Handmade Gifts

Hey everyone!  How is 2014 treating you so far?  I'm trying very hard to stick to my one little word, Simplify, as I've been gradually re-dressing our home after Christmas.  So far, so good, but I'm not ready to share any of that just yet.  What I wanted to share today are a couple of gifts that I made for our youngest granddaughters for Christmas.  Obviously I couldn't share them before because their parents both look at my blog!

The first was an idea I got HERE @This Mama Makes Stuff.  Our Little Miss is five, in kindergarten, very quick to catch on to things, & loves to do arts and crafts.  So, when I saw these scrap fabric paper dolls, it seemed like the perfect gift for her.

This is what the scrap fabric paper dolls will look like.  I had to do a sample but keep it very simple for our little five year old.

These are the things I had to buy -- a carrying case, colored pencils (or crayons), glue stick, the little yarns (just because I thought they were so cute) & scissors (lefties for our Little Miss).  Everything else I needed I would print from the computer & dig up from my own stash of supplies.

Kids & poodles & cats, oh my!  These are all available for Free download at the above link.  I printed quite a few onto cardstock.  Since Little Miss is only five, I went ahead and cut these all out.

I found this cool carrying case at JoAnn's (used a coupon, of course) & it was perfect.

I decorated the top with colored pens.

The top section is partitioned off, so this is where I stashed the little yarns, some laces, 

pompoms, etc.

The lower section has a removable tray which holds the glue stick, colored pencils & scissors.

This large section I filled with lots of scraps of fabric in different sizes, pieces of ribbon,

and this little box filled with lots of buttons.

I placed all of the paper dolls on top of the fabric with the sample on top.  I cannot believe I didn't get a pic of Little Miss when she opened this on Christmas Eve, but she loved it.  We sat together on Christmas Eve and dressed one of the dolls.  Her mommy tells me she has spent hours at a time playing with these over the Christmas break, and it has really helped improve her scissor-skills.  I think Nana better print and cut out more dolls!

This little apron was a gift I made for Littlest Miss.  I ran across this idea years ago in a very old craft  book but had never taken the time to make it before.  I thought I had taken some photos of my process, but haven't been able to find them......oh, well!

I had everything already in my stash except for the jumbo red rickrack.  I drew up my own pattern for the apron from the book photo and then created patterns for the little animals, making them much bigger than what the pattern called for.  Littlest Miss is almost three and loves babies -- dollies or animals, it doesn't matter.  I'm sure those big apron pockets will get filled with all kinds of "stuff!"

I loved making these things, and loved even more seeing the excitement on the faces of my little sweets when they opened them.  "Handmade by Nana" is a good thing!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope 2014 is a blessed year for all of us.  See ya next time!

I love to party with these fine bloggers:

The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Karen at Sew Many Ways for Sew Darn Crafty

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired

Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday

Angela at Hickory Trail for Efforts and Assets

Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe for Live Laugh Linky Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Oh, The Places I've Been

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading