Green Christmas Presents

[unapam]

My sister asked me to make her something for Christmas instead of a shop bought item. She has caught the "green" bug from me (see? nagging DOES work!)

She wanted something recylced or repurposed and for me to give the money saved to Chernobyl Children's Charity instead of the shops. I think it is a fabulous idea! Anyone want to join me in making Christmas pressies this year?

What you do is make a small gift and give it and the receipt for the donation to the recipient on Christmas Day. You still spend the same amount, but it ismuch better spent on the children of Chernobyl and your friend or relative receives a thoughtful gift as well (not to mention it is "green" and it cuts out the madness and stress of battling in crowds during the silly season)

I will be showing and telling as I get the items finished. Those jars and painted bottles are ideal for this too. I also have some lovely ideas for "green" gift wrapping that I will be showing you.
Does anyone have ideas for things we could make? C'mon everybody, let's have a Green Christmas...

...So I hereby launch the Chernobyl Children/Christmas Gift Challenge!

UPdate:
This is a cushion cover I made for my sister. The fabric came from a book of swatches from a furnishing shop. I tied a chiffon scarf (Chanel logo) from a charity shop and finished it off with a vintage brooch also from the same charity shop. The scarf and brooch are removable to be worn if she likes.

Update: Here are more of the decorations and gifts I made for Christmas. The rag doll is a dog toy for my little dog who just hates the vet. I will be adding more photos of the items I made today and the Christmas cards I have just started on. I have not done any Christmas shopping so far this year! I spend the time saved crafting.

UPdate: I have added more pictures showing the cushions and lingerie cases I made from a book of fabric samples from a furnishings shop. Most of the fabric is swatches of handmade silk and would be very expensive to buy by the yard. (I have added photos of the fabric swatches still in the sample books)
The small squares are lavender pilllows made from Maxi's vintage fabric she gave me a while ago. They are filled with dried lavender heads harvested from my neighbours garden. These smell divine and are perfect to put into a drawer to infuse your garments with a scent of lavender.

Update: These are the Christmas cards I made using scrap fabric (again from the lovely fabric Maxi gave me on JT recently) The words and patterns I stitched using the embroidery function on my sewing machine.

Bibi just sent me a box of trimmimgs and vintage fabrics and I will be doing a "before and after" project and posting pictures. UPDATE: I have added photos of the bits and bobs Bibi sent me and I made a nightdress case from a vintage lacy chair back and trimmings from this lot. Thanks Bibi. I'm working on the roses ladies handkerchief now...it is going to be a lavender sachet.

[ghendy]

This is a lovely idea as we all spend money on presents that most people don't want or need. And with so many great items offered on Jumbletown , there is no shortage of raw materials! Will have to put my thinking cap on and come up with a few ideas. One idea is a bird table which can be made with just a few bits of wood and can be as simple or as fancy as your talents allow. It also helps the birds through the winter. Happy present making !!! Looking forward to seeing your ideas!

[VOL]

A few years ago I gave my family little photo albums. They were purchased albums with Mother, Father and sister on them but you could make your own using a scrapbook or something. It's the contents that matter. I went through the old family albums and picked out photos that were significant to each person and they went down very well.

[unapam]

Here is a link I found to making a simple bird table.


http://www.overthegardengate.net/wildlife/projects/birdtble.asp

Also Birdwatch Ireland site have a selection of simple, easy to make bird tables.

[unapam]

A few years ago I gave my family little photo albums. They were purchased albums with Mother, Father and sister on them but you could make your own using a scrapbook or something. It's the contents that matter. I went through the old family albums and picked out photos that were significant to each person and they went down very well.

Great idea! I am definately going to try that.
My friend is making a family tree for her father for Christmas. What a lovely present to receive.

[emmaj]

Not a 'completely' free idea unless you already have lots of garden things but a great idea is to pot up some bulbs e.g. tulips or daffs and decorate some pots and give them as a gift which will flower in spring.

[happiness]

my mother in law used to make her own christmas crackers ,from bits of toys that kids got from luckybags .and use the toilet roll (used) and put inside it and wrap it.also a friend o mine decorate her tree.it called a tree of memories,
so for an example a soother was put on the tree to represent the child that used to have it ,then may be other bits but it all got to do with memories on the tree instead of baubles .i think it was an unusual but lovely idea.
i always make my own xmas wreathes for the door and then put it on a loved one grave afterwards so it gets used twice .
mags

[bluecurlygirl]

I decorate my tree with strings of popcorn and oranges studded with cloves (works as an air freshner too). I do still have tinsel though (sorry hard to part with some things!) For christmas wrapping paper, brown paper, spud with shape cut out of it (star, tree, heart) and using some spare paint stamp it all over, bit of ribbon of a box of chocolates you got (I always keep them - bit of a hoarder) and it's beautiful. Will try and think of more ideas but I'm definitely up for this one. Great idea.

