8. Dress up Accessories (bandana, sheriff badge, pirate patch, etc.)
9. Little People accessories
10. Stacking cups
11. Paddleball game
12. Small Puzzle
13. Bubbles
14. Beachball
15. Jump Rope
16. Sidewalk Chalk
17. Small Instruments (harmonica, recorder, maracas)
18. Kaleidoscope
19. Finger Puppets
20. Tricycle license plate
21. Travel Magna Doodle
22. Slinky
23. yo-yo
24. Hotwheels Car
25. Small Board Book
26. Bath Squirters
27. Flashcards


Arts and Crafts - Why not replace some art supplies and fill up a stocking at the same time?

28. Pipecleaners
29. Pom Poms
30. Popsicle sticks
31. Glue Sticks
32. Scissors
33. Watercolor Paints
34. Crayons
35. Markers
36. Stamps/Stamp Pad
37. Stickers
38. Beads and String
39. Coloring/Activity Book
40. Play-doh/Silly Putty
41. Construction Paper
42. Notepads
43. Pencils
44. Erasers

Practical

45. Toothbrush
46. Socks
47. Chap stick
48. Mittens
49. Batteries
50. Bubble bath
51. Snack dispenser
52. Sunglasses
53. Band aids

Just For Fun

54. Magic Towels
55. Removable Tattoos
56. Flashlight
57. Magnifying Glass
58. Calculator (Sam is always taking ours.)
59. Snow Globe
60. Silly Straws
61. Disposable Camera
62. Glow Sticks
63. Christmas Ornament
64. Crisp Dollar Bill
65. Wallet with pictures of family in it