New Year Resolution Update and Sunday Resolution

So excited to report that I'm on track on my resolution to do an hour a day on projects for my 2020 Christmas Tote stash. I'm still up to date on it. There were 2 days, not consecutive, where I couldn't get to it, but I caught up. That's one reason I kept it simple, just an hour. Less than that isn't enough but more than that might not be workable.

Meanwhile I've always tried to keep Sunday as His day. Along the way, I've tried to do my "faith-based" projects on Sunday as well, a sort of tie-in. Things like angels, crosses, etc. Well, today I got into that for real. Spent any craft time on my plastic canvas crosses. Already had some forms/shapes cut, and ribbon pieces cut, so it was easy to weave a full dozen of them. Was so happy to plop 4 of them into my purse. I love having them at the ready for times I run into someone at a store, a waiting room, wherever.

Making new habits might be a thing this year. That would amaze me at this point in my life! But it would also make me very happy, and who knows, maybe I'd even become more organized and less cluttered.

Rolling along...

The Last of My DIY Christmas Projects Are on My Pinterest Board

I finally finished getting the final projects onto my Pinterest Board. This means that whenever I want to find one of these, myself, I no longer have to scroll my own blog to find them. They are all on one page. That's a good thing.

However, I searched for and found all of these DIY projects last year. I have only made about half a dozen so far. That's a bad thing.

Still, I might be inclined to try a few more, and do that more often, now that it is easy for me to check them all in one visit.

I hope you find a few ideas on that page, ideas that you can use to make some quick-and-easy gifts for those on your own list this year.

Here are the ones I added tonight...

Bath Bombs or Bath Fizzies
Poppers for Stocking Stuffers
Salt & Pepper Pincushions
Easy Button Rings
Cookies in a Jar
DIY Money Cards
DIY Pearl Collar Necklace
Little Paper Angels
Customized Printable Word Puzzles
Graham Cracker Gingerbread House
Photo Bookmarks
Lifesaver Doll
2 No-Sew Scarves from T-shirts
21 Diabetic Food Mixes for Jar Gifts
Man's No Sew Scarf
No Sew Reversible Blanket
No Sew Stocking-Gift Stocking
Money Bracelet
Peppermint Bark Trees
Soap Balls
Beaded Bracelet
Printable Nativity
Printable Angel Napkin Holder or Favor

Finally - All 90+ DIY Xmas Projects from 2011

Well, I promised to try to gather all 90+ DIY Christmas projects from last year and put them on one easy-to-browse page. I wanted to do it on a Blogger page, here at my site. But it is easier on a Pinterest page, and here is the link. The page is nowhere near finished yet, but I believe it has a way you can Follow it.
Within a week or two, all 90+ projects will be on there.
You will only have to click on the page, browse the photos and click on the ones you want to check out.
Unfortunately, there is an extra step. The photo will take you to my blog post, and in that post you can click for the tutorial. This isn't a bad thing - my posts explain a lot about the project you can decide if you want to go further and visit the tutorials.
This is a lot easier than scrolling down through all 90+ posts, one by one.
In this case, a picture really is worth more than a few hundred words!
Have fun planning stuff to make this year for your Christmas list.
EVERYTHING on this page is quick-n-easy. Projects were chosen by me, for me. I carefully chose items I want to make one day, myself.
NONE of them require major crafting skills. All of them use items rather easily found in local shops.
Oh, and there are even food gifts that are in this collection, so take your time and visit it not just now, but even throughout the year!
Enjoy...  

My 95 Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas from 2011

Last year, late in September, I began posting a different DIY project, each and every night until Christmas. These were projects that could be crafted for holiday gifts and decor. None of these required strong crochet, knit, or sewing skills.

I did this for myself, at first, because I wanted a few ideas for quick-and-easy last minute gifts, decor and other holiday items. Sharing them with readers was easy. I had fun searching for new projects every night.

By the time Christmas came last year, I had posted 95 different quick-and-easy projects which required little or no needle or hook skills. I was really amazed that I found all those online.

This year, I hope to figure out how to create a gallery page with photos of each one. The photos will be click-able and take you directly to my post. Each of my posts included a direct link to the tutorials. I made sure I only posted tutes that were easy to understand and follow.

These included everything from bookmarks and wearables to food items and wrappings.

