Handmade Christmas Gifts

Now that the holidays are over, I can share what projects I handmade for Christmas gifts. Some of them were not so sneaky, as they were the toiletry bags I made for my online class and the Tiburon Gloves pattern I released on Ravelry last month. Others you'll get to see for the first time here.

6 DIY Gift Box Ideas

Holiday gifting season is in full swing! I make a lot of gifts during Christmastime, and often I mix together handmade and store bought gifts. I like to combine a DIY item with small store bought items for custom, inexpensive gift boxes. It's a nice way to show someone you care by the time and thoughtfulness put into it.

I've gathered together six ideas for gift boxes to cover almost anyone on your gift list. They all include one handmade item and I've provided the link to the tutorial or pattern showing how to make it. I also linked the additional purchased items to similar items for purchase on Amazon, but not all of them match up to the exact item in the post because I purchased everything locally. They are just ideas, though, so feel free to customize your boxes with the preferences of the recipient in mind!

Men's Apron Sewing Tutorial

Need a gift for a guy in your life? Aprons are great for aspiring chefs (or just the at-home gourmet), BBQ aficionados, or as a utility apron for someone who works with their hands. This is an easy and fairly quick sewing tutorial that just requires a yard of fabric. The faux leather closures add a touch of ruggedness that any guy would appreciate.

10 for Tuesday: DIY Father's Day Gifts

Want to get a jump start on a Father's Day gift for dad? I've collected 10 DIY ideas for great Father's Day gifts. They're perfect for showing your dad how much appreciate him!

10 for Tuesday: Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10th. To celebrate moms everything, I've compiled a list of ideas and inspiration to make something for your own mother or for another special mother in your life. Mother's do so much for their children, so why not give back something unique and made with love?

10 for Tuesday: DIY Valentine's Day Round Up

Do you have any Valentine's Day plans yet? Whether your going out or staying in, why not bring a little DIY into the holiday. I've got free tutorials to get you inspired on what to wear, what to give, and even decor to get you into the Valentine's Day spirit. Enjoy!

10 for Tuesday: DIY Romantic Gifts for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a day to show the one you love how much they mean to you. I don't believe that you have to spend a lot of money to do this. I think the sweetest gifts are those you spent time on and show how much you care. Here are some romantic gift ideas and inspiration that you can make and give to your significant other. Enjoy!

10 for Tuesday: DIY Valentine's Day Decor and Gift Ideas

I've already started to get into the Valentine's Day mood around here. If you follow me on Instagram, you would see a sneak peek at one of my future projects. So for today's 10 for Tuesday, I'm sharing with you some DIY Valentine's Day ideas. I believe that this holiday is really about showing others that you care, and going the DIY route is perfect for this. It's a way to spend time, not a lot of money, to spread the love. Here are 10 DIY Valentine's Day ideas!

Crochet Hombre Scarf

As you can tell by now, I did a lot of crocheting for Christmas gifts! Probably a bit too much. Next year I will try to balance it with more sewing and less hooking. Today's crochet gift that I'm sharing with you is for guys. I find homemade gifts can be a bit more difficult to make for men. Some guys are turned off by the idea of anything homemade altogether, while other guys love it and appreciate homemade gifts. This can be a bit daunting when deciding to go the homemade route, but I hope I made good choices this year. Or at the very least, they appreciate the time and effort!

The first scarf I made was using The Hombre Scarf free crochet pattern. I used Patons North American Classic Wool Worsted in Grey Mix and Dark Grey Mix for this first scarf. I rarely work with wool yarn, so I went with the recommended for the pattern. It was inexpensive and seemed soft enough. I have an aversion to wool, however, because it makes me itch. This yarn unfortunately was no different. I just hope the recipients are less sensitive to wool.

I really liked this pattern. The stitch pattern makes a nice weave texture with plenty of stretch. I also like the ombre effect the color change made. It works up fairly quickly too. However, it does require using two whole skeins of yarn and I'm probably on the slower side when it comes to crochet speed. I knew less than halfway through this scarf that there was no way I could finish three of these in time for Christmas.

Crochet Eskimo Boots

I'm still sharing the handmade gifts I made for this past Christmas. The one I'm sharing today is probably my favorite of the bunch. I had been eyeing this crochet pattern for awhile. I just loved the cuff and the ties with the pom poms. So I was excited to finally get an excuse to make it. The most difficult part of this pattern was probably figuring out the yarn. The pattern gives the amount of skeins needed of their brand of yarn, not the yardage. I did not have time to order their yarn if I wanted it made for Christmas, so I figured out approximate yardage by calculating the the amount skeins required and the yardage in each skein.

