DIY Photo Wrapping Paper

Here is a quick and fun DIY Photo Wrapping Paper. Some homemade wrapping paper perfect for all those Project Handmade Christmas Presents.

The perfect wrapping paper for gifts for those doting, cheek-pinching grandparents. The only problem arises in them not wanting to tear the paper to open the presents.

This paper is so much fun AND it is unbelievably easy to make.

I used PicMonkey to create my main image.

Once you are in PicMonkey, you hover over the Design menu at the top. All of these canvas options will open up.

I used the 8x10 canvas.

Then I used my very "favoritist" (totally a word) feature in PicMonkey. The "Your Own" overlay options. Here you can overlay your own photos and images. I used this feature all the time. Last year I used it to make a grandparent gift. I made the grandmas Personalized Notepads.

I opened photo after photo. I changed sizes on some. I changed angles. I basically just slapped them all on there in collage type fashion.

Then I saved it to the computer. After I saved it, I opened it once again in PicMonkey. Then I changed the photo from color to black and white.

Once the image was saved, I saved it to a thumb drive and took myself over to Staples. I got an engineer print in 24"x36" for under $4.00.

Your wrapping paper will look a little something like this...with your own babies sweet faces all over it.

All that is left is to wrap up those grandparent presents up.

Then wait for the squeals of "oohs and ahhs". They will come. I promise.

Project Homemade Christmas Present: Baby Doll Basket {from MADE pattern}

This might be my favorite present that I made this year. I know I said that about my Avengers Hand Puppets too. A tough race going on here with Project Handmade Christmas Present.

Seriously though, between the fact that I hardly ever get to sew for girls AND how unbelievably cute this fox flannel is, I think this project just barely beat out the Avengers.

When I first saw the pattern for this Baby Doll Basket by Dana from MADE, I kind of died and it was one of those rare times that I was immediately a little sad there are no little girls around these here parts.

I was sad that I had no reason to buy the pattern.

Then I was all like, "Wait! Uh, I have nieces and it is almost Christmas!"

Then I did a happy jig.

Then I bought the pattern.

Be prepared, there is more jig dancing to follow.

I found the fox flannel and this pink houndstooth flannel at JoAnn's. More jigging done here. Yup, right there in the store.

I was a little nervous to start the project. While I am not a sewing novice, I am HORRIBLE at following patterns. They get me all anxious and my tummy goes all wackadoo. I seriously get so worried I am going to mess everything up...my lovely fabric in particular.

Oh, I was worried for nothing. Dana makes this pattern so clean and easy to follow. The pattern is easy to print and put together. The pictures that follow along with the written instruction are crisp and amazing (as her photos always are).

In no time, I had a finished project that made me clap and giggle...and yes do another jig. Cutest little Baby Doll Basket ever.

Before I shipped it off to one of my nieces, I wanted to snap some pictures of it. Surprise, surprise.

Funny thing. I don't really have any baby dolls at my house. That made taking pictures a little difficult. Upon searching, I found my old Cabbage Patch doll. Perfect. Oh wait, she has no clothes, and I figured it would be all new levels of crazy if I sewed this doll clothes just for a photo shoot.

Then I found the only real dolls we have around here. The plastic, muscled-out, not messing around, save the world type dolls.

He was not altogether pleased with the idea of going into a froo froo bed, not matter how comfortable I told him it was.

Then this sweet puppy volunteered.

He was feeling pretty tired and was really hoping for a cozy place to sleep.

So I tucked him in all cozy. Whispered, "good night" and then snapped some pictures.

Perfect. Thanks Puppy! (Look for a past Project Handmade Christmas Present starring this puppy HERE.)

I can't say enough about how awesome this pattern was. I am SO happy I bought it. I am excited to make more. Dana has done such a great job with this pattern and it is a great price. I highly recommend going and purchasing this. No one is paying me or reimbursing me to say this. I honestly just love it and think you all should own it.

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Project Homemade Christmas: Welcome Home Gift

Just over a week until Christmas. Eek. I promised myself I would wrap up all my Christmas projects by the 15th of December...

I am oh-so-close. I still have some super hero jammie pants to sew and my neighbor gifts to put together.

