Too early to start thinking about christmas....?

I'd like to make a couple of ties, just to see if I could!! Maybe for the brother-in-law? Other than that the rest of the lads aren't in offices so they don't wear them, thanks Heather!

I was thinking perhaps a gardening box for my sisters fella, with seeds, seed markers, twine, maybe some gardening gloves all in a decorated box....maybe the same sort of thing but beer related for husbands friends....hmmm, will keep thinking...

You know I saw the strangest thing the other day:

ADVENT CALENDERS FOR ANIMALS!

Now yes my cat gets a present every year (mostly to distract him from the Christmas tree) and he sends one to his Daddy because it makes Alex laugh but I refuse to spend a fiver on an advent calender for a cat.

Plus the fact I have two hen nights, two weddings, a new niece born a few days ago, hallowe'en, fireworks night, brother in law's birthday and my first wedding anniversary (I know, he made it this far without trying to kill me!) coming up before then!

Right for the boys:

http://www.freeneedle.com/directory.php?directory=Men

http://freeamigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2009/06/crochet-dragon-pattern.html

http://www.freeneedle.com/directory.php?directory=Softie-Patterns

How old are the boys Squirrel? x

I have the same problem.. way too many people to buy for. And a few of them really have no hobbys/intrests so it's hard to think of something they would like. So I came up with this idea..

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/easy-christmas-gift-mug

It was a big hit last year so im doing it again this year

I do stuff like that Kitty!!

Last year my family didn't really give any clues as to what they wanted and I know they like films so got like a £3 film in the supermarket or somewhere and add a bag of popcorn, bottle of favourite beer, sweets and wrap in clear cellophane. They were a hit. Everyone loved them. You could do any theme like if someone is a gardener you could buy a plant pot and put in packets of seeds, cheap gardening gloves and some plant food or something!

As for handmade stuff though, I've no idea for the boys because none of them have 'office' jobs they're mechanics so get very dirty in their overalls! *humphff*

@ Ruby.. logically a soap/bubble bath type basket would make sence for the mechanics.. but not very manly LOL. Thats why I like the hot chocolates in a mug.. it works for anyone who likes chocolate
I have an uncle who is an accountant, he is a work-o-holic and has no intrestes.. well his intrest is accounting lol. I can't imagine his life is very exciting
My husband works on cars too, He really likes my sugar scrub to get the grease off his hands. I just leave it up by the sink.

-1 cup brown sugar
-1 cup white sugar
-enough olive oil to dampen the mixture

Maybe a black mug so it won't show all the mucky finger prints?

OHMYGODITOTALLYFORGOTIHAVETOMAKEALEX'SADVENTCALENDER! CRAP!

LMAO!! Bryony, you do crack me up! I'm so going to do this, this year and put 2 treats in each bag, one for me and one for dave.

<a href=http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/advent-calendar>http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/advent-calendar</a>

I guess all you have to do is buy a bag of individually wrapped sweets from supermarket and pop them in...

I saw a cool advent thing in Marks and Spencers. It was a little wooden box with little drawers and had numbers on each drawer (obv 1 - 24 or 25). You could reuse that EVERY Christmas and all you would have to do is pop in either a chocolate or something else festive!! I think it's a pretty cool idea, I think it was like £5 though...

this year i'm gonna try and make as many as i can. i've just finished making me a guitar bag, so going to make a smaller version for my daugher for christmas now i know i can do it
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/guitar_shaped_bag_2

the owl cushions i'm gonna make a few people (i think they're lovely and cost me probably under £1 to make)
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/owl-cushions

maybe a button bracelet for someone
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/button-bracelet
and maybe some matching earrings
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/earrings_with_colorful_buttons

and for my parner's Gran i might try some potholders or something for the kitchen
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/matryoshka-potholders

it's only the men i'm stuck on now really!! why are they so awkward?!

the only thing i can find for my partner to make is something like
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/box-of-love-for-your-love
because he's got such a sweet tooth!

i know i'm going on now but a great idea from kids to a parent/grandparent/aunty etc is to buy a blank canvas (i got one for £1.29 today) and get them to do a drawing/painting/scribble/hand prints etc on it (depending on their age)
x

*headbangheadbangheadbang*

Right, I have now made 22 christmas cards and 2 gift tags! But, I've bought a sizzix cutter for the tags so that should be no problem!


I've bought the material for the slipper bags for the sisters in law - dark purple velvet. Also finished 'Rosie' s-i-l's name cross-stitched so I can fix it to her slipper bag!

I was brought a beautiful book introduction to making cloth dolls by jan horrox and I would love to make a doll for the mother in law and my mum but we'll have to see on times!

Make diaper bags for the new mommies! If I could sew I would have loved to have made one for myself when my daughter was born. Plus I could make her purses to play with. I'm so cruddy at sewing that I usually just buy plain tote bags and sew buttons or beads onto it. T_T

i have so far made an owl cushion for MIL, and a knitting needle holder and an apron for my partner's Gran. got a load of stuff from the craft shop the other day though, so when my little monster has her nap i'll be back at it again!

Nope! I have been planning christmas gifts for a while now.