Specials Gift: November 2006

42. Magnets

MATERIALS

FOR THE GARDENER

print out downloadable artwork from HP.com
trim the images out, leaving 1/4 inch boarder
peal off adhesive backing from magnetic sheet & adhere the trimmed images to the sheet
trim magnetic sheet to size
if you like, seal the image with sticky-back sheet laminate.

FOR THE WORDSMITH
You can create your own magnetic poetry

write or print out a list of words
adhere the list to the magnetic sheet
cut the words/magnet to size

FOR THE FISHING ENTHUSIAST

print out downloadable artwork from HP.com and follow instructions.

FOR THE COMIC BOOK AFICIONADO

print out the downloadable art:
- Icons & words (PDF)
- Balloons (PDF)
- Frames (PDF)
- Scenes (PDF)
Adhere prints to magnetic sheet & cut out

Be it a birthday or any other special occasion, a toy is a tempting gift for all kids. Its cute watching a child role playing her mother or teacher whilst cuddling a doll or teddy bear like a baby. The toys are their comapanions in every game they play and any place they stay. The mesmerised expression on their faces when they enter a huge toy shop like Toys R Us makes any parent's heart melt with love and joy. Want to know which toys are on your child's hot list? Here it goes:

Air Blaster - A gun that shoots powerful 'ball of air' up to 20 feet and won't hurt at all. It is good for young kids who love to play 'policemen' and you can be sure that they won't get hurt.

Battery Operated Christmas Toys - Dolls that dance and giggle, pigs and dogs in bright colors that wiggle their tales and snort or bark, what more can a kid want?

Bobble Head Doll - The best thing about these dolls is that they can be personalized easily. All you have to do is insert your child's photo inside the bobble.

Flying Disk - A flying disk that can be inflated with helium or air is always fun and a great Christmas toy for those kids who love outdoor games.

Puzzle Track Cars Set - These car sets have track pieces that can be assembled in various configurations and keep kids busy for hours. They figure out how to join these track pieces together to run their cars and enjoy the challenge of thinking of a new way to rearrange these pieces.

Elmo TMX- Mattel's much-loved Elmo has been given a makeover. This doll features on every child's wish list. So why not fulfill that impending wish of theirs?

Interactive Clubhouse Playset- The kids can settle down with Mickey and his friends to play in their clubhouse kitchen and computer room and learn lots of fun things.

Hasbro Baby Alive Doll – Perfect little toy which "eats" and "poops" just like a real baby! She's ready to play, laugh and talk, and you'll love taking care of her.

Radio Flyer Classic Rock and Bounce Pony - Even the littlest riders can dream of their big race on this quite rocking and bouncy pony with no pinch joints. Patented rubber bounce suspension provides a safe ride.

Curious George Ticke and Giggle Doll - This 14" plush Curious George has a secret tickle spot - and George will laugh himself silly once you find it.

Make sure to surprise your little one with these wonder toys on his birthday adding a special note which says: 'Sugar and Spice and all things nice, thats what you brought into our life, so here is a little prize to make you realise how priceless you truly are. Happy Birthday'

41. Fabulously Funky Coasters

MATERIALS

Downloadable Art

INSTRUCTIONS

Go to the File menu and select Print. Load the cardstock into the printer, following the printer's directions. Print the coaster sheet.
Cut out the coasters.
Glue each coaster to a piece of cork backing using craft glue.
Let the coasters dry, then spray each one with a paper protectant.

You can also design your own coasters.
Print the images in color, trim around the edges, laminate or coat them to protect from spills, and add a cork bottom.

Source: Microsoft.com

40. Photo Calendar

MATERIALS

Downloadable art

INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the instructions provided by HP to insert your own photo, if you like.
download and print calendar pages.

