Homemade Gifts FOR Kids

We originally planned a big budget Christmas this year including travel and tons of gifts but between the economy going bust and a personal emergency this past fall, it zapped our personal & holiday savings to zilch! Of course the kids (big and small) still want the iPods, cell phones, nintendo's, and big screen TV's but our budget simply won't allow for all those wonderfully expensive techy toys so what's a mom to do?

My solution: We had the kids pick out two or three things off their Santa list that was a "MUST HAVE or Christmas might as well be dead"! Santa also leaves some standard things each year: clothing, christmas ornament, candy and treats, and art supplies. From there I scoured the stores online for some great deals on what they TRULY wanted for Christmas but that's only gotten me about half way. The other half will come from my handcrafted treasures by upcycling or repurposing things already hanging around the house.

Here's what's on our handcrafted gift list. Don't worry, I'll go on a blog-a-thon in the next few days to publish How To's on most of these!

• Handcrafted Ornaments (the D is for Daniel)
• Fabric Wrapped Wall Letters
  
• Toddler Magnetic Letter Set w/Tin
  
• Homemade Candies
• Crayon Shapes (simply melt crayon bits in either ice trays or other molds)
• Fleece Scarves & hats (easy no sew scarves for sure-hats, if i get my mini sewing machine working)
• Fingerless Mittens (for the tweenie girls)
• Jingle Bell Bracelets
• Toddler Lounge Pants
• Custom Logo Shirts (adapted from Martha's napkin tute)
  
• Bath Kits with soap, fizzy bombs , and bath crayons

I've also been stockpiling FREEBIES for the handmade fleece stockings I made last year. So far, I've got several books, dvds, coloring books, a sippie cup, necklaces, bracelets, etc FREE with more arriving every day. It'll be packaged & wrapped real pretty-after all, presentation is the key to any great handcrafted gift!

My good friend Christy down in Tennessee shared her handmade gifts she's been working on and I'm sooo envious of her sewing skills. The denim quilt exceeds my mending skills but I think I could pull off the jean "booty" purse! What could be better for a Titan's fan than a custom Tennessee Titan's Quilt and the booty purse is perfect for any teen or tweenie girl! I look forward to seeing the other things she's crafted. Perhaps she'll even give me permission to publish a How To on one of them!

So what are you crafting for the holidays this year and who are you creating it for? I'd love to hear what all you creative folks are up to out there!

Don't forget to follow me on twitter for all the great deals, freebies, and cool tutorials I find on my blogging journey!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!