DIY Holidays: Great Gift Ideas

If you haven't started Christmas shopping yet with just over two weeks left before the big day, then decorating may be the least of your worries.  Time to get cracking, make a list, check it twice, then go online and find some awesome DIY gift ideas you can try.

Let me help you get started:

For the Fashionista ...

The Toasted Coconut

Before you throw them any old try using your old pumps to make a very cute ring holder.

Happy Together Creates

Transform boring or dull silver hoop earrings into colourful works of art.

Lil Blue Boo

Even better, recycle old candy wrappers and transform an old belt into colourful, funky new style.

For the Romantic ...

Come on, Ilene!

The sweetest thing! Literally and figuratively, give your loved one homemade marshmallows with a personal message.

Papervine

I am SO going to do this one day! It would be a great anniversary gift but would also do for Christmas: A personalized 52 Reasons I Love You deck of cards.

Stuff for the Home ...

The Crafty CPA

Recycled paint sample coasters.

Fiskars

Beautiful handmade clay plates for any room in the home.

Heather Bullard: Lifestyle Blog

I am on a super mason jar kick right now and love this. A mason jar soap dispenser.

Censational Girl

Recycle old or unused sweaters into lovely throw pillows.

For your Mother, Sister, Daughter or Girlfriend ... 

Under the Table and Dreaming

A fragrant lemon sugar hand scrub.

Henry Happened

Or some lovely lemon herb soap.

For your Father, Brother, Son or Boyfriend ...

The Mother Huddle

 Like a wallet photo album but way better, a pocket watch photo album.

Design Sponge

Camping bench, which frankly, would be great for him or her.

Refabulous

A paperback wallet - very cool!

HGTV

So nerdy, I love it.  Lego cuff links.

For Anyone always on the Go ...

Crafty Staci

For that someone who loves their lattes in the morning, make these sweet and stylish coffee sleeves that will also help reduce paper waste.

For the Kiddies ...

Make it and Love it

Use up any scrap pieces of material (if you have them) or reuse patterned shirts to make these stuffed turtle pillows.

Sew Fun

 Or buy some cute patterned material with a theme to make this soft blocks for toddlers.

For your 4-Legged Friend...

Come on, Ilene!

Homemade dog treats! You'll not only save money but you can custom make them to Fido's favourite flavours.

For when you can't think of anything else to give ...

Make it and Love it

Dress up your gift cards with these DIY gift card cozies.

Happy Hunting, Shopping, Making and Baking!

Startin' Early for Father's Day: Gift Ideas

photo source

Remember the good old days when you could just make a gift for dad for father's day and he loved it no matter what because it was made by you with love? So why not do that again this Fathers day!

Just because we're not kids anymore doesn't mean we can't still make gifts for dad on Father's day.  So to help get you started, here are some cool ideas I found online:

DIY Gifts for Dad...

Makin' it Pretty!
* Pizzazzerie has a plethora of gift ideas from a tie wreath to Nuts & Bolts Treat Tins you are sure to find something fun and sweet to make for dad

For the Hardcore Tech Geek
*  Now if you really have the time and some major skills here are a few very cool DIY project for Father's Day from Popular Mechanics 

Keep it Simple
* Alphamom brings us a few cute and simple gift ideas

Final touches
* Wrap up your gifts in Style with these DIY Gift Boxes from Gordon Gossip.

And if you're not the gift-making type but want to find a great green gift, here are some great ideas from Inhabitat.

An Eco-friendly Edible Christmas Gift: The How-to

This year, like many years previous, I decided to make - or really, bake most of my Christmas gifts for family and friends.  This year however, I was determined to waste as little as possible and make Eco-friendly gifts.

Here's my attempt at it and tutorial for you to try it too!

What you'll need:

1. A variety of home-make baked goods, like cookies (like I have here) or even chocolate and candy works.  I made all vegan pecan chocolate cookies, oatmeal cranberry cookies and snicker doodles.

2. Newspapers - I prefer to use the comic and puzzles section; entertainment or sports sections also work well, depending on who the gift is for that person might enjoy the sports or entertainment news - anything with big bright photos also works and is decorative.

3. Eco-friendly, biodegradable plates - I found a great brand at Loblaws, they're really starting to get some good "green" products in.

Step 1: Mix and arrange the cookies on one plate.  Cover cookies with another plate.

Step 2: Tape the plates together to hold in place ... looks like a saucer!

Step 3: Choose the newspaper you would like to use - the Saturday newspaper comic section works the best.

Step 4: Proceed to wrap the cookie saucer. I basically started on one side, folding neatly and continued around the plate. 

Step 5: The newspaper will create a hexagon shape around the saucer and you will likely need to cut off the excess paper when you get close to the end.

As pretty as the wrapping and comics look I thought it would be a good idea to top off each cookie saucer with a hand-made card that can also be reusable, made with left over scraps of coloured paper.

Here's the how-to:

Supplies can include: various scraps of coloured paper, scissors, pencil, various cookie cutters, glue, coloured pens or paints, old magnets, and coloured string or yarn.

Step 1: I used a cookie cutter to draw out a star shaped tag for my gift.  Trace and cut.

Step 2: Add some glitter, sparkle and shine to your card, whatever you like!

Step 3: Once you've pimped up your card, time to add a string loop to the card so it can be reused as a decorative Christmas piece.  Another great option, glue a piece of magnet on the back, it's a fridge magnet! The best source are those free magnets you get from business offices, fairs, dentist or veterinary offices - get a stack and cut them up.

Step 4: In this case I added a gold piece of string through one of the corners of the star - good to hang on the tree.

  

Another great option: old Christmas cards! In this case, I took old Christmas cards that I had been collecting since (believe it or not) grade 5 and using a round cookie cutter I cut-out the pictures from them.  You can then add a magnet or a string and use them to decorate your gifts.

A completed package will look something like this.

I made a few this past week for friends.

Happy Holidays Everyone!