Other Calendar Designs

Source: HP.com

Birthday Gifts For Best Friend

Nothing can define the bond of friendship. Close your eyes and think of those comforting moments spent with your best friend, a person you trust more than anybody in this world and who reads you like the back of his hand. Those mischievious pranks, long hours spent by him/her in the detention room only to save you from getting caught, loads of advice, help and support, or should I say a journey from laughter to tears and then again to laughter and cheers; can there be anything more to wish for? Yes, a blessing from heaven to make this friendship last forever and a simple prayer to keep him/her miles away from harm's way. Take a look at the list below and turn your best friend's birthday into a beautiful dream come true.

For the wine lover- You can have wine bottles personalized to show how much you care. Or, consider a personalized engraved bottle of champagne and toasting glasses.

For the book lover- Buy a gift-card from your local bookstore and make a bookmark. Buy some books as well depending on what your friend loves to read. '500 Reasons on why you are my best friend', 'The Best of Friends, Profiles of extraordinary friendships' are other excellent options.

For the music lover- Make up a CD of #1 songs from the year they were born up to now — you can even theme it: #1 Disco Songs, #1 Heavy Metal Songs, etc. Add in a gift certificate to an online music-downloading site, and they're sure to do a little jig!

Spa Treatment- Purchase a sturdy cosmetic bag and add all the fixings for a do-it-yourself spa- hand cream, body lotion, scented oils, face mask, manicure set. Also fix an appointment at the best spa in town and make sure they pamper her like a baby.

Create a "Memory Lane" scrapbook highlighting your friendship through copies of pictures from photo albums, friendship poems and cute messages. You can also buy this Best Friends Wooden Photo Frame ($19) to add a final touch of tender emotion.

For the nature-lover- Go for a hike at your nearest conservation area; take a picnic basket along and enjoy an afternoon of fun and reminiscing.

For the golfer- Buy golf kits and accessories for that sport crazy friend of yours and surprise him.

For the Art lover- Select reproductions of the finest museum replicas including jewelry, fossils, art, statues and sculpture masterpieces. Visit the Museum Store online for a fascinating collection of ancient, classical and modern art, figures from Greece or China and other awesome figurines.

For the sports fan- Buy a pair of tickets to a local sporting event in your area (perhaps when your friend's favorite team is playing) and spend an afternoon or evening together.

For the fashion lover- Trendy shoes, boots, crystal earrings, sterling silver jewelery, handbags and ofcourse, make up kits.

These unique and thoughtful gift ideas are sure to make your friend smile. Couple this with an Ecard, a bouquet of flowers, a warm hug and make sure to keep this precious gem of a friendship well fastened in a treasure chest for eternity.

Birthday Gifts For Teenagers

It is not particularly easy to impress teenagers. Some of them are crazy about gadgets, others love to watch movies, some survive on football, junk food, latest trendy perfumes, jewelery and so on. It is difficult for a parent to keep track of the varying degrees of interests. Most teenagers prefer money to splurge on CDs, DVDs or in malls. So how do you plan to make this birthday a perfect one for your teenage son/daughther?
“Mom/Dad, you are a sport”, if these are the words of appreciation you crave to hear from your teen, then its time to gear up for some extra funky gift ideas.

Tickets to their favorite rock concert, tattoo sessions, a complete makeover –This is just to prepare you all for more exciting gift ideas coming your way.
First Drive – Its your child's 15th birthday, he/she is sulking over the fact that they have to wait a whole year before learning to drive. Time to make them feel better by gifting an exciting way to learn driving in a special designated area. They could either receive tuitions or just enjoy the ride in a Ferrari.
Electric Guitar- This guitar might just bridge the generation gap between you and your son/daughter when you acknowledge their talent and accompany them to their self performed rock concerts.
Skates that look like cowboy boots/ skateboards ($8)- Does your teenager love skateboarding? Well, its time to encourage him/her to achieve star status in this mindblowing sport.
Scuba Diving Classes ($35)- This underwater diving experience is sure to make anyone ecstatic.It is a swimmer's delight.
Sony Playstation 3 ($499) – Rated as one of the hottest gift items on the Forbes list!
Laptops ($1,999)- Yes, they are expensive but your teen's smile is priceless, right?
Surfboards ( $99)- This street surfer combines the feeling of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding all in one.
Skincare Sets ($48) – Teens are terribly conscious about the way they look. This set helps to create that ultimate soft and smooth skin which they crave to possess.
HP Photosmart R967 ($349.99 from Hewlett-Packard)- This coveted camera offers a wonderful slimming feature which will save your figure conscious teen from looking 10 pounds heavier.
Gift Cards – Walmart Gift Cards, Hot Top Gift Cards, iTunes gift cards for iPods etc
Ecards – Which express your love for them and pride in being their parents.