I hope to also post some previously un-mentioned projects throughout the Fall season. I know I can do this on Pinterest, but I'd like to try this first. Meanwhile, you can always scroll down the right side of this blog and click on Christmas Gift Projects but it takes patience to get through all of them. That's why I want to set them up as a click-through gallery.

My challenge here is to create this gallery page in Blogger (sigh). I have seen such pages created by others.

I am giving myself a deadline of October 1st. This should be interesting.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Printable Angel Napkin Holder or Favor

With this being Christmas Eve, there's no time for heavy crafting. This adorable printable can work (enlarged by 50%) as a napkin holder for dinner and then go home with each guest. This is the last in my series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

Shellie, over at CraftBits, offers lots of great stuff, like this. The link for the directions is here.

I found that by clicking on the drawing/template, around the head or body, the box comes up with the option to either print or save. I'd suggest you print on plain paper, just as it is, once, first, to get an idea of the size. But also save the image. That way, you can then enlarge it as she suggests.

You can easily use plain colored cardstock and then trim with stickers or other embellishments. Or, to save time and time is really short right now, use whatever fancy scrapbooking paper you have around. If you have Christmas-y gift bags or heavier wrapping paper, those too, might work Make it as easy as possible on yourself. You can always do the fancy trimmings next year for another project because this one's a keeper.

From the saved image, you might play with putting two images on one sheet, to avoid waste.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.  

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Printable Nativity

This lovely silhouette of a Nativity scene can be printed and framed for a quick and easy last minute gift. This is the next to the last post in our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

Jen, at MyOwnRoad, shares this tutorial at this link. You can scroll down to the three differently colored versions of this silhouette. Just click and save the one you want to print.

However, be sure to read her post. She explains where she found this design and how she prepared it. You might want to go to the site she mentions and download the other beautiful graphics there, and create your own.

Either way, it is surely one of the quickest gifts you can make at this stage of the gift-giving season.

And, it surely fits with the "reason for the season."

Then, print it on either plain paper, colored paper, or even cardstock. Frame it quickly with a dollar store bargain frame.

I found this in my daily e-newsletter from CraftGossip.


For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Beaded Bracelet

For those of us who are still enjoying the thought of making some gifts by hand, we only have two more days. This one isn't too difficult to make if you're only making one or just a few, so I decided to post it for our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

The tutorial is over at CraftsForAllSeasons, posted by Karen, at this link. The instructions are very good and easy to follow with clear photos.

I got a kick out of the part that says that most grade school kids can easily make these - she doesn't know how many thumbs this old lady has on her hands! Still, these look easy enough even for me, and that's saying a lot. I can crochet well, and do some plastic canvas work, but there are a lot of crafts that I just cannot do to save my soul.

If you do not have to run all over town for the supplies, these shouldn't take much time to make, especially if you're not trying to give all 24 ladies in your work team one.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Soap Balls

This is a quick and easy idea for cute little soap balls. As our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas nears an end, and as Christmas comes closer and closer, quick and easy is what we need.

This was first posted by Stepahnie Lynn at UnderTheTableAndDreaming, at this link, as a Mother's Day gift. But depending on the colors you use, there is no reason these would not be great gifts for men, women, and children.

Her tutorial offers good photos and excellent step-by-step details. I figure you could make these anywhere from tiny little meatball sizes to snowball sizes. It would depend on who you are giving them to.

She even offers tips on whether to buy pre-colored soap or to add color. She also explains which products you can add to vary the balls.

NOTE: With time so short, be sure to allow one day for their complete drying!

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Peppermint Bark Trees

Peppermint Bark Trees

We all need last minute food treats for stocking stuffers or token gifts. These are so cute and so easy and so cheap. This post for our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas is a good find.

The tutorial by Heather over at DollarStoreCrafts is at this link.

The photos are good and the step-by-step instructions are very easy to follow. I like that Heather even gives tips at the end as to why they should be layered in a certain order.

The problem with these, as I see it, is in making enough to have some left for gift giving. I mean, they are so cute and so small, we'd have to taste-test along the way, right?

I love making candy that does not require a candy thermometer or an oven. And the idea for the molds is pure genius.

Hmmm. I wonder how these would work with butterscotch chips?

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Money Bracelet

The closer we get to Christmas, the more likely we are to give cash gifts. This post for our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas shows how to fold currency (bills) into a money bracelet.

I found this tutorial by Stephanie Lynn on her site, UnderTheTableAndDreaming, at this link.

