A Homemade Christmas: Gift Ideas for Big Kids & Teenagers

So I've decided to change things up a bit and combine days for Big Kids and Teenagers and open a spot for Grandparents. I hope everyone's okay with that! :) Don't forget to check out the posts about Handmade Gifts for Infants and Handmade Gifts for Toddlers and Preschoolers!

Here's one that appeals to each of these age groups - personalized shirts. How about using Bleach to Create a Personalized Shirt? The Next Bird will show you how. Not sure what the picky teen would want? Give them a bleach pen, some shirts, and the directions and let them create their own!

How about a Marshmallow Gun? Create Studio shows us how to use PVC Pipe and joints to create some marshmallow fun. She made one for her little boy, but these would appeal to any age! Heck, even my husband would love one of these!

A fun one, probably more for girls, is a magnet board! This one is pretty girls, but you could definitely make it for a boy. A Girl and a Glue Gun used some leftover metal pieces, but you can buy metal sheets to do this with.

Another fun one that any girl is sure to love? Personalized Notebooks! Take a notebook, add some paper and embellishments, and it will be instant love! So much better than those plain spiral or composition books. This particular notebook comes from Sew Woodsy. Want to make it a gift set? Add some fun colored pens and you'll be set!

Are you more comfortable with fabric than paper? Then you can still create a customized notebook! Essentially, you're creating a fabric cover for a notebook - which can be reused on a different notebook. Stay Calm and Sew Something has a great tutorial - and I love the zebra print and polka dots together!

This next idea would be great for girls of all ages, but Washer Necklaces are easy (and cheap) enough to make for all the girls on your gift-giving list. Seriously. I'm thinking that every girl on my list will be getting two or three of these this year!

Here's another idea that would work for more than just tweens and teens. A Laptop (also iPad/iPod/Kindle/Netbook) Sleeve! The Cottage Home has a great tutorial for making this fun little sleeve - just use the dimensions of whatever electronic device you need to cover!

 Know someone who likes to skateboard? Why not make it easier for them to pack it around with this Skateboard Sling? This great tutorial was posted by The Boy Trifecta over on Kojo Designs.

Any other brilliant ideas for those hard-to-make-for kids and teens? Please feel free to share with us! Also, be sure to check back tomorrow for more gift giving ideas for the spouse/significant other!

A Homemade Christmas: Gifts for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Thanks for checking in for day two of the Homemade Christmas series. In case you missed it, you can check out yesterday's post focused on homemade gifts for Infants. Today is all about toddlers and preschoolers!

One of my personal favorite toddler gifts are quiet books. Whether you make it, buy it, or buy a kit to make it yourself, kiddos really do love them - especially if you can tailor them to your child! I made a quiet book for Andyroo about a year ago. I made it for our drive out to Iowa, but it would definitely make a good Christmas gift. Mine took me a long time to make, but only because I took a pretty long hiatus while I didn't have a sewing machine. If you're looking for more quiet book ideas, then you should check out How to Make a Quiet Book - which is a blog dedicated to making quiet books!

How about an I-Spy Bag? This is another project that I made for Andyroo for our loooooong drive to Iowa. Andyroo has had so much fun with this one! However, I think I would have made it smaller. Mine ended up being about 8"x8" which is pretty big for those little hands. I'm contemplating making it into a smaller bag that will be easier for him to us. Also, this can be a pretty expensive project - even with coupons and sales (which I, of course, took advantage of)! I spent probably around $30 to make Andyroo's I-Spy Bag. But it is fun - even for adults!

I'm also in love with the whole Dry Erase Quiet Book idea. I made one for my niece last year for Christmas - and it was so fun. I wish Andyroo had been older so I could have made his at the same time. However, this is totally on my gift list for Andyroo this year. Somewhat Simple has a great tutorial and even shares the pages in her book. What's so great about this kind of book is that you can customize this book to be exactly what your child needs - it can totally grow with them! What I love even more is that you don't have to worry about dry erase markers anymore because Crayola has dry erase crayons - that of course are washable. No caps to lose and no mess to worry about. And they're less than $5 at Walmart. So worth it!

Want a fun and simple idea that can be used so many different ways? How about bean bags!? Chez Beeper Bebe has a tutorial for some adorable Counting Bean Bags with appliqued numbers. Younger kids can use them for counting and older kids can use them to practice simple math. I also love how she used colorful fabric on the backs. You could easily do solid colors and use the other side for learning colors!

Here's another twist on the I-Spy bag. This one is easier for toddler to figure out alone. Check out Disney Family Fun for an easy tutorial to make a Discovery Bottle. If you wanted to make it more of a challenge, you can make a picture list of the objects and have your toddler try to find them.

How about some fun DIY Lacing Cards? All you need is some craft foam and a hole punch to make these cute little cards. Check out Tot School for a great tutorial!