Other gifts are:
Billabong Sweatshirts and Jackets ($68), Skullcandy Headphones ($27), Amici Handbags and Purses ($40- $70), Shark Tooth necklaces, Sterling silver jewelery, nose rings, NFL Pro-Bowler Life Size Wall Graphics, NBA Superstar Jersey Basketballs, Waterproof MP3 Players and Colorful Camcorders ($139).

39. Wheat Grass

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill the container with potting soil, leaving a good amount of space at the top (at least three inches). As the grass grows, it will push up dirt. If you don’t leave enough space, dirt will fall out of the container onto your table top!
Put a layer of wheat grass seed on top of the soil. Use a generous amount in a single layer over the potting soil. Cover the seeds with a bit of potting soil. You don’t need too much soil, just enough to cover the seeds.
Repeat step 2, making a second layer of grass seed and soil.
Water well and keep the soil moist. Wheat grass will grow best in a bright room.

Tips & Techniqes

Wheat grass grows very fast. In less than a week you’ll have about an inch of grass. Millet grows slower.
Keep the soil moist but not wet. If you plant wheat grass in a container with no drainage (such as glass), we recommend misting the grass rather than watering.
Depending on how much sun your arrangement gets, they will last from 5 to 10 weeks. Since they grow so quickly, just replant your pots and you’ll have new arrangements in no time.
Cats love wheat grass! It aids their digestive systems and is often prescribed by veterinarians.
Wheat grass is sold in health food stores for juicing.

Source: Craft Warehouse

38. Flavored Vinegars

MATERIALS

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Resources: about.com, FabulousFoods.com

Flavored Vinegars: 50 Recipes for Cooking with Infused Vinegars

From classic balsamic and red wine vinegars to innovative elixirs infused with fruit, savory, and herbal essences, flavored vinegars are as perfect for gift-giving as they are for enlivening favorite dishes. In Flavored Vinegars --an enticing companion volume to the best-selling Flavored Oils --acclaimed chef Michael Chiarello proves once again that great food can be pure simplicity: it's as easy as drizzling a few drops of balsamic vinegar on a ripe slice of melon or brushing mango vinegar on fish as it goes to the grill.

$10.36 | Buy Now

The Value of a Gift

Whatever our age, most of us love shopping. The latest gadgets or gizmos, clothes, jewelery, toys, kitchen appliances and so on found an appalling upsurge in sales during Black Friday again this year. Who doesn't like splurging on oneself? But there is an indefatigable appeal in receiving gifts from friends, family or secret admirers. Whats more, if the gift reaches your doorstep on the special occasion of your birthday, it symbolises the immense love and affection people feel for you and that just makes the world a better and brighter place to live in. A gift is not valued on the basis of its price for even a rose speaks volumes. Just the emotion behind wins hearts.

What gift do you give most often? There are moments, when we are at a loss for gift ideas. In order to avoid these lapses, planning makes sense.
Understanding the likes, dislikes of the birthday girl/boy and gaining an insight into their dreams and personality traits is essential. Keeping track of the latest trends, making a list of them and their prices also helps. According to survey, flowers, clothing and jewelry are the most popular birthday gifts. Flowers tops this list. Birthday cards are also wonderful gifts. I remember a few years ago, someone kept sending me birthday cards by mail and email. I was puzzled. Thats when a school friend, I hadn't met for years, dropped in revealing his hand behind the whole plan. It felt nice to have my birthday remembered by someone living afar. Perhaps long distance birthday wishes can best be expressed by e cards.

