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26 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

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Sometimes I look at Christmas as a competition. Who can come up with the absolute best Christmas gift idea? Each year, I want to give gifts to my family and friends that are different, unique, and handmade. Personally, I feel that DIY Christmas gift ideas are great because they’re unexpected. They’re off the beaten path.

Anyone can go out and buy that hot new video game or movie release for a friend. It’s easy. That friend can probably even buy said gift for him or herself, too. Homemade Christmas gifts, however, are one of a kind. No two are alike, and giving the gift of something homemade is a feeling akin to sharing a moment together.

Color Pop Mittens Crochet Pattern

What could have been a simple movie purchase from the store is a sensation that’s much greater. It’s a heartwarming connection shared between two people, and it bears the warmth and spirit that all of those classic holiday tunes remind us of year after year.

Movie Gift Card Envelope

The hard part is, when you make a habit of crafting Christmas gifts and decorations on an annual basis, what happens when you run out of ideas?

Lists happen. In my last Christmas article, 10 Jar Gifts to Get You Through the Holidays, I focused on quick, thoughtful, and fun gifts for all of those cousins, second cousins, and third cousins that make up your extended family. Today’s list is a little more personal. These homemade gifts are for the men, women, and children you see every day. These crafts are cute, clever, beautiful, and exciting, and I’ve broken them down into three categories.

24 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Her

  1. Vintage Button Bracelet
  2. A Great Spa Gift Basket
  3. Colorful Texting Gloves
  4. Desert Hope Crochet Slouch Beanie
  5. Handprint Dishtowels
  6. DIY Mini Christmas Tree
  7. Amazing and Edible Chocolate Body Scrub
  8. Map to My Heart

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

  1. Cozy Cabin Slippers for Men
  2. Superhero Cork Coasters
  3. DIY Guitar Picks
  4. Gray Knit Scarf Set for Men
  5. Man Cave Leather Catch-All
  6. Man-ifi-scent Homemade Soap Recipe
  7. Concrete iPad Stand
  8. Rustic Man Cave Signs

If you’re looking for even more fantastic gift ideas, check out this Homemade Christmas Gift Guide eBook.

8 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids

  1. Mini Octopus Crochet Pattern
  2. Crabby the Crab
  3. Frozen Princess Elsa Inspired Hat Crochet Pattern
  4. Pokemon Pichu Plush
  5. Toddler Crochet Boat Shoes
  6. Darth Vader-Inspired Stencil
  7. Jurassic Park DIY Terrarium
  8. DIY Chalkboard Dollhouse

What DIY Christmas Gift Ideas have you crafted for family and friends?

Homemade Christmas Gifts Giveaways: Red Heart Prize Winner

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We hope you had a blast checking out all our exclusive projects throughout the month while we hosted our Homemade Christmas Gift Guide Book Launch Party! If you missed a project of the day, don’t worry! You can find all of them here. Our Extreme Craft-tacular Grand Prize Giveaway ends tonight, October 31st, 2013 at 11:59p EST, so don’t wait another minute to enter!

Grand Prize Giveaway

Our final exclusive project was the Snowflake Hostess Apron from Red Heart, and along with it came an awesome prize package! Let’s find out who won yesterday’s prize, a yarn assortment and tote bag from Red Heart valued at $150!

Congratulations to…

Stephany

We asked: “How would you use today’s prize if you won?”

Congratulations Stephany, who replied, “I’d get started on my homemade Christmas gifts!”

Homemade Christmas Gifts Giveaways: Projects & Prize Winners

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Holiday-Home-Decor-Promotion-Square-Poster-600px

The Homemade Christmas Gift Guide Book Launch Party is your chance to check out tons of exclusive projects and enter to win cute and crafty prizes! Every day you’ll find a brand new exclusive project, as well as a chance to win a new prize! Make sure you check the blog to find out if you won! Scroll down for the current day’s giveaway and exclusive project. Good Luck!

Projects and Giveaways

Fiskars Project: Simple Holiday Pillows

Simple Holiday PillowsFiskars Giveaway Prize

Find the project here!
You could win a 3-pack of Amplify Shears from Fiskars!

