Christmas In July

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gaylejackson2
Posts: 3172
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:13 pm
Location: Utah

Re: Christmas In July

Post by gaylejackson2 »

I think that I will make some of Jackie's soup bowl holders (fabric covers that you put a bowl in into the microwave, so you don't have to hunt up a pot-holder) for one brother's family; perhaps some for my family too. I'll finish an afghan for another brother & (hopefully) knit a hat & scarf set from leftover yarn.

For a few years, I've been hoping to make new Christmas stockings for my family - it was to have been one of my summer projects this year, guess who forgot. :D I think I can still do this however, using the string piecing quilting technique, but instead of using a block of fabric, I'll use a large stocking shape. (String piecing tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ02NM9-USw)

I'm considering making doll clothes for my little girls, and maybe make each girl a tiny cloth doll houses -- I have seen some really cute ones. I certainly have enough fabric... and I could knit them hats too.

Sounds like I should have started this in January! :lol:
2dogs+someCats
Posts: 845
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:46 pm

Re: Christmas In July

Post by 2dogs+someCats »

I am making 3 of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrDEtAaX5yw

One each for my son and daughter-in-law, daughter and her S.O., and my parents - they will be "couple gifts". I am tucking gift cards and some scratch off tickets in each one and Christmas is DONE (other than getting some goodies for my dogs and a simple gift for the kiddo in the $20 or less range).

I know I might sound "cheap" or like I don't want to be bothered - I promise you that isn't the case. ALL of the above gift recipients have everything they want/need (at least would be within my budget) and are hard to buy for -- for various reasons.

So - instead of spending time stressing and searching out "perfect gifts", I am going with an easy solution - and they all like and need the gift cards:

Son and Daughter-in-Law love to go out to eat but sometimes comment that they probably "shouldn't spend so much doing that" - so they will get a $50 restaurant gift card.

Daughter and her S.O. both work hard at low paying jobs - so a $50 gift card to a nice grocery store in their area for them.

Parents will get a $50 gift card to Dollar General. They have a lot of expenses for their "little farm" - cat and dog food, etc. and will probably use it for that - it is up to them.

Adding some scratch off tickets to each one - just for fun.

I love a nice, simple holiday. I got rid of my big 7-foot, pre-lit tree and will be looking for something about 4 feet tall. My holiday baking and cooking will be kept to a minimum - I am thinking a nice breakfast casserole to share with my parents and some cookies. We will see.
rinty
Posts: 1919
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:54 am

Re: Christmas In July

Post by rinty »

gaylejackson2 wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:07 am I think that I will make some of Jackie's soup bowl holders (fabric covers that you put a bowl in into the microwave, so you don't have to hunt up a pot-holder) for one brother's family; perhaps some for my family too. I'll finish an afghan for another brother & (hopefully) knit a hat & scarf set from leftover yarn.

For a few years, I've been hoping to make new Christmas stockings for my family - it was to have been one of my summer projects this year, guess who forgot. :D I think I can still do this however, using the string piecing quilting technique, but instead of using a block of fabric, I'll use a large stocking shape. (String piecing tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ02NM9-USw)

I'm considering making doll clothes for my little girls, and maybe make each girl a tiny cloth doll houses -- I have seen some really cute ones. I certainly have enough fabric... and I could knit them hats too.

Sounds like I should have started this in January! :lol:
Gayle, hand made dolls clothes would be gorgeous.............the idea of tiny cloth doll houses sounds lovely too, I have never heard of them, Might go off and do a google search !
rinty
Posts: 1919
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:54 am

Re: Christmas In July

Post by rinty »

2dogs+someCats wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 11:47 am I am making 3 of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrDEtAaX5yw

One each for my son and daughter-in-law, daughter and her S.O., and my parents - they will be "couple gifts". I am tucking gift cards and some scratch off tickets in each one and Christmas is DONE (other than getting some goodies for my dogs and a simple gift for the kiddo in the $20 or less range).

I know I might sound "cheap" or like I don't want to be bothered - I promise you that isn't the case. ALL of the above gift recipients have everything they want/need (at least would be within my budget) and are hard to buy for -- for various reasons.

