Handmade Gifts

 At Christmas time I exchange handmade gifts with my arty friends. I forgot to take photos of the storage bubble pods that I made. These are the gifts I received from my friends.

This was the most unusual, a painted ice skate Christmas decoration.

Two fabric containers

I've already used them for transporting some items to a 'sew-in' and a workshop 

Gifts from Arty Friends

I received these handmade gifts from friends, two scarves one of which was printed, a pair of oven mitts and a box which opened up to reveal wooden dolls with paint and fabric to decorate them. The picture below shows the opened box, and more of the printed scarf. Clever friends eh?

Gift Exchange

I met up with the arty girls at the weekend for a meal out and exchange of handmade gifts and cards.

The lovelies I received were a box of cakes - these were made from paper and the lid lifted to reveal little presents - buttons, glitter, chocolate, washi tape.

A handmade book with various types of paper pages and a cover with real leaves. Also a hand cut bird tag.

A handmade book - this one is a weekly planner. Each page was personalized and printed with to do lists, diary, shopping list, doodles etc

A gift to come at a later date

I made and gave 3D layered pictures. Designed in my sketchbook, tweeked on the computer and cut on my Zing Air. I used various cards and papers and also painted the layers which were then put in shop bought frames with glass fronts. The glass made it difficult to photograph because of other things reflected in it. Three of the frames are white although they look blue, the other is black.

I found the dragons as clip art.

Handmade Gifts

These are the handmade gifts I received from my 'arty' friends.

A tree from Marian with ribbon wrapped around the base.

A bagful [handmade of course] of goodies - clay decorations, felt house, decorated jar, pebble.

A doll from Gillian.

I love her curly hair.

A bauble picture from Vicky. It was difficult to get a good picture of this because of the glass reflection.

I've got some talented friends, haven't I?

Gifts to Friends

You saw the gifts I received from my arty friends yesterday, today you see what I made them.

A chicken doorstop - Gill keeps chickens so this is one she doesn't have to feed. I hand painted and stamped the fabric. I used real feathers for the tail.

A handmade book for Marian to keep notes for inspiration perhaps. I hand painted some fabric [the coloured strips] which were layered with other fabric, distressed and embellished with hand embroidery. There was also layers of vintage lace, which was also distressed and some vintage buttons.

I used free hand machine embroidery on the back instead of hand embroidery.

inside I printed her name

there are a few pockets to keep bits in

and an attached book mark

For the dog lover Helen, a dog doorstop.

I used a knitted cardigan for the main body and head and felt and faux leather for the eyes, ears and nose.

And for Vicky, a needle book. You may remember seeing this fabric before as it was a sample page for my TAST stitches. I was going to use it for a book but when Vicky said it was her favourite page I thought I would put it aside for a Christmas gift and decided on a needle book eventually.

inside are felt pages for needles and pins etc.

hand painted fabric, devore, hand embroidery, layered.

Handmade Christmas Presents

I went out with some of my 'creative' friends last night and we exchanged gifts - handmade gifts of course. These are the goodies I got.

A knitted mug warmer with mug and decoration including hand made heart and embroidered button.  Also a chick and tag and cookie.

A handmade book with pockets for keeping bits and bobs.

A felted, layered Christmas tree

and a cute bone china brooch with a reindeer stamped on it

Lucky girl eh?

I'll show you what I gave tomorrow.