Martingale Project: Christmas Goose Quilt

Martingale_Christmas_Goose_StyledMartingale Giveaway Prize

Find the project here!
You could win a $100 Gift Certificate from Martingale!

Winner Announcements

Fiskars Prize: Amplify Shears 3-pack
Winner: Jenn S.

Martingale $100 Gift Card
Winner: Christi S.

 

Homemade Christmas Gifts eBook

Whether you’re looking to create your own unique holiday décor this year or you’re looking for some clever gift ideas for friends and family, Homemade Christmas Gifts: 14 Gift Ideas and DIY Home Décor is filled with great projects that are perfect for all your holiday decorating and gift-giving needs! Get your own copy of this free downloadable eBook today!

 

 

BONUS ! WIN THE GRAND PRIZE!

Grand Prize Giveaway

Don’t miss your chance to stock up your craft stash and win more than $1,500 in prizes! You can enter each day to win. Take some time out of your day to come to the FaveCrafts blog each day to hear about the latest prize.

Good Luck!

Download New AllFreeSewing eBook and Save Stress on Homemade Gifts

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How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas Free eBookWe know it’s early, and we’re trying to say this as gently as possible: it’s time to start thinking about gifts. Even if you’re through with birthdays, baby showers, or graduations for a few months, you know the year’s biggest holidays are just around the corner. Before you click to another post out of panic, stick with us. AllFreeSewing has compiled a group of projects to help reduce any present-induced stress this holiday season with our collection of easy homemade gifts. That’s right, breathe a sigh of relief, because fresh off the shelves of AllFreeSewing is How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas. It’s free for you to download at your convenience and is, faithful to our name, totally free.

The noble designers who made How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas possible knew what they were doing. Easy and fast to make, these dozen designs are perfect gifts for situations when you’ve lost motivation, inspiration, or time. From the beautiful photographs to the accessible instructions, this roundup of homemade gift tutorials will give you everything you need to create lasting, functional, and gorgeous gifts. Make something for everyone from your tech-savvy niece to your baking-addict great aunt. These lovely gift ideas certainly range in style, but all maintain a level of high quality.

  Linen NapkinsHomemade Gifts for the Kitchen

Quilted dish cloths, linen napkins, and aprons. These everyday kitchen accessories are always on demand. Because everyone always needs an extra napkin to sweep or freshen up their kitchen, they make perfect presents. Learn how to sew a napkin, dish mat, apron and more from these 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas. You’ll be so grateful to the creative minds behind these simple sewing projects for both dreaming up the gift idea and tutorial.

 

 

 

 

15 Minute Wrist RestCreative Homemade Gifts

One of our favorite parts of the How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas free eBook is the unexpected gifts. You have to see them to believe them. Projects like the 15 Minute Wrist Rest tackle utility and fun in one homemade gift. Most likely you (like us) never thought about defeating that arthritic pain that accompanies keyboard usage with a simple sewing project, and that’s exactly why this gift succeeds in creativity. Find this tutorial and more in the pages of AllFreeSewing’s latest creation.

 

No-Sew Glasses Case

No-Sew Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas

Yes, we did account for the fact that on a last-minute basis, there’s not always time to sew. Either your machine gives out or you literally have no time to run your fabric through it. The no-sew do-it-yourself gift ideas in this eBook maintain a polished look that will make even you question whether or not you did indeed make them without sewing. Best of all, these patterns allow you to opt for the sewing machine if you have more time and don’t want to use adhesive. They’re easy for a reason!

 

 

How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas Free eBookBetter to be safe than sorry and download How to Sew a Gift for Any Occasion: 12 Easy Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas to have on hand. The editors at AllFreeSewing have copies saved to our desktops at home and at work in the likely circumstance that we forget to pick up a bottle of wine for that next dinner. Make gift-giving fun again with these dozen delightful tutorials!

 

 

Be honest, have you started your holiday sewing?

 

Trendy Quilted Gifts for Tech Geeks

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Although there are quilt designs called Grandma’s Garden Flowers and Log Cabin Blocks, quilting is anything but outdated. Actually, I’ve found that quilting and technology go hand in hand. Not only is there a diverse collection of free quilt patterns and quilting tutorials on sites like FaveQuilts, there is also a growing interest in small handmade gift patterns for tech accessories.