Another fun idea? How about a tutorial for a Chalk Mat with a Storage Pocket. Check out Craftaholics Anonymous for this great tutorial from Maggie Muggins Designs. I know Andyroo would LOVE this!

Little ones love stickers, but if yours are anything like my Andyroo, he wants to peel them off and use them again. That's why The Creative Homemaker's Magnetic Tin with Magnet Stickers is perfect. Turn stickers into magnets and then they can be reusable on any magnetic surface!

And, if you're feeling a little adventurous, you could always go for something like a Felt Playhouse. I made Andyroo's when he was about 18 months old and he loved it. He still plays with it now! What's great is that as we have more kids, they'll be able to enjoy it too! I also love that I can keep adding to it by making other things like felt food.

Do you have any other fabulous ideas for the Toddler and Preschooler set? Feel free to share them with all of us! Also, be sure to check back tomorrow for more ideas for Homemade Gifts for the bigger kids!

Winner for the My Memories Software

Hey ladies! Sorry it's taken me so long to get this posted. I've been swamped this weekend with Primary Program stuff and I've had about 5 custom orders come in since Saturday. It's great, but insane. So you all will have to forgive me if things slow down a little bit - especially on the crafty side. I'm creating, just stuff that you're probably not interested in!

Anyway, on to the winner. I'm happy to announce (and no, this wasn't planned), the winner of the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software is...

 Comment #6! Heidi Elder! Heidi just so happens to be my husband's cousin. How fun is that?! Heidi says...

Heidi, I'll be getting in touch with you to get you hooked up with your goodies!

Disappointed you didn't win and want to get in on the digital scrapbooking fun? Then don't forget that you can still use the code STMMMS51889 on MyMemories.com to get $10 off the software and an extra $10 to spend in the MyMemories.com store to start your digital scrapbooking supply. Also, don't forget that we'll be offering a freebie from My Memories every week. You can, of course, use the freebies in the My Memories Suite, but you actually get them as .png and .jpg files so you can use them in any photo editing software!

A Handmade Christmas: Gift Ideas for Infants

Thanks for joining the Handmade Christmas series here on Life in the Motherhood! Don't forget to check out the rest of the posts this week for handmade gift ideas for all the other people in your life! If your idea was featured, please feel free to grab a button from the sidebar! And, if you have any ideas you'd like to submit for any of the Handmade Christmas categories, then fill out the Submission Form!

To start off the Handmade Christmas week, we're going to focus on the littlest ones in our lives. Sure, they probably won't notice if they get anything or not. Truth be told, they'd rather play with the bows and paper! But we can't forget them. Here are some fun and easy ideas for the littlest ones.

Do you have a baby girl on your list? How about a cute Ruffle Bum Onesie? Originate and Renovate has a great tutorial for sewing ruffles onto a onesies. You could totally do something long-sleeved for the cold winter months. Makes me want a little girl!

How about some Soft Photo Blocks? Erin from In Between Laundry shows us how to make this fun and simple project! It's also a great way to use up some scraps from other projects. I also love that she reused the clear vinyl packaging from some baby sheets!

Are you a knitter? I'm definitely not, but if you are, you've got to check out this adorable Baby Sophisticate set from Never Not Knitting. Absolutely darling!

I'm really loving the idea of handmade stuffed toys. First the blocks, and now this Stuffed Giraffe from Craftin' It. This one is pink, but you could definitely go for something more boyish or neutral.

Again with the stuffed stuff. I'm drooling over this blue and green fabric used to make this super cute Baby Gift Set - including a bib, stuffed toy, and a crinkle toy - from The Seasoned Homemaker. I love the soft chenille on the back. So much fun!

 How about some cute Sock Rattles? Jill from Homemade by Jill has a great tutorial (complete with patterns). Again - change up the colors and you've got something for a baby boy or go for something more neutral.

Want something a little more colorful that is sure to use up all those scraps? Then head over to Homegrown Happy and check out the Baby's Soft Book of Colors. So fun to use different patterns (and even textures) to create a book of colors.

How about an easy (unstuffed!) Teething Toy? Patchy Apple shows how to turn some scraps and an unfinished wooden ring into a Ribbon Ring Teether Toy your little one will love!

Not into sewing? Is crocheting more your thing? Then how about a Crocheted Loop Baby Toy from Herbst Handmade? This project *almost* makes me wish that I could crochet or knit.

What about another book? Check out this Soft Book Tutorial from Don't Call Me Betsy. It does look a little more time intensive, but its so fun, and even the littlest ones will enjoy looking at the pictures and feeling all the textures.

Here's one last stuffed toy - a Sunshine Rattle from Little Pink Monster. Absolutely darling - and totally easy!

 Do you have any other handmade baby gift ideas to share? I'm sure we'd all love to hear your ideas!

A Homemade Christmas - A Week of Handmade Gifts!