[bluecurlygirl]

Unapam, you've just renovated a house, you're doing trojan work laying a floor. Where on earth are you going to get time to make something for your sister for Christmas. Tell you what I'll hand make a card that you can give to her if you like?

[unapam]

Unapam, you've just renovated a house, you're doing trojan work laying a floor. Where on earth are you going to get time to make something for your sister for Christmas. Tell you what I'll hand make a card that you can give to her if you like?

I have it made already! I just haven't had time to photo and post it on here! I will post it though (in the fullness of time)... and - a hand made card from you would be great (she makes them too - so would love it) Isn't this fun???? It's called ...livin' life to the full!

[unapam]

Those are awsome ideas! I am going to use them...fabulous! Thanks...Keep 'em comin'

[bluecurlygirl]

Livin life to the full indeed. You're an inspiration. PM me your address and I'll get one done up for you shortly and send it on. Actually I've about 70 cards left over from Christmas last year that I didn't get round to selling so I could email you some photos of them & you could see if any of those suit. Alternatively let me know what kind of person your sis is and I could see if I can make one just to suit her.

[Jenc]

Sorry saw this and such a brilliant post, UnaPam I wish I had your energy for just one day and I'd get so much done. We're making pressies this year too instead of shop bought, I know I'm getting jam and chutney from my sister and my nieces and newphews are making me "pasta pictures" (uncooked of course) for my kitchen and I'm making candles for all my family. (made from old candles I don't like melted down and remoulded).

A great wrapping paper idea is newspaper! Sounds boring and not very Christmasie but I got a present before wrapped in newspaper and it looked cool. Music sheets also looks cool and also you can make your own paper. pretty easy to do but quite time/space consuming as you have to dry it out flat.

[unapam]

Sorry saw this and such a brilliant post, UnaPam I wish I had your energy for just one day and I'd get so much done. We're making pressies this year too instead of shop bought, I know I'm getting jam and chutney from my sister and my nieces and newphews are making me "pasta pictures" (uncooked of course) for my kitchen and I'm making candles for all my family. (made from old candles I don't like melted down and remoulded).

A great wrapping paper idea is newspaper! Sounds boring and not very Christmasie but I got a present before wrapped in newspaper and it looked cool. Music sheets also looks cool and also you can make your own paper. pretty easy to do but quite time/space consuming as you have to dry it out flat.

I have seen the pink Financial Times used as wrapping paper with a black bow and it looks great! I have used old music sheets for wrapping and it works really well too. Great ideas you have for pressies!

[biker chick]

Great ideas guys...my 5yr old is extreemly arty crafty & is forever cutting glueing & painting & whenever its one of her school friends birthdays she get busy making their personal birthday cards as the ones in the shops are soooo expensive especially since there are 23 birthday parties a year for her to attend to & her friends love them that some of them also make their own cards now.....with christmas not far away she gets busy with family members & friends rounding up all different bits of paper,magazines(which she cuts out different bits & pieces to put on to her cards)old buttons,wool & anything that she thinks would look nice on her cards & everyone loves them .....

[CleoCy]

We have been doing something similar, now, for about 10 years. We restrict the amount we spend on each other - just the 2 of us - to no more than euro50. the residue of what we would have spent is sent to charities we support. Also, we stopped buying and sending cards. Instead, for family and friends abroad, we buy items from charities - such as an Ambulance, one year, or making it specific to the recipient - measles inoculation, for a new baby, plant trees, for our farmer friends, and so on. We do like the idea of making presents, though. This would work very well, and gets back to the old ways of celebrating this mid-winter festival.

Glass jars can be painted with special paints, and used with night lights, as little Christmas lanterns. It is simple to cut open eggs - or blow them - and decorate them as baubles. Make your own, very luxury, chocolates - lots of recipes on the web. I had a friend who used to make shopping bags out of glossy magazines, but I have never been able to find instructions for this. Any ideas? They were woven, in some fashion.

We now grow our own trees - beech, oak and other natives - from seed. These make excellent presents for our local friends, and they contribute to greening the land! If you know anyone with a horse or horses, make compost - this is always a great present for gardeners!

[tasmin]

just wondering if i could pick ur brain for some ideas

its our 17th wedding anniversary on the 11th oct, and i've been speaking to my hubby about presents...normally we get stuff we either wouldnt buy for ourselves or useless things that get put away and never seen again.

anyway, i suggested that we make something for each other rather than buying something...and hes reluctantly agreed :-) it would be easier for him to go into a shop and buy something :-|

but i'm at a total loss as to what to do.

was thinking of a tree maybe, but wouldnt know where to start.

any ideas from u or any of the other jumbletowners would be grately appricated.

all the best,

tasmin

[unapam]

Hi, maybe you could make something together. Depends really on what your talents or skills are...a simple bird table for the garden or mix a bit of cement and press your hands into it ala Hollywood and carve the date and when it is dry you can make a garden feature of it in a flower bed. We did this when our children were babies and it is still perfect and a feature in our back garden 21 years later.