You can choose to create a graduation gift for a college student with a laptop, a birthday gift for a dad that likes to read his Kindle on the train, or a quilted Christmas present for a photographer who wants a DIY camera strap. You are guaranteed to find a fantastic free quilted gift pattern for every tech geek on your list.

 

 Camera Accessory Quilt Gift

Digital Camera Case

Whether they are a photographer for National Geographic or a new parent who loves snapping pictures of their baby, anyone with a camera will love a personalized camera strap. I’ve noticed that avid photographers always need to keep their cameras close to them; which is why a Quilted Camera Strap Cover is such a fashionable idea for anyone in need of a DIY camera strap. Need a quilted gift design for someone who goes on a lot of fun family trips? This Digital Camera Case is an easy quilted gift pattern that does an excellent job of protecting a camera on the go. For an even quicker pattern for a personalized camera case, check out a contemporary Quilted Camera Case that would be a perfect quilted gift for a teenager.

 

 

Laptop and iPad Case Quilt Gifts

Vintage-looking Laptop Case

Nowadays, every college and high school student has a laptop. Any young adult is sure to appreciate your talent when you make them a cool laptop or iPad case quilt gift. Your daughter or granddaughter will be the chicest girl on campus when you quilt her this Vintage-Looking Laptop Case to carry her computer between lecture halls. For college-aged guys, check out an ironic pattern for a Retro iPad Case DIY that actually looks like a vintage transistor radio. Last but not least, make a DIY laptop case for dear old dad or a beloved husband with this Manly Man Laptop Case.

 

 

eReader Cover Quilt Gifts

Love of Literature Tablet Cover

One of the greatest features about gadgets like ereaders is that they help save trees by putting news articles and books online. I especially love this idea for the Love of Literature Tablet Cover because it protects a tablet  but also flaunts an appliqued vintage typewriter. You can also protect your electronic reader by making this Mexican-themed scrap quilt design for a Dia de los Muertos Kindle Sleeve. For an even quicker tutorial on constructing a Kindle or eReader cover, check out this pattern for a  Last Minute Gift Kindle Cover.

 

The free quilted gift patterns for new technologies don’t stop there. Check out 23 Geeky Gifts for Nerds for even dorkier gift ideas!

 

Tell us, what kind of handmade quilt gift will you make YOUR tech geek?

 

 

Shop the Hottest Crafting Supplies with Gift Guide from FaveCrafts

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Looking for some suggestions on what to get the crafter in your life?  Or maybe you’re a crafter looking for a few supplies to add to your wish list.  If you love crafting, or know someone who does, you’re sure to love our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Crafters.  In this eBook, you’ll find great gift suggestions for crocheters, knitters, sewists, bakers, jewelry artists, and much more!  We’ve also included 9 free projects as a little gift from us to you!  So whether you’re a whizz with a pair of needles, hooked on crochet, or love baking cookies and cupcakes for your friends, there’s something for everyone in this 2012 Holiday Gift Guide!

Broken down into 9 different crafting categories (crochet, knitting, quilting, sewing, jewelry making, paper crafting, kids crafting supplies, baking supplies, and holiday crafting supplies), this Holiday Gift Guide is jam-packed with more than 150 affordable and fun products, organizers, books, and more.  You’ll find popular products, like the Knook, BonBons, and a variety of crafting kits, as well as organizers to help you organize everything from paper to beads.

Each product in this eBook is linked to the purchasing page on CutRateCrafts.com, so you can build up your shopping cart as your work your way through the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide.  Best of all, it’s FREE to download!  We’ve taken the stress out of holiday shopping and gathered our top selling products to make your holidays a little more creative!

Even those who love to create gifts for other people will love our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Crafters, for each section in the Gift Guide comes with a free project that you can make with materials in the gift guide!  Each project also coincides with the category it’s under, so craft designers of all mediums can find something fun to make and buy!

 

Make your holiday shopping easy and stress free with the help of this free 2012 Gift Guide for Crafters eBook!  All you have to do is click to download the eBook, and you can save it to your computer, print it out, or just bookmark the page and return as often as you like! Take it with you to the craft store so you know just what to buy all your crafty friends this year…or use it to build your own wish list of hot craft supplies, tools, and products!