Going by statistics, men love being gifted wine, tickets to their favorite football game, or electronic devices whereas women are more into aesthetics. But the tables can turn anytime. I am a gadget and gizmo freak, but some of my male friends dote on cook books and house cleaning kits. So, it is essential to concentrate on the individual's interests and natural bend of mind before shopping for them.

A free subscription to Netflix for your movie lover friend, so that he'll have a continuous supply of DVD's delivered to his door; a helicopter ride for your dad whose dream has always been to be up in air; an adorable golden retriever for your pet loving girlfriend; or a kitchen make over for your mom, are just a few gift ideas that can be incorporated to make each birthday a memorable experience for those you love and admire most.
Stay tuned for more birthday gift ideas.

37. Fleece Hat

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Measure the circumference of your head (around your ears). If you’re making the hat as a gift for someone and don’t know his or her size, use our size chart below. You’ll need four fabric panels, two of each color. To determine the width of the panels, divide the head circumference by four, and add 1/4 inch on each side for seam allowance. The length for an adult hat should be about 13 inches; for a child’s hat, about 10 inches. Cut out the panels.
Pin the right sides of the long ends of the panels together, alternating the colors. Sew panels together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew the end panels, right sides together to form a tube.
Trim seam allowance closely. Use your fingers to open the seams; do not use an iron to press them, or the fabric could melt.
Flatten the hat, right sides together, so that two panels lay directly on top of the other two panels. Match up the center seams.
To make the hat’s cuff, fold fabric up about 3 inches; fold in again 1/4 inch. Sew hem close to the turned edge. Turn hat right side out.
Pin along the top of the hat and sew, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Trim seam.
Join the two corners of the top of the hat together with a single stitch. Using strong thread, bring the needle through the inside of one corner and down through the other. Pull thread tight so the corners meet at the center. Tie off the thread.

You’ll need one panel of fabric to make this hat. To determine the width of the panel, measure the circumference of your head (around your ears), or use our size chart below; add 1/4 inch on each side for seam allowance. The length for an adult hat should be about 13 inches; for a child’s hat, about 10 inches. Cut out the panel.
Sew the long ends, right sides together, to form a tube.
Trim seam allowance closely. Use your fingers to open the seams; do not use an iron to press them, or the fabric could melt.
To make the hat’s cuff, fold fabric up about 3 inches; fold in again 1/4 inch. Sew hem close to the turned edge. Turn hat right side out.
Sew along the top of the hat, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Trim seam.
Join the two corners of the top of the hat together with a single stitch. Using strong thread, bring the needle through the inside of one corner and through the other point. Pull thread tight so the corners meet at the center. Tie off the thread.

Follow the instructions for the solid-color hat, but combine horizontal bands of different-colored fleece to equal the correct height (about 13 inches for adults and 10 inches for children). Use as many bands as you like in any width; allow 1/4 inch for seam allowance on the top and bottom of each band, and 3 inches to the bottom band for the hat’s cuff.

Follow steps 1 to 4 for the vertical-stripe hat above.
Measure the crown of your head (ear to ear as if for earmuffs) or use our chart below. Place one end of a soft tape measure at the bottom left corner of the hat, extend tape measure to the right corner of the hat, the distance equal to your crown measurement (for example, 14 inches if your crown measurement equals that). Hold both points of the tape measure in place, and arch the excess in between. Pin on the center seam, 3 inches above the highest point of the arc; that is your “low point.”
Mark the side seams 1 1/2 inches higher than the low point for a child’s hat, 2 inches higher for an adult’s. Connect the high points and low point with a marker, making a V. Sew along the V, making sure center seams match up. Trim seams, turn right side out, and shape points. Attach small pom-poms to each point (pom-pom instructions below).

