Reveal of the Handmade Gifts 2015

We had a wonderful holiday but goodness did we stretch it out! We seem to do that every year as the best time for all of my family to get together is New Year’s Day so that is what we do. Like previous years there was a mix of handmade and store bought gifts and every single gift is appreciated. I know in some families there is this weird thing where store bought is thought to be better and handmade is looked down upon AND in some families, there is this weird thing where handmade is thought to be better and store bought is looked down upon. In our family, as gift is a gift and the gift and the giver are appreciated. 

Here is why I say that, recently someone asked if we made ALL our gifts… and they were somewhat disappointed when I said “no”. Some people don’t really need (or want) our handmade gifts, and the reason to give a gift is to bless the receiver, so we don’t give them handmade gifts. When our intention is to bless others, it’s not a big deal if they don’t want or need a handmade gift. 

But we do like making, giving and receiving handmade gifts and I really like to highlight them each year to help give others ideas for the future. So, without further delay here are the handmades of 2015. 

Benjamin made 3-D Tic Tac Toe boards. Oh gosh, these are so fun, especially with 3 players. I’ll have a tutorial later this month on how to make your own. 

Esther made card holders for each family. I just love these! They make playing cards with little ones a breeze -since they can finally see all their cards. Carl cut wood from a pallet for her and then ran it through a table saw on an angle to cut the notches to hold the cards. Esther sanded and stamped them using acrylic paint and stamps that Carl made from some corks. 

Phoebe also used a pallet to make her project. She did string art and made everyone a cross to match their homes. I love the way she wove the string in the middle. I took some photos and will have a tutorial next month on how to make them. 

And, of course, we made matching cousins pj’s. 

My sister, Michelle from Ruby Mozelle’s Quilt Studio, made bowl cozies for my children. These are super cool because the keep you from getting burned when you take a glass bowl out of the microwave. 

Michelle also made me a casserole carrier – which I’m so glad for. I’ve been hinting that I wanted one since I first saw them. 

Our niece made everyone a snowman Christmas ornament with buttons and pipe cleaners! They are so stinkin’ cute. I’m not sure I’m going to let my children have theirs when they grow up and move out. I really like the snowman ornament family we have going on right now. 

Carl and I made some rope baskets (ok, I made them) but WE put some spice blends that we made from herbs we grew in some of the baskets. In one of the baskets we put tea blends and smoothie add ins, like kale powder and moringa powder, that we made from herbs we grew. 

We also received some mint chocolate creamer and some pumpkin spice creamer and Phoebe received some very emollient foot lotion from my other sister. 

By the way, our Etsy shop has been re-opened and we’ll be adding some fun spring item to it soon. 

So, what were some of your handmade gifts this Christmas? 

Thanks for sharing with your friends!