Handmade Holidays

Just a quick one…

2009-01-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry wrong blog! I'll be back later with the right post for this one. :o)

A New Year?!

2009-01-04T21:52:00.000-08:00

The holidays are behind us... already?! WOW! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.

Let's kick off this year right with...

Do you make resolutions each year? I DO! Here's a sheet I created to keep track of my goals this year. Click on the picture and follow the instructions there. ENJOY!

An Update & Printable Gift Tags for YOU!

2008-09-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

I want to say a big SORRY to everyone out there. This summer proved to be crazy! We had so many plans, but we just weren't able to come through on everything. I'm really hoping life settles down soon!

I made some printable gift tags for you guys. I hope you can use them! Click on the image & then you can right click and save.

ENJOY!

Skip To My Lou

2008-09-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you know Cindy from Skip To My Lou, if not stop by and say hi! She is doing Ideas for a Handmade Holiday - it's bound to be awesome! She already has great Holiday Planner available for you to print!!

More great Gift Ideas

2008-08-19T09:07:00.001-07:00

This craft from A Steno Pad For My Thoughts is so fun and easy. Here is a photo of one I have made. I love these because you can make the pattern bigger or smaller to get just the size you need. Just pick your favorite coordinating holiday fabric and start. It takes about 15 minutes for each tree.

I thought this craft from disdressed would be cute for a count down to Christmas, you can put little treats in each mitten and number them if you want. They're so easy you could make one for each family on your list!

This "Martha” craft is always a hit in my family. I collect buttons throughout the year and the kids have a button wreath making party. I think Mommy's Crafting has aslo make these with her little ones.

Gift Ideas

2008-08-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

So let's get creative! Have you all seen 30 Handmade Days? I was lucky to find it last Christmas. There are tons of gift ideas!! Go check it out.

I found this this morning & think I will make some for family this year. I like to make one gift I can duplicate several times to send to far away family & friends. I think this calendar from I Heart Linen is PERFECT!!
What are some of the creative gifts you've come across lately?

Mini Challenge Part 2

2008-07-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Silly me, I forgot to add a Mister Linky to the 2nd challenge!! I will add it to this post. If you missed the original Mini Challenge, just check below, it was the previous post. I thought I'd share with you a real simple "gift list" page from my notebook. This is my favorite way to keep track of gifts. It's easy, it's cheap, and each page lasts quite awhile (using front & back.)

You can easily section off each page how you need it. I like to keep track of gifts I give to each person. You'd also want to jot down websites along with the gift idea if you plan on using a tutorial. Tamara is my niece so I wrote down her birthday... just in case my poor mind fails me, obviously this is optional!! I like to keep track of current sizes too. It's so easy to cross off the current one and add the next size.

This is a great way to keep track of favorite colors, cartoon characters, or anything else you might need to know. Gather some notebook paper and make your own lists. Don't worry about filling them out right now, just right down names & any ideas you might already have. Then when an idea pops up you have a place to save it!!

I will post the next challenge along with some handmade ideas in a few days!

Mini Challenge

2008-07-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Let's get started filling up our notebooks! You are going to need 1 sheet of paper per person who is on your gift list. I like to use regular 'ole notebook paper. I would just title each page with the persons name, and then you are ready to start jotting down ideas.

A single page can last for years. Especially for children, as you may come across an idea that is too "old" for your child now, so just jot it down at the bottom or backside of the page. This is also a great page to refer to when planning birthday gifts.

I think it's also a good idea to have a "children's master gift list," which you can list gift ideas by age... especially great for birthday parties.

You don't have to write ideas down for everyone yet, but do try to title one page per person on your gift list, then when you come across an idea you have a place to write it down... immediately so you don't forget!!

You can also start a Christmas card list, that way you have plenty of time to add to it.

Simple challenge for the weekend:-) Be sure to read the previous post for some great ideas to start making your handmade holiday!

2008-07-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

This month has been incredibly busy for me too and I wanted to pop in here with a few gift/craft ideas for you all...while Mommy's Crafting is working on the next challenge!