Crochet Fingerless Gloves

Just a small sampling of the gifts my generous family exchanged

Happy New Year! I hope you had a nice holiday season with your family and loved ones. I enjoyed the celebrations and time spent with family. This was especially nice after the hectic pre-Christmas preparations. I had been busy finishing up the 6 Weeks of Gifting series for this blog, planning Christmas get-togethers, and furiously sewing and crocheting up some gifts for loved one.

Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

I've got an easy and tasty late minute gift idea for you! Christmas is just a week away and I'm still trying to finish up my Christmas gifts. I thought I'd share this cookie recipe with you as a quick gift you can put together. I think it would make a great hostess gift. Heck, I love this for myself. It's all the tasty rewards of baking with less measuring and dish washing. Plus, it looks pretty in a jar.



To check out all the tutorials in my 6 Weeks of Gifting series, check out my DIY Holiday Gift Guide.

I think one of the first (if not the first) cookie recipe I ever made as a kid was chocolate chip cookies. And guess what? I'm still using the same recipe. Do you want to know my secret for the yummiest chocolate chip cookies? Pick up a bag of Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels and look at the back. Yep, that's it. As much as I like to try and perfect my recipes and make them my own, I think this one is just perfect as is.

10 for Tuesday: DIY Last Minute Gifts

Christmas is just over a week away. Have you finished your gifts yet? If not, I have some great last minute DIY gift ideas for you. They are perfect for stocking stuffers or gifts for neighbors or coworkers you might have overlooked (oops!). These would also make good hostess gifts for holiday parties. Most of these gifts use things you might already have around your house and come together quickly.

And be sure to check out all of the DIY tutorials in my 6 Weeks of Gifting series.

10 for Tuesday: DIY Gift Ideas for Runners

This week for 6 Weeks of Gifting is all about the runners, athletes, gym addicts, and cold weather sports enthusiasts. I found several sewing projects that would make great gifts for your active friends and family. Winter can be a tricky time to stay in shape because the weather is against you, so I also found crochet projects that are all about staying warm while outside. As always, these tutorials are free. Enjoy!

Chain Hand Bracelet: DIY jewelry tutorial + free gifting printable

I'm very excited to bring you my first jewelry tutorial! I had been debating what to make this week for 6 Weeks of Gifting. I wanted to do something that would make a nice gift, but also would be appropriate to make for yourself for the holidays. The holidays mean going to several parties, which means several excuses to dress up. A shiny piece of jewelry fits right into that.

10 for Tuesday: DIY Gift Ideas for the Jewelry Lover

This week for 6 Weeks of Gifting I'm featuring jewelry projects. The tutorials listed below are free tutorials for make beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings that I think would make great gifts. Don't worry if you're never made jewelry before, some of these tutorials are perfect for beginners. And click below for my own jewelry tutorial! Enjoy!

10 for Tuesday: DIY Gifts for Guys

Guys are usually hard for me to shop for and even harder to think of good DIY gifts for than women. So for this week's 6 Weeks of Gifting, I've scoured the internet for 10 DIY gifts that are perfect for guys. These tutorials require knowing how to sew or a bit of crafting (with power tools and hammers, naturally). If you crochet, watch later this week for a crochet pattern for guys. (I'm on a roll with all my crochet projects!). Enjoy!

10 for Tuesday: DIY Gift Ideas for the Chef

Today I'm kicking off my 6 Weeks of Gifting. Counting down to Christmas, each week I'll feature different DIY gift ideas and new tutorials. I love to give gifts that I made myself. I think it gives a personal touch and makes a unique gift. This first week is dedicated to those who love to cook and bake and spend time in the kitchen. I have for you today 10 kitchen-themed DIY gifts that involve sewing, crocheting, or just a bit of crafting.

10 for Tuesday: Last Minute Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is this weekend, but there's still time to put together a quick and easy DIY Father's Day Gift. I've gathered 10 free tutorials and printables to make a personalized gift for the dad in your life.

10 for Tuesday: Father's Day Gift Tutorials

Do you want to give a special gift to the dad in your life this Father's Day? Instead of giving him another tie this year, why not make a unique gift? Father's Day may be a month away, but why not get an early start of an DIY gift. I have gathered 10 gift ideas for Father's Day for every skill level--whether you can sew or crochet or just want a simple craft project.