Homemade & Upcycled Gifts

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. 

I had a great time with my family and I'm going post some more this week and try to get some cleaning and organizing done.

I wanted to share some of the gifts I made for Christmas for my family first.

first up

An Upcyled Lazy Susan.

I painted this in almost the same colors as my striped coffee table.
 I used my stencils and topped it off with wax. 
I gave this to my mother. She actually saw it unfinished by my workshop and said she always wanted one but I couldn't give it to her the original way it was.
I took this photo about 10 seconds before my family came over

I wish I took more photos but I forgot
This is a flour sack towel that I gave a cute ruffle strip of fabric and then I stamped fabric paint onto another strip of fabric and sewed it on.
I made this for my guys grandmother. I love these towels the best because they dry and soak of water better then any of my other towels.
I also make these for my Etsy shop.
I recently made a bird one for someone on Etsy who had bought one I previously made and she wanted another one for her sister for Christmas.

I made these coasters awhile ago and set them aside. They never made it on Etsy and when I found them in my stash of creations I new my sister Liz ( who writes a blog called Once Upon A Tomato would like them. She also needed them.
They were made from rough tiles and stamps, ink and stamp markers and sealer.

 

Holiday 100% cotton napkins. 

I made these for a gift for my other half's aunt.

I originally had plans to buy these and make napkins for my Etsy shop but that didn't happen.

Tomorrow I will share some gifts I made and talk about my Christmas. I'm relaxing tonight as for yesterday was a long day.

Click here to view the link parties I attend

A D.i.y Christmas Features

Christmas is almost here, I still have lots to do that is why I'm slacking on my crafting post. I hope you will understand as its getting closer and I just have so much to finish. 

I wanted to thank everyone who linked up there Christmas crafts, decor or recipes at my D.i.y Christmas decor party

Here are some of the favorites I chose to share, but of course I loved them all. 

Shiny Wreath by Five Days Five Ways

Funky Time's X-mas Garland

Bunting Advent Calender by Primitive & Proper

Lovely garland by Remade Simple

The homeless Finch's Pretty Dollie Christmas Trees

Wreath Makeover By The Painted Parlor

Five Days Five Ways  Yummy Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Apple Butter Frosting

Windgate Lane's Beautiful Mantel

Awesome DIY Advent Calender by Two Thirty-Five Designs

Loving These Ruffled Tree Skirts, This One Is By The Creative Imperative

Thanks again to all! 

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I'm going to be sharing my living room Christmas decor today, after I finish off some to do's on my to do list.

A D.i.y Christmas: Plate Stands

Plate Stands

I've been saving some nice vintage and not so vintage plates I've had stored in my hutch awaiting for me to either hang them on the wall or make plate stands. 

{ The blue mercury glass vase didn't end up working out for me }

I really was leaning towards the plate stands. I love using them in the kitchen for food, or decorating around the house and since I also have plenty of glass candlesticks I decided to make some.

I used a Epoxy glue, the smelly kind 

I used am old craft brush and thick cardboard piece to mix the glue on and apply it to the top candlestick then attach the plate. I did sand the glass a bit with a find grit sandpaper also.

I flipped it upside down and at first placed something heavy on top while I worked on the other one.

Then I let them sit overnight. I actually bought a different type of glue or a cement it says but it didn't work very good so I ended up with the epoxy.

I think I'm going to use these on my dining room table.

They also make great gifts. 

I'll be linking these up to some parties, click HERE to see which ones I attend. 

A D.i.y Christmas: Easy Tags

 

 Stamped Gift Tags

 

 simple deer

 birdcage and merry

 wood grain and deer

 I enjoy making my own tags every year. All you need is some stamps, paper, hole punch and ribbon. I use a variety of hole punches, including a ribbon punch. I love in mixing thick satin ribbon and jute and I wrap with postal wrapping paper. It makes my tags stand out. 

I prefer clear stamps, you can see where your stamping.

You can actually buy some holiday ones now for cheap at the craft store, they all seem to be on sale. 

I typically buy mine after the holidays.

For paper I use anything from cardstock to the assortment on paper I have from that old card making company. 

I mix ribbon up with satin, glittery, jute, skinny ribbon and yarn.

I just picked up more ribbon last night for more gift wrapping, I'll be keeping myself busy this week with wrapping. I'll be sharing more of that once the tree is up. Yes its not up yet, we are finally going to get one today!!

I also finished taking photos of my Christmas decor I'll be sharing soon.

A D.i.y Christmas: Christmas Photo Cards

Christmas Photo Cards

What you need

1. Blank folded cards that include envelopes
2. cute paper borders

 I found this, its adhesive so it was much easier then using glue!

3. Decorative photo corners

4.stamps

5.ink pads

6. photos

 

With your blank card and stamps start decorating. I take what I need and stamp the front first on all of them doing some different designs and let them dry then I stamp the inside on all of them and let that dry. 

I use clear stamps so I used ink pads for clear stamps and my only issue was the silver ink pad wasn't drying so I stop using it. 

{ I added the boarder first on this card but its easier to do it after stamping}

Once your done with that add your decorative boarder. I found the Martha Stewart adhesive boarders at Michaels Arts and Crafts on sale for $4.00. I just cut them to size and added 1 or 2 to the bottom of the card.

Now for the photos

I found these for $3.49

They are silver photo corners.

I place them on the photo first then I place on the inside of the card.

That's it!

Place in envelopes and send them out. 

I know I sent mine out late but as long as the receivers get them who cares when.

I stuck with the deer and birdcage stamp to make it simple. 

I was planning on having photo cards made but I ended up making them on my Photoshop and having the pictures made at Walgreen. It cost .10 cents for each photo.

The set of blank cards and envelopes were $7.99 but I used a 40% off coupon on them.

I only bought the cards, photos, boarders and the photo corners for this project.

Everything else I had.

So it cost me under $19.00 to make these handmade simple photo cards. 

This is also a great idea for any holiday that you want to send out a photo or even a thank you card.

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 I'll be sharing my cards at link parties from my party page here