This site is copyrighted so you can use the tutorial but you cannot copy the material and send it to someone else - you can, however, send the link.

Stephanie has great photos. For those of us who are origami-challenged, this is a blessing.

Just take your time. Don't try to rush. Her photos are well-detailed and the folds are reasonably simple.

I cannot imagine anyone who would not love to receive this money-jewelry, not even a guy. It might be the one time he might try on a bracelet.

Some of us might remember making these with wrappers from gum or candies. Whoever thought to take that a step further with money was a genius.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - No Sew Stocking-Gift Stocking

 We're getting down to the wire on gift-giving, so a lot of us will be giving gift cards, cash, lottery tickets, and other small, reasonably flat items which can easily fit into this no-sew felt stocking. This is part of our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

This one doesn't have a template for the stocking, but you can easily see by the photos what the size would be (Anna is holding it with her fingers), and she gives you an idea in the instructions. The tutorial is posted here by Anna at BeanBugCrafts.

Be sure to read all the way through on the tutorial to see her tips about cutting the cuff and why it should be all in one wrap-around piece instead of two pieces.

I like that the tute also includes the name of the adhesive she used.

In addition to cards or tickets, this should hold, as seen in the photo, candy canes, pens, and other small items - hmmm, that might include jewelry, too.

I found this in my daily e-newsletter from CraftGossip.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - No Sew Reversible Blanket

Some of you might be tempted to try this from just the photo, but I urge you to read the tutorial. Time is short now - Christmas is almost upon us. You don't want to waste time on mistakes when the tute gives such specific instructions.

This is part of our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas. The tutorial was posted at the BohemianRevolution, at this link.

It would be so easy to whip up a few of these in time for gift giving. Size is of no concern. You could make one for anyone from a toddler (nap time) to a senior (lap cover) on your list.

I love that they use two pieces of fabric joined, making it doubly thick, and reversible as well. This is sure to please and surprise anyone on your list.

No matter how many afghans and blankies are in a household, each of us always wants our own. Having someone give us one for Christmas, in colors or prints that are specially chosen, is a real treat.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Man's (or Boy's) No Sew Scarf

It is so hard to find something really appealing for the guys on our lists. This being the winter season in most of the country, cold weather upon us, scarves make a sensible gift. But sensible won't always cut it, so I found a project that is both sensible AND fun and sure to please.

This is part of our ongoing series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

Karen, at CraftsForAllSeasons, has a good tutorial at this link. This requires very little fabric, and is so easy it is almost silly to say it is handmade but shoot, you had to CUT it, didn't you????



This project shows a woman's version with beaded fringe, but I would just leave off the beads for the guys. How simple is that? What guy wouldn't love wearing a scarf loaded with his fave team's logo? The fleece out there today comes in so many prints that you are sure to find that and even more to please any guy on your list, both young and old. There are cartoon characters, hobby and sport themes, animal prints (how cute would pawprints be on a boy's scarf?) and more.

I was in WalMart's craft department this morning and saw some great fleece material in sport team patterns, and that's when I remembered seeing this project in Kristl's list the other day.


For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - 21 Diabetic Food Mixes for Jar Gifts

We all have a few folks on our gift lists who are diabetics but who love to cook and love to eat. For our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas, I did an online search and found this great collection of 21 different ideas. The list and the recipes are at Budget101, at this link.

I browsed the list and clicked on each one, looking for those that would be quick and easy to assemble this late in the gift-giving season. I found a few would really please some folks I know.

Among the almost-two-dozen listed, they include diabetic versions of powdered sugar, rice pudding mix, cherry tea mix, and a Cool Whip replacement. You are sure to find a few that would work as last minute gifts for diabetics on your list.

These are simply written recipes, no photos, but good instructions.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - 2 No-Sew Scarves from T-shirts

Okay, it can't get any easier than this for the gals on your gift list. These two very different scarves from two different sites are part of our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas. They will send you to your old-clothes pile, to thrift stores, and t-shirt sales.

Neither one requires any sewing or gluing.

The first one, a circular treat, is from Erica at PSIMadeThis, at this link. Erica's post is so simple and uncomplicated that there are no words except for the photo captions. She calls this circular wonder a summer scarf but it can easily warm a neck in the winter as well.

The second one, a curly lengthy beauty, is from Cheryl at TidyMom, at this link. This one uses an XL tee. The photo tutorial is well detailed. Be sure to read ALL the instructions to learn how to cut, stretch, and use the pieces. This is so cute and so useful as well.