Are you guys all done with Christmas present getting/making? Do you need any last minute gifts? I am kind of loving this Welcome Home one.

I have a few brothers who just bought their first homes. So I thought it might be a good idea to give them a house related present.

Make a plain old wooden spoon and fork a little fancier with some paint.

I paired the new fancified serving utensils with some ever-so-lovely washrags from my very favorite store, Target. I can't handle how gorgeous their Threshold line is.

Then I went and swooned over this chunky knit pot holder. Sigh. Die. Love it.

Tied it all together with a scrap of lace and then added a hand-written tag. I wrote Wecome Home, but Merry Christmas would have worked too.

This doesn't have to be a gift just for a new home owner. This would be a lovely gift for any Goddess of the Kitchen...

...by the way, I totally think I should be called that from this day and all the days ever after (oh, oh name the movie...we haven't played that game in awhile).

Merry Christmas and happy present giving.

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Project Handmade Christmas Presents: Avengers Hand Puppets

Ridiculous.

It is ridiculous, how much I am in love with these puppets.

If you have been around here for a bit, you know I am a mom to all boys. Boys who are kind of obsessed with superheros.

I had the idea for these puppets over a year ago. Confession time...The Hulk and Ironman have actually been sitting on my sewing table waiting to be sewn for that year. No excuse, I just didn't follow through with my brain child.

Until now that is...

I finally got a set of Avengers Hand Puppets designed and sewn for this year's Project Handmade Christmas Presents.

I chose to make the main four Avengers.

Everyone's favorite soldier- Captain America

An Almighty God of Thunder- Thor

A genius billionaire turned superhero- Ironman

A gamma ray rage monster- The Hulk

I love each and every one of them. I just couldn't pick a favorite.

Okay maybe I can. These two might make me clap-my-hands-giggle kind of happy.

Thor and that cape. That hat. Goosh.

Captain America and those head wings. Those stars and stripes.

Okay, so here is the part where you can't be mad at me. I am not offering a free pattern for these puppets. My goal is to make this into a pattern to sell in the future.

So I am sorry for the little tease.

But look for a pattern soonish.

But I hope just seeing these makes you as happy as it does me.

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Project Handmade Christmas Gift {food}: Homade Wassail Mix

Growing up one of the things I loved most about Christmas was my mom's homemade wassail drink mix. I would scoop giant spoonfuls of wassail mix into steaming water.

Stir.
Stir.
Stir.

Then I would grasp my mug securely in my hands and I would happily slurp it on up. Yup. Slurp.

I pretty much had mug after mug all Christmas long. Every Christmas...well until I got married. Then for whatever reason the Homemade Wassail Mix went away.

Sniff.
Sniff.

A couple of times I would suddenly remember my fondness for wassail. One time I even remembered to call up my mom and ask for the recipe. My poor little world was turned upside down when she couldn't remember it and when she didn't know where her recipe was.

What is a girl to do? Well, she waits a few years, finds a recipe card hidden in her recipe box, and then shrieks like a 8 year old girl on Christmas morning opening a pony because...

...she is getting herself some wassail.

Yippee.

I tweaked the recipe. I heated the water. I added in my normal heaping spoonfuls.

Stir.
Stir.
Stir.

Cool it off just a bit.
  

Then I sip and slurp.

I love a warm cup of wassail.

Homemade Wassail Mix is great. It is super easy to make.

This mix is also the perfect neighbor/teacher/friend/coworker gift, which is why it is today's Project Handmade Christmas Gift post.

So you don't have to search and wonder, wonder and search (you know like I did), here is the recipe for my very favorite Homemade Wassail Mix. Mix some up for gifts. Mix some up for yourself.

Homemade Wassail Mix

1-20 oz container of Tang
1/3 cup Country Time Lemonade mix
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Combine all ingredients. 

Make sure every ingredient is evenly mixed in.

Dispense all the mix into mason jars (or any other type of container...I just happen to be obsessed with mason jars).

Decorate. Label. Add instructions. Add a scoop.

To make some for yourself all you need to do is add 2 Tablespoon scoops to hot 8 oz water. I might make just a bit more than that. I like my wassail people.