This first one is really simple but could be very meaningful. Why not make a mixed CD for your loved ones. You could put music that reminds you of them…or if you have a big holiday collection you could put together a fun holiday CD. When you have that done why not make a great little case for the CD. Here is an easy tutorial from Craftideas.info

This would be a great Christmas decoration for you or for someone on your list. Switch up the fabric and it could be used in an older child’s room. This one too!

Kiddley has a great idea for an Advent calendar. Origami Advent Calendar

I know lots of children that would love to get a crayon roll and Skip to My Lou has a wonderful tutorial.

Is there a person in your life that loves to sew. How about a Sewing machine mat. I made one of these for myself and love it.

I love this idea for a card holder…it looks like a Christmas tree and you could decorate it like one if you wanted to.

If you save last year’s cards this is a fun project to do with children.

I hope these inspire you to start planning and get crafting for the up-coming holiday season,

2nd Challenge Coming Soon!

2008-07-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to pop on and say hi to everyone reading along & participating. The 2nd challenge is coming soon... I will be up late tonight & will hopefully finish it. Things got a little hectic this month for me and I just wasn't able to post like I planned... but I am going to double up on the challenges I had planned for July to catch up... don't worry, it's nothing difficult!!

July Challenge #1

2008-07-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Creating a Christmas Notebook

Are you ready to get organized?! I know a lot of you may cringe at the thought of organizing. I promise you though, that if you take these few steps it will save you so much time and money when it comes to Christmas. Of course you can use these same steps to organize all your gift giving. No pressure though:-)

1) Grab a 3-ring binder. Most of us have one laying around. If not, lucky for you... school supplies are in abundance this time of year, go pick one up. I prefer one with the clear cover so I can add something pretty.

I made a new cover and am more than happy to share with you!! Feel free to snag it and use if for your own notebooks.

Click here to print.

You can use any sort of notebook. I think binders are the best because they last forever and you can easily add or remove from them. So if you're looking to make a permanent Christmas notebook definitely go the binder route.

I would love to see what you guys come up with.

2) Next, we need dividers. Pick some up when you're buying that binder. Or if your feeling crafty, make your own.

Here is a LONG list of ideas for sections in your notebook:

Calendars
Gift Lists
Christmas Cards
Budget
Meals and Menus
Entertaining
Recipes
Décor
Traditions
Advent
Craft Projects
Recipes
Inspiration and Faith
Poems and Stories
Music and Carols
Movies and Books
Web Sites
Ornaments
Collections
Storage
Christmas Past

What would you add?

I have created a couple pages you can use in your own books. I will be making more in the weeks to come. If you have any requests please let me know!

Click here to print.

3) Additional items you may want:

pencil pouch
pens, pencils, highlighter, eraser
calculator
paper, lined and unlined
favorite Christmas poem or scripture to include in the front of your notebook

Our July challenge is to create your own notebook, in any form you desire. We will share them at the end of the month, through our flickr group and someone will win something!! I can't tell you what yet, mainly because I have no idea what we're giving away yet!!

This first week, let's work on gathering our supplies and brainstorming about our own books. Be sure to leave plenty of room, because we will be adding lots. Next week we'll start to put them to use! If you plan on participating in our challenges, blog about each challenge and come back here and add your post to Mr. Linky. Be sure to link to the post related to the weeks challenge.

I will close today with some links to inspire you:
Organized Christmas
Christmas Organizing
Christmas Notebook Tour
Holiday Grand Plan

Let the organizing begin!

First Challenge Coming Soon...

2008-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys, some things came up and I just wasn't able to complete everything in time yesterday. It will be up later today or tomorrow at the latest!! If you have an empty binder laying around, get it out!!

See you later!!

Welcome!

2008-06-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Handmade Holidays Through the Year! We are two friends, WonderfullySewKnit & me, Mommy's Crafting, who are just slightly obsessed with Christmas! We have a plethora of information we can't wait to share with you. We will have links to the best tutorials out there so that you will be able to create a completely handmade holiday, and we'll have lots of tips and ideas so you won't break the bank this year! We will post challenges for you to complete and I'm pretty sure there will be a prize or two involved:-)

So, while we gather our thoughts... you can snag the button below for your blog, and be sure to check our blogs!!

Hope to see you soon!!