I found both of these in a post by Kristl at BudgetDiet when I did an online search.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Lifesaver Yarn Doll

Okay, I really don't think there's anybody out there who has not seen a Lifesaver Yarn Doll at one time in their life. As uncomplicated as they appear to be, we still seem to need a tutorial on how to make them. I found one for our series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.
This tute is by Carmen over at ShweetPotato, at this link.

The instructions are well detailed. Carmen explains both ways of attaching the arms and legs: hot glue gun, or as her grandmother did it, by running string or yarn up the center of the roll.

These are fun last minute token gifts. They also work well as ornaments and package ties. And they are great stocking stuffers.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Photo Bookmarks

I know I've included bookmarks before as part of this series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas, but this one is really unique. I found this in a list posted by Cindy at SkipToMyLou.

She led me to the tutorial by Jessica at this link on ZakkaLife.

In this day of digital cameras, this is a quick and easy last minute gift. The hardest part is getting a willing model. I got the biggest kick out of Jessica's story of how she managed to get this photo.

Of course, you just might have an existing photo that would also work.

Jessica's site is copyrighted so it is just for your personal use and not for commercial distiribution, as is the photo I used from her site.

So, is this a cute idea or what? Now we just need to zoom through our photo files and find the right one for each person on our list. Some pet photos might even work.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Graham Cracker Gingerbread House

Many of us dream of making a gingerbread house but are terrified at all the details involved. This cute little graham cracker version might be more to our skill level. I found this over at CraftStylish as part of a little village. Whether you want to make one or a whole display, the tutorial is well-detailed and posted by Diane Gilleland, at this link. This is part of our ongoing series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

The material is copyrighted and cannot be distributed. The photo I used is their property, as well.

This tutorial is one of the best I have ever seen. Diane even has a photo showing exactly how to see when the consistency of the icing is just right for "gluing" the house together.

Be sure to click on all 4 pages of the tutorial. Be sure to also read the comments on each page. One reader even tells how she simulates a pile of logs stacked outside the home when she makes her houses.

Whether you make just one house, or houses for several folks on your list, or the village, this is quick and easy. It is sure to delight whoever you gift with one of these.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Customized Printable Word Puzzles

One quick and easy, but very personal gift, is a customized word search puzzle relating to someone on your gift list. There are a lot of free programs on the internet, but not all of them are easy and not all of them offer what you might need. As part of our ongoing series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas, I searched and tried a few to find one to suggest.

I settled on the program over at ArmoredPenguin, at this link.

The photo with this post shows a puzzle I made relating to my crochet hobby and craft. It only took a few moments for me to make a list. I created a word list in Word and sorted it. I didn't realize there was a box to click before generating the puzzle that would do that for me - very nice touch.

One big reason I like it is that it offers the option to generate a printable and savable .pdf file. Some of the other programs were good but they printed with advertising on it and not all of them permit you to save your puzzle on your computer.

If you do not think you can think of enough words to make a puzzle for someone, just browse their huge list of already-constructed puzzles. One of those might work for you. Before printing any of these, however, choose one with a white background or you will use a lot of colored ink.

This is a lot of fun. You can make one for every member of a particular family. For some, you might list personality traits or career words or hobbies. For others, list favorite animals, colors (kids), and more. Favorite foods is another idea. Or consider car makes and models, or even TV shows.

The good thing about this gift is that it can be totally personal. Print it on a pale background or colored paper or holiday paper, to make it more festive and special.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Little Paper Angels

These little paper angels are adorable. They are posted as Advent angels but they would make very cute package trims or stand-alone token and last-minute gifts. This is part of our ongoing series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas.

I found this one day in my daily e-newsletter from CraftGossip. Stephanie at ToastieStudio designed them and all you have to do is download the pattern, at this link. Be sure to download the file and do not try to print from the example on the post or they will not print crisp and clear.

I love anything that I can simply print, cut, paste/glue in place, and use or give. How easy is that?

They print four to a page, so that gives you an idea of the size. They would probably be about 4 inches or so in height. I think I will probably try one print on cardstock and one on paper, to see which I like best for giving.

These are so adorable and colorful. The little faces are perfect.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

If you are feeling too crushed for time to make your own gifts this season, check my Etsy shop for items for your gift list.