I hope you enjoy. I hope your neighbor enjoys. I hope it is a Wassail-tastic Christmas for you all.

Merry Christmas!!

Happy gift giving!

Project Handmade Christmas Presents: Only Date Crime Fighters Tee

Welcome to the first post of Project Handmade Christmas Presents 2013.

I am kind of geeking out about this present. I love making fun and creative t-shirts for presents. Heck, I like making t-shirts for pretty much everything.

I have wanted to make a shirt like this since I made Little's Batman Shirt. On the same site that inspired the Batman Shirt, I saw a shirt similar to this one. Right when I saw it, I knew someone who would love, love, love it.

I knew I needed to find a way to recreate it for my crime fighter loving friend.

So recreate it I did.

Making the shirt was super easy. I only had one hiccup...

Trying to find a baseball tee in the winter, well that took some fancy footwork and a very helpful store worker. They actually found one for me in the back. Let me be clear...he got one for me that had already been put in storage.

Best. Store. Ever.

Anywho...

I got the shirt. I got my vinyl (Expressions Vinyl). I drew a spider image. I scanned it in. Opened it in PicMonkey. Added some text. Then I imported the saved image in my Silhouette software. I cut it out. I ironed on the heat transfer vinyl.

Ba-BAM!

Now my friend can declare it to the world the caliber of men she will date.

I think every girl single girl should own one.

I am more than just a little excited to send this to her...

Like clap my hands and giggle excited.

Yeah, I am a nerd.

Come back tomorrow for a food Project Handmade Christmas Present. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you have a hint at what is coming!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Project Handmade Christmas Presents: Rice Hand Warmers

We are winding down. Christmas is swiftly approaching. My Little Men are excitedly counting down one candy at a time from our advent. Middle happily crosses off each day from his homemade calendar that hangs on our refrigerator.

 

My last several little handmade gifts are done. Did you notice I didn't say the big gifts are done? 

Ugh, let's change the subject...

Today for Project Handmade Christmas Presents, I made these simple rice hand warmers for the Grandpas. 

I used the oh-so-wonderful Vanessa's (you know from V&Co) tutorial found HERE.

I also thought it might be nice to make a little bag to hold the hand warmers in.

I turned a tea towel into two tiny drawstring bags. I painted their Grandpa names on the front.

Now the little hand warmers have a place to live when they aren't keeping our Grandpas hands toasty warm.

You know what they say, warm hands, warm heart.

Our Grandpas have the warmest hearts, so of course they need the warmest hands.

Project Handmade Christmas Presents: Personalized Notepads Part 2

I got a lot of positive feedback about PART 1 of the Personalized Notepad tutorial. I am glad that you guys were able to follow along with my tutorial and I am excited that so many of you have already made the template for your notepad page.

Now that you have your template made from the PART 1 TUTORIAL, this next step is the easy part.

You will insert your jpeg image into a Word type document on a landscape oriented page. Once you have one image on the page, you will most likely have to make your image a tad smaller in order to make two notepad pages fit on one page. Copy the smaller image and paste it right next to the first.

Print of how many you want, I recommend printing off anywhere from 20 to 40 pages. That will give you 40 to 80 notepad pages.

Use a paper cutter to evenly cut down the pages. My cut pages measured 7" by 5".

Cut out all your pages. You will have a stack of notepad pages.

Gather some small binder clips.

You will also need rubber cement.

Oh and you will want a cereal box too.

 With your stack of notepad pages in hand...

Cut out cardboard backs for each notepad measuring 7" by 5".

Stack all the paper evenly on top of each other and then add the cardboard to the back. Clip securely in place at all the corners on the side edges.

Set them up on top of something, like an upside down cup. And I recommend laying down newspaper because the rubber cement might drip. Liberally brush the top edge with rubber cement. Make sure to coat it evenly, catching every page. Coat several times.

Let the pads set out and dry over night, until the top is barely, if not at all, tacky to the touch.

Remove the clips and admire your handy work.

Sharpen a couple of pencils and add some washi tape to the top.

Tie with bow.

Easy peasy and all done!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy gift making and gift giving.