So - instead of spending time stressing and searching out "perfect gifts", I am going with an easy solution - and they all like and need the gift cards:

Son and Daughter-in-Law love to go out to eat but sometimes comment that they probably "shouldn't spend so much doing that" - so they will get a $50 restaurant gift card.

Daughter and her S.O. both work hard at low paying jobs - so a $50 gift card to a nice grocery store in their area for them.

Parents will get a $50 gift card to Dollar General. They have a lot of expenses for their "little farm" - cat and dog food, etc. and will probably use it for that - it is up to them.

Adding some scratch off tickets to each one - just for fun.

I love a nice, simple holiday. I got rid of my big 7-foot, pre-lit tree and will be looking for something about 4 feet tall. My holiday baking and cooking will be kept to a minimum - I am thinking a nice breakfast casserole to share with my parents and some cookies. We will see.
Sheila I think you have it right gift wise. Personally I LOVE the cooking/baking aspect and wouldn't cut that down and I do like me Christmas DECOR :) ( but its a nice small by US standards 3 bed and I chucked away crates worth of DECOR last year finally accepting we have DOWNSIZED and there just ain't room anymore.

I do Practical Décor up to a point. I love using Christmas bedlinen/towels/dishtowels and all the pictures in the house are either gift wrapped and replaced on the wall ............LOOKS REALLY GOOD and the cost in minimal.......just gift wrap and ribbon. And all the framed photos are replaced with Christmas photos...............which is a lovely family memory thing with folk that have passed on and even old Olan Mills cheesy Family at Christmas ones when the kids were small.

If it were my choice I would def do what you have done, that Dollar Store angel is cute...........Katieowl did a version where she made a rabbit and called it a Dust Bunnie.........they were very clever.

The gift cards and fun addition of a couple of scratch cards is perfect......and its what they actually WANT, not just "stuff".

WE have got a further £60 in vouchers for FREE for Christmas.............£50 amazon vouchers from our electricity provider and £10 from a catalogue shop where we bought a new mattress.

We have a lot of " have to" gifts to get........... Tom seems to have a million carers/day service helpers etc. I got them all a Starbucks gift card bought buying for everyone ( and you have to ) ran to around £100 !!!!!!

My friend has 5 kids like we do and grandchildren. She now presents the parents with the fact that the family budget is £100. Do they want it all spent on the grandkids, a family gift, what ? One year she got an end of year sale DEAL from a big shop that does camping gear............you got a tent/sleeping bags family size for £100. Another year SHE made the decision again when the grandkids were babies and bought them tumble driers.

If I am honest I know longer enjoy gift giving at all. The kids all earn good money and don't need us straining our budget to buy them something highend they could buy themselves. Also now there are 8 DGKs its the same thing. My choice would be to give their parenst money to buy that big Toy o' THeir Choice rather than me search out some over priced tat tahst within the budget.
gaylejackson2
Posts: 3172
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:13 pm
Location: Utah

Re: Christmas In July

Post by gaylejackson2 »

rinty wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:43 pm
gaylejackson2 wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:07 am I think that I will make some of Jackie's soup bowl holders (fabric covers that you put a bowl in into the microwave, so you don't have to hunt up a pot-holder) for one brother's family; perhaps some for my family too. I'll finish an afghan for another brother & (hopefully) knit a hat & scarf set from leftover yarn.

For a few years, I've been hoping to make new Christmas stockings for my family - it was to have been one of my summer projects this year, guess who forgot. :D I think I can still do this however, using the string piecing quilting technique, but instead of using a block of fabric, I'll use a large stocking shape. (String piecing tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ02NM9-USw)

I'm considering making doll clothes for my little girls, and maybe make each girl a tiny cloth doll houses -- I have seen some really cute ones. I certainly have enough fabric... and I could knit them hats too.

Sounds like I should have started this in January! :lol:
Gayle, hand made dolls clothes would be gorgeous.............the idea of tiny cloth doll houses sounds lovely too, I have never heard of them, Might go off and do a google search !
Rinty,

This is like the cloth doll houses I’ve seen around. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/?tutorial ... obile-home
Last edited by gaylejackson2 on Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
gaylejackson2
Posts: 3172
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:13 pm
Location: Utah

Re: Christmas In July

Post by gaylejackson2 »

This is another idea, Rinty, though technically not a dollhouse but a book. https://youtu.be/x0i_KC_Lt6U
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