Link Love: The Manliest of Gifts

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It seems like the men in our lives get overlooked when it comes to crafting a lot of the time. Let’s face it, most of the frilly, pretty, poofy things we craft just don’t appeal to guys. So what can you make for your man this year? Try one of these ideas from around the web!

  1. DIY Monogram Mugs from Design Mom
  2. Toiletry Bag from Prudent Baby
  3. Beer Coasters from Bare Bodied Beauty
  4. Monogrammed Cuff Links from Purl Bee
  5. Big Bow Tie from Kojo Designs
  6. Stenciled Bike Shirt from Tatertots and Jello on Kojo Designs
  7. Guitar T-Shirt from Acire Adventures
  8. Leather ‘Tache Keychain from Luck and Bliss
  9. Etched Beer Mugs from I’m a YaYa!

 

Give the Gifts They’ll Love

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One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to be more thoughtful.  To schedule weekly phone calls with my long-distance friends so we could catch up on each others’ lives.  To remember my relatives’ birthdays and send them cards not belatedly.  To do things with more purpose and not just halfway.

Well, now that it’s November I can’t exactly say that I’ve been 100% successful with this resolution, but I’ve definitely been making an effort and I’m proud of myself for that.

The real trick, however, is Christmas.  This is the holiday that’s most important when it comes to friends and family, and also when it comes to planning.  I want to make sure I give gifts that are meaningful to the people on my Christmas list, especially the people who are the most special to me.  I don’t want December 20th to roll around and still be struggling for ideas on what to get them.  That’s how last year went and my friends and family all ended up with generic, store-bought gifts and I felt like a lousy friend/daughter/girlfriend/sister/yougetthedrift.

This year is going to be different.  I’ve been brainstorming and compiling lists of things I want to make for my friends and family.  After all, handmade is definitely the way to go if you want to give thoughtful Christmas gifts to the special people in your life.

In my search for fun, interesting, creative gifts perfectly suited for the important people on my Christmas list, I came across a bunch of ideas that I thought would be helpful to people other than just myself.  So I put together this list of 16 Handmade Gifts that hopefully will give you some inspiration for the people on YOUR list.

From handy gifts like a recipe binder and a sewn laptop sleeve to cute home accents like shimmer candles and a monogram mug set, there are some really great ideas for handmade presents in this collection.

Check out these pics for a sneak peak and then click over to the collection to see the full list.

For the fashion lover:


For the bookworm:




For the cook/baker:

 

This is the first holiday in recent memory where I’ve actually been more excited to give out my presents than receive gifts myself.  I’m just so proud that I was able to find things that really “fit” the people on my Christmas list… things that I know they’ll love and use and wear.  Here’s to hoping I can keep up with this resolution next year too!

Tell me:  What’s the best homemade gift you’ve ever put together?  Who was it for?  Did they like it?

Gift Sunday: Crafty Gift Cards

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Gift cards are uber popular gifts for holidays and birthdays. They’re easy to pick up – just stop by a store or restaurant – and loved ones generally enjoy them because they are able to pick out whatever they want. Everybody wins! Often times, people are hesitant to give money or gift cards because they seem less thoughtful than a store-bought or handmade gift.

We have a solution. Have you ever tried to craft a gift card holder? I found some neat ideas from some crafty bloggers out there, as well as on FaveCrafts.com. These ideas for gift card holders can hang on the tree or be given as gifts.

Foam Gift Card Ornament – on FaveCrafts
Personalize these ornaments with names for your family members, and have them hunt for their gift card on the tree.

gift-card-ornaments

Gift Card Holder Ornament – on FaveCrafts
This is a more elegant take on a gift card ornament. Wrap this up and give it as a gift, or hang it on the tree and make them guess where it is.

gift-card-ornament21

Cocoa Gift Card – by Debbie Olson for Thinking Inking blog
This is the cutest way to give a gift card with a simple and sweet added bonus. So creative.

sweet-cocoa-card

Santa Gift Card Holder – By Wanda for My Creative Corner blog
This is a creative way to put Santa’s stamp on gifts for your children, or adults.

santa-gift-card-holder1

For more Christmas craft and gift ideas, click here.

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