Book Club Ornament

 

I'm a part of several book clubs, but I made a commitment to one of my friend's book clubs, or rather, to myself.  I decided I was going to read every single book this year.  We have a rule-it's for fun, there is not shame, if you don't read the book, still come.  So, I have, and I do, but this year, I decided to personally challenge myself.  

Last year, I saw this super cute ideas for making an ornament with tiny replicas of all the books you read throughout the year, and I decided to adapt this to the 12 from our book clubs, so I made each girl one of these ornaments I'm going to gift them at our Christmas get together (and book exchange).  

I bought a package of plastic, empty ornaments, and I printed off little books using thumbnail size prints.  I'm going to post the whole process on youtube.  I also added the year with some vinyl and a little book charm to the top.  

I don't think I'll commit to that next year b/c there was one that was so not up my alley, but it was a fun year regardless, and it will encourage me to pick up more of them, in between all my 'regular' reading.  

Smore Gift

 Last week, we wrapped up our year of Secret Sister...a little different.  We usually do a fun "3 Clues" happy hour, but this year we just did a porch exchange, with our name attached.

 My secret sister likes to travel, but....quarantine.  So I tried to put together a bucket of things for adventures near or far.  I put in a picnic blanket, a monogramed coffee....or wine cup, and then all the stuff for making smores.

3D Reel-40th Birthday Gift Idea

It's that 'special' year so many of my friends are hitting the decade mark....and I've been stressing.  I've been stressing since they turned 30, I'm sure.  I always try so hard to find the perfect gift, so I'm going to share a few of the ones I've come up with b/c if they don't appreciate them, maybe *you* will.  This gift is one I gave to my pal Regan.  She and I have been friends for-ev-er.  More than 30 of these 40 years, in fact, and so I took a few pictures from our years together and made one of these 3D Reels (not sponsored, but....I love these things).  I packed up her package with pink flamingos (b/c she loves them) and glittery 40's I cut out with my Cricut…..and shipped it out in hopes she'd think this was a pretty spectacular surprise.  These would make super cute Bridesmaid's gifts, or grandparent gifts.  I've given these to family after family vacations as well because....well, I'm obsessed.  Here is a video sharing a few of the other slides I have made for personal use.

Tea Gift

This is the year of 40 for so many of my friends.  I was trying to figure out the perfect gift for each.  Next up in the line up is my friend Nicole.  We've had some special memories at tea rooms, so I knew I wanted to do a tea themed gift.  The plan is to celebrate at a tea room shortly, so this should tide her over until then.
I found a tea cup and added her name in vinyl.  I also bought some honey stirrers, a tea dipper thing (whatever those are called), and then I got some test tubes at Michaels, and some different loose teas at Central Market.  I filled the tubes and labeled them with my label maker.

I found a cut box I filled full of tea goodies and shipped them out.

Bible Journaling Gift Idea

 My cousin's daughter loves art, and she's old enough now to really be able to get into more intricate work.
I always start my Christmas shopping in January to try to help with the pocket book.  As I think of ideas, I pick them ups, so gifts are ready to roll come December.  There are also a ton of birthdays in the fall, so this has kept me afloat.
This year I'm putting together a beginner Bible Journaling Kit.  I made her a personalized pencil pouch and got her the basic supplies (map pencils, water color, pens).

I also used a coupon at Hobby Lobby to pick up this bible journal bible.  It has some pages with pre-drawn pictures and words you color, and some are blank for creative interpretation.  My plan is to do a few with her to get her excited.  Now....on to the other 9,567 gifts.

Princess Baby Gift

 One of my good friends just had baby #4...and it was a girl.  She has three adorable boys, so we are all pretty excited they get a sister.  She also happens to be a Disney fan.  I went on a hunt for Disney themed gifts, and then made a few crafts to go with them.  I found this romper on eBay.  Her favorite movie is Snow White.  Then I made a little felt bow using this tutorial.  I also bought some elastic baby headbands from eBay.

 She named her baby Aurora Rose after Sleeping beauty, so I had to do a pink theme.  I made this name banner and a onsie with her name on it using my embroidery machine.

