Christmas Gift Ideas...to MAKE!

Here are a few fun/easy/sweet Christmas gift ideas...that you (yes, YOU) can actually MAKE!

#1 - First up, we have this ROCKIN' SCRIPTURE BAG.

My fabulous Sister-in-law Somer shows you how on her blog tutorial.

#2 - You may have seen these sweet little crayon rolls in the pews at church. Susie Jones makes them! You can too...Just follow this tutorial found on Skip to My Lou.

#3 - Know someone who likes to mess around in an imaginary kitchen? Try making these adorable felt play food. Lots of tutorials and free patterns listed here.

#4 - This could be a neat quiet book for a special baby in your life. Sew easy!

#5 - I would love for someone to give ME one of these bed warmers...I love that they used chenille on one side...looks soooo cozy!

Alternative gift wrap

Here are some pictures a decorated paint can. now this one is very elaborate.But these empty gallon paint cans make great gift wrap. They can be purchased at Coles hardware for 2-3 dollars and some paint stores. You can cover them with paper, fabric , gift wrap ,anything, and can be made for any age. You could even decorate them with your husbands favorite sports team and fill with his favorite snack. I have more pictures of other cans .On my blog and if you Google Decorated paint cans you will see tons of ideas. Great way to disguise a small hard to wrap gift.or fill with cookies, candy etc.

This one I made for a swap I am in that had different projects we needed to include in the paint can so in the pocket on the side it has tags and a bookmark.
for more ideas the link to my blog is http://mariemakeandmend.blogspot.com/

An Eternal Family Lives Here

At the risk of blowing my semi-anonymous cover...This is what I did with my Saturday afternoon home with sick kids. I was sad that I couldn't be in the temple today to witness the sealing for yet another good family in our ward...so I decided to make a little banner for this newly made ETERNAL family to come home to.

The full banner reads, "An eternal family lives here." We strung it up across the front of her garage. Can't wait for her to see it!

Now, I want one for my house...don't you?

Mother Must haves

So with another set of multiples on the way I've tried hard not to buy any "nonsense" items. This time around I'm going to be practical, but a part of me still wants all those cute, expensive, must have baby items in the boutiques around town.
I rarely have an original craft pop into my head, but rather love to Copy other great ideas at half the cost. For instance, these adorable burp clothes! 4 for $20 in any fancy boutique, but you can make 10 for around $10. These are great gifts for a Mom-to-be whether she's a first timer or on her fifth. It's always nice to get something new! We are blessed to be in a ward with young and expanding families, and these make inexpensive gifts that say your thinking of her and yet very practical.

You'll need:
1 package of plain white cloth hemmed diapers (Walmart-12 pack for $10)
12 assorted ribbons
sewing machine and coordinating thread

Just measure the diaper seems down the middle and cut ribbon 1 inch longer so you can tuck the ends under. Sew Ribbon onto diaper down the two middle seems. If you have extra fabric laying around, make a center piece for the diaper. And you're done! Easy

Postcards From My To-Do List: Thanksgiving Advent Calendar

You are looking at an un-done project on my very long to-do list...It's a Thanksgiving advent calendar. Yeah, I know Turkey Day is just a few weeks away, and technically my kids should already be enjoying this sure-to-be gem...but hey, I'm working on it, ok?! Don't bug me!

It sure is promising though, don't you think? I spied this idea here but this blogger doesn't give any instructions on how to assemble (booo...). Probably because she's so brilliant she doesn't need instructions...I'm not brilliant, but I just eye-balled it. The pockets are about 3 inches square on two yards of canvas fabric (mostly from scraps and Walmart). I also used fusible iron-on stuff for the lettering, which I will eventually stitch around to secure.

What will go inside the pockets? I'm so glad that you asked. The aforementioned blogger, gave a link to activities to do each day with your kids. I plan on doing that list. (Just follow the links in this post. You might also want to look at hers...It's very cute!)

A neat twist to this holiday activity would be to have the child write one thing they are thankful for each day and put it in the pocket. Then on Thanksgiving you can read the list together and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I like that idea best!