|
Making crafts by hand at home can be a fun, thrifty way to create meaningful gifts for loved ones.
- Bookmarks and cards. Colored paper, ribbon, strips of leather, glitter, stickers, yarn, and colored pencils and pens are all materials you can use to make personalized bookmarks for friends. Write their names in calligraphy, or inscribe an inspirational quote. You can also use the above materials to create a card to accompany your gift.
- Recipe booklets. Inscribe mouth-watering recipes on index cards, then insert them into a recipe album. You can also laminate and place them into a hand-decorated recipe box.
- Scrapbook/photo album. Design a mini photo album or a scrapbook of a trip or event you shared with friends. Add fun captions and comments for each photo you include.
- T-shirt grocery bag. Turn a T-shirt inside out and hem the bottom closed. Cut off the sleeves and cut around the head opening to make a larger hole – and voilà! A homemade grocery bag.
- Jewelry. Design necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for friends and family. If making jewelry is new to you, check out Melinda Barta's Custom Cool Jewelry or Joanna Gollberg's The Art & Craft of Making Jewelry.
- Nature collage. Get creative with natural materials like dried leaves and flowers, shells, nuts, acorns, twigs, sand, and stones. Use glue and paper and also cardboard for support. After you are finished, frame and wrap your design.
- Leather accessories. Check out the leather kits available at Tandy Leather Factory (www.tandyleatherfactory.com) and make a wallet, cell phone holder, knife sheath, book cover, or moccasins out of leather.
- Clothing and accessories. If you know your way with a needle and thread, you can make scarves, mittens, socks, aprons, and hats, as well as sweaters, shawls, slacks, skirts, and such.
- Food. You can seldom fail when it comes to food. Bake a loaf of sweet bread, a pan of fudge bars, a stash of granola, or a cluster of cookies. Present with love.
|