 I found a mirror rattle on Amazon and a little crown clip at Hobby Lobby.

I made a few other bows and sent this off.  Incidentally, this was the second package I've sent in less than three weeks...I'm all about the spoiling.  

Christmas Golden Book Album

I made this golden book album for a friend of mine.  I did a full video on youtube walking through the whole thing.  You can find it here.  

 I borrowed the photos of her boys sitting with Santa for the last 16 years and made pages with tags she can write on embedded in an book I cut off the binding and rebound after decorating.

 She loves vintage things too, so I think this should be a hit!

View Finder

 I just had to share this gift I gave this past Christmas.  If you are my friend, you will probably see one of these in the future, so....sorry for ruining the surprise.  At this age, it's so hard to find fun gifts for my family, but I saw this a few years back via pinterest and decided the next time the whole family was together I was going to make these.  My cousin flew up with his kids over the 4th, and I took some photos of the different family things we did together and then put them on a disk.  This is NOT a paid advertisement, but...if you don't know what to get the people in your life...I love this idea.

You can personalize the middle of your disk with a photo and then add 7 pictures around the sides with captions that pop out in 3D.  The more your order, the cheaper the device.  You can order the viewfinder in several different colors (from a company called retroviewer), and even add a personal message on the view finder.  In the future, I'll be ordering more of these little disk as the family gets together so that we have a collection.  Like I said, I don't get anything for blogging about this, but I just loved this gift.  I used this company, but I'm sure there are others out there.  OK...I'm done, but....seriously, so fun!

Alzheimer's Busy Quilt

 A gal I work with recently told me about these busy quilts that are being made/sold for people who have Alzheimer's. It gives them something to do with their hands, which helps them keep some muscle memory, and soothes some of their anxiety.  There were a lot of benefits she shared with me.  Her father has Alzheimer's and Parkinson and she was wanted to put something like this together for him for Christmas.  I agreed to do it because it hit the heart strings.  I lost my grandfather years ago to Alzheimer's and it was a cruel disease to say the least.    I'm all about helping comfort anyone in a similar situation.

 I searched some different ideas, and there are all sorts of things you can attach to keep someone busy, but I decided to start with a few ideas, and if he likes it, she can advance from there to more complicated quilts.  I used some printable fabric iron on I had.  I bought it as the craft store.  The only trick is (for this kind at least) you have to flip the picture before printing since you iron on the mirror image.

I added some colorful buttons around the grand kids so that he can run his hands along the buttons.  I then sewed this square to another piece of fabric with soft bumps (minky).  

 I added some ribbon to one side of another textured fabric, and then found a forth fabric with some ridges.  I sewed those two pieces together, then sewed both sides, trying to make them as close to center as possible.  My goal was to use scraps I had, and keep it as masculine as possible.

 I added brown tweed to the back, then used some fabric I had left over from a quilt binding to bind this small lap blanket.  I did take some string and stitch one tie in the middle to keep it from slipping around.  All in all I'm pleased with how it turned out, AND what a fun way to repurpose some scraps!

Mother's Day Gift Idea

 I did not make this, but...I had the good sense to order it.  Years ago I saw these jewelry pieces in a magazine and I've been meaning to look into it.  FINALLY, this year I did it.
My grandmother passed away over 30 years ago, but I know that it has left a big hole in my Mom and my Aunt's heart.  She's in heaven.  We will see her again, but I love the idea of these charms.

I found my Mom's old wedding cards where my grandmother had signed her name.  I went on Etsy and found a ton of shops that make these pieces of jewelry in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  All I had to do was take a photo of what I wanted written and send the picture.  I just asked the gal to center love over mother.

I don't know how she did it, but she nailed that signature down to the m, o, t etc.  I'm added a little emerald stone to each of these (my grandmother's birth stone) that I bought on ebay, and I gave one to my Mom for Mother's Day, and another to my aunt for her birthday (right after Mother's Day). I could not be happier with these keepsakes, and I had to share.