[tasmin]

great idea!!!!!!!!!!


i love the idea of the cement and handprints.

thanks unapam!


all the best,
have a nice day.


tasmin

[erica]

Hi, maybe you could make something together. Depends really on what your talents or skills are...a simple bird table for the garden or mix a bit of cement and press your hands into it ala Hollywood and carve the date and when it is dry you can make a garden feature of it in a flower bed. We did this when our children were babies and it is still perfect and a feature in our back garden 21 years later.

That's a brilliant idea! What did u use to put the cement in to set?

[paprika]

There are some really good ideas i liked on this page:
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/

[bluecurlygirl]

Excellent website paprika. The person who was wondering about how to make shopping bags should check this out.

[SadD]

I'm going to let all you jumbletowners in on my little secret for gift giving. I get most of my inspiration for crafting gifts for friends and family members from this amazing website:
www.etsy.com
It has something for everyone - I love it!

[unapam]

That's a brilliant idea! What did u use to put the cement in to set?
Hi Erica, sorry for delay in answering your query. We were laying foundations for a swing for the children and had dug a hole for each leg. We got them to put their prints into one of these and when we were getting rid of the swing we just kept that one. cheers...Pam

[Bunty]

Really brill. site paprika, well worth sharing.

[durran]

Last Christmas I didn't want to waste money on wrapping paper so my daughter designed some Christmas bags. Just using permanent markers and Aldi bags.

[BillieT]

Lovely idea with the bags Durran. I went to the afters of a wedding last year, and I had bought kitchen stuff as a present. I wrapped it with new tea towels. Several guests mentioned it later and said they were gonna do that next time.
Cool eh? wrapping paper that you can dry your dishes with.

[unapam]

Last Christmas I didn't want to waste money on wrapping paper so my daughter designed some Christmas bags. Just using permanent markers and Aldi bags.

What a great idea that is. Well done! and the one for the teatowel wrapping is wonderful. We are all thinking outside the box!

[bluecurlygirl]

I have a huge selection of rubber stamps and last year all my wrapping paper was brown paper stamped with trees/stars/snowmen/reindeer etc. It looked really good with a bit of ribbon (i hoard ribbon from boxes of chocolates & get friends/colleagues to keep them for me too!)

[magiceight]

Check out http://www.craftster.org/

All the ideas you'll ever need, and they even have a whole section on repurposing & recycled crafts :D

[magiceight]

I think these are brilliant, I'd much rather get a pressie with one of these on it than the shop bought ones. I'd say they'd be easy enough to make if you unravelled a shop bought one and had a look at how to fold it.



http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12945480

[unapam]

Original post updated with new pictures...more to come.

[shonastar]

As always Unapam, your work is absolutely amazing, love the photos! The Christmas cards are beautiful and should be treasured for years to come xx

[Elnr83]

Hey,

I got the idea from Unapam to make my own Christmas presents this year.

First one is finished and I have 14 left. This one is going out in the post to my nephew in New Zealand today!

[gillo]

What a cool looking cushion! Well done to you. I'm sure he will love it

[unapam]

Just fantastic! He is going to love it.

[wendywii]

Unapam and bluecurlygirl, here's one you might like:
www.alenkasprintables.com.
Click on the free printables tab - some lovely ideas (teabag envelopes, candywrappers, cocoa envelopes etc.) Lovely!!

[bluecurlygirl]

Well done Elnr83 - wish I was talented with a needle & thread! It looks stunning and I'm sure Adam will be delighted.

[bluecurlygirl]

Anyone thinking of maybe giving someone some home-made biscuits for Christmas - here's a link to some lovely recipes. It's just a lovely website anyway. I love the little bird that flies across the page when you open the website!
http://susanbranch.cmail2.com/l/568901/34te1ii/y

Recipe for a happy christmas:
Fill a house with equal parts of love, hope and peace.
Add the joy of children & the strength of older people
Season with the music of laughter and mistletoe kisses
Warm before a crackling fire and serve with tidings of comfort and joy!

(Nicked from the susan branch website!)

[Elnr83]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I'm really not that talented with a needle and thread! It's more the time it takes than skill :)

Love the recipe for a good christmas :)

[unapam]

I am bumping this up for Jpmum who is looking for ideas for handmade presents for Christmas this year.

[elbo]

I was given this lovely Christmas decoration.
Its made from Cinnemon, Wallnuts, Anniseed, Straw.

It was bought in a Christmas Market in Germany, but I am sure it would be quite simple to make.

[Chris P]

Bump for Christmas 2010...

Some great ideas here.