It's sad that Thanksgiving is always overshadowed by the commercialism of Christmas, but this series is at the beginning of November for a good reason. Simply put, you need time to gather supplies for and make handmade gifts. While making gifts can be a little daunting, they can be so much more meaningful to the giver and reciever! They can also be less expensive - which can help you give more!

All this week we're going to be sharing some awesome ideas for handmade gifts. Starting a little later today, we'll have a day devoted to each of the following groups:

1. Monday - Infants
2. Tuesday - Toddlers & Preschoolers
3. Wednesday - Bigger Kids
4. Thursday - Teenagers
5. Friday - Spouse/Significant Others
6. Saturday - Neighbors/Teachers/Coworkers

 Before we leave you for the night, here are some organizational tips for the upcoming gift-giving season.

• Make a list of who you'll be giving gifts to this year. It's important to know who you're giving to before you can figure out what you're giving (handmade or purchased)
• Set a budget. Even if you're going handmade, you'll probably have to buy some supplies. Know what you have to spend (even if it's close to nothing) and stick to it. There's no reason to go into debt to get someone a gift!!
• Come up with gift ideas. What I like to do (and I usually start thinking about this in like, September) is make a list of each person we're giving a gift to and then a list of gift ideas. I don't do anything fancy - just a simple piece of notebook paper. I try to come up with a few different options - some handmade, store bought, something cheaper, etc. As I made the list of ideas, I usually come up with something that I know will be just perfect for that person. Some people are harder to give gifts to so that's when I kind of start looking around for deals and see what fits into the budget. Don't just walk around the store looking for something. You'll probably either overspend or wind up unhappy with the gift.
• If you're going to be giving homemade gifts, you need to know what you have on hand. This might mean examining your ribbon and thread supply, going through your craft supplies, and even taking a look at your pantry. You don't want to go out and spend extra money on thread when you already have the color you need sitting in your craft supplies.
• Know when you need to have gifts purchased or finished. Do you have family out of town that you're sending gifts to? Check with the postal service you'll be using and know what timeline they recommend. Are you celebrating with or seeing others before (or after) Christmas?

Do you have any other tips for making the Christmas season a little less stressful?

Harvest Party Features - Round One!

Sorry it's been so quiet around here again this week. I'm getting ready to host a Shutterfly party this weekend and my house needed a little TLC in order to be party-worthy. I've also been a little inundated with orders this week and trying to get some new gift sets posted. Which is good for me, but it means that this poor little blog gets a little neglected. Hopefully after the party (and while my house is still clean), posting will resume as normal and I can get back to some projects I've been itching to get to!

Also, while I've got you here, don't forget to go enter the giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software. I'm really loving this software, seriously! And there are only a few entries so far, so your chances of winning are pretty good!

Now, on to the features. First of all, thanks to everyone who has linked up so far to the Harvest Party! There will be a few rounds of features through the month of November, so keep on linking up your awesome projects!

First up are these cute little PB Knockoff Metallic Pumpkins from ReMade Simple. I love the look of the silver and the orange and how the orange is peeking through. So cute!

Even though I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin pie (blasphemy, I know), I enjoy other things made with pumpkin, so I'm totally digging this Round Up of Pumpkin Recipes from Crumbs and Chaos!

Looking for something fun to do with your kids for Thanksgiving? I love the idea of creating Thanksgiving Potholders that show off the kiddo's handprints. What a fun keepsake! Thanks to Pampered by Tammie for sharing!

If your idea was featured, be sure to grab the featured button from the sidebar to the right! Have a great weekend!

Inspired by Pinterest - Using Canning Rings

Like most of you, I'm on Pinterest. I wouldn't quite call myself addicted, but that's probably because I just don't have time! Anyway, one of the things that I thought would be fun to do would be to try out some things that I've found on Pinterest and see how they work.

So, for our first week - Using Canning Rings to cook Eggs.

Pinching Your Pennies

I saw this idea and thought it was perfect! We love making our own homemade breakfast sandwiches. I've been making them for years - since about 2004 when I'd moved out on my own and couldn't afford McDonald's breakfasts anymore! Anyway, I can easily make the eggs in a square shape to fit on toast, but I have yet to find a way to make the eggs round to fit nicely on a biscuit or english muffin.

I coated the whole ring in cooking spray and let it preheat with the pan on medium heat. In went the egg and it immediately started oozing out under the rings. I had to hold down the rings as I poured the egg inorder to get it to not ooze. I let them cook for a couple of minutes and then the bottom was starting to get a little golden so I decided it was time to try and turn it. And maybe that was my mistake. Maybe I turned it too soon, but I could not get it to come out of the canning ring. I had to practically rip it out. The part of the egg that wasn't completely done spilled all over the pan. I was able to salvage it and it still tasted it the same, but it wasn't easy.

I haven't given up hope. I'll try again, I think. Has anyone else tried this? Any tips or tricks that I'm missing?