For a large pom-pom, cut a strip of fleece 24 inches in length (9 to 12 inches for a smaller pom-pom) and as wide as you would like the pom-pom to be, (our pom-pom for an adult hat is 4 inches wide). Fold the strip in half widthwise.
Lightly draw a line down the center of the fabric lengthwise. Cut fringes to the left and right of the line, leaving about 1/4 inch uncut in the center. The fringes can be as narrow or as wide as you like.
Roll up strip of fabric.
Using strong thread such as upholstery thread, bring the needle through the core of the pom-pom, and wrap the thread tightly around the center a few times. Bring needle through the core again, and tie a knot as close to the pom-pom as possible. Use the excess thread to sew the pom-pom to the top of the hat.

AVERAGE HEAD SIZES

Newborn (6 months and younger)

Infant (6 to 12 months)

Child (12 months to 3 years)

Child (3 years and older)

Adult Woman

Adult Man

Source: MarthaStewart.com

Unique Holiday Gift Ideas

Christmas comes but once a year.
Gee, it's a long time getting here.
Three hundred days and sixty-five,
and just one Christmas,Land Sakes Alive!

You don't need to drive a sleigh to find holiday gifts for all your customers, family, and friends. Our gift ideas create the memories that last. Check out these unique holiday gift ideas!

NOTE that UPS does not guarantee delivery by Christmas for any shipments scheduled for delivery or pick up between December 12 and December 24

Unique Gift Baskets Delivered Nationwide

Need a gift basket delivered in another town in another state? Gift Basket Network is a network of gift basket professionals located across the United States and in Puerto Rico. Each company is individually owned and operated and deliver in their local area as well as ship nationwide.

This website includes some very unique gift baskets and other unique gifts and gourmet foods. You'll find some of the best in Christmas holiday gift baskets, kosher gifts for Hanukkah, gourmet gift baskets, and much more.

Chosen for their dedication to quality products and service, these companies aren't delivering off-the shelf gift baskets but gift baskets that are very different and much fresher than the ones you'll find in your local department stores or even the large corporate online gift services. So the next time, you need a gift basket delivered across the street or across the country, check out Gift Basket Network.

36. Vintage Seed Packets

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Print on HP photo paper or other stiff paper.
Cut out packets along lines.
Glue where indicated. Let dry.
Drop seeds in packet and secure top flap.

Fill the packets with your favorite seeds either from your garden, or from the store.

Source HP.com

35. Chef or Gardener's Aprons

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Wash, dry, and iron Apron.
print out one of the Iron-on images onto the iron-transfer paper (the image is set up to print backwards already)
place your Apron on the Ironing board, and lay the transfer, image side down, over the apron where you want it to appear.
follow the instructions for the Iron-on transfer paper.

If the Apron has pockets, why not fill them with a dish towel & some wooden spoons for your cook, or gardening gloves, seed packets, and tools for your gardener.

Source HP.com

34. Felted Wool Mittens

Photo by londonne.

Felting wool means shrinking it—on purpose! While results will vary from one type of wool to another, most will shrink quite dramatically and take on a tighterfeeling, felt-like finish. The key is, you must use 100% WOOL fabric. Grab a few old all-wool sweaters from your closet or a second-hand store—the kind with holes in the elbows, or stretched out edges. With just a little effort, you can transform an "undesirable" into a pair of funky (and functional!) mittens. Here's how.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Before You Sew:

Ready, Set, Sew:

Source: SYSF

33. Cheery Chemo Cap

Learn To Knit

SKILL LEVEL: Beginner

SIZE: Small, Large

MATERIALS

GAUGE:

10 stitches + 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch (straight needles: knit on right side, purl on wrong side) (double-pointed needles: knit every round). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.

Double-Pointed Needle Hat

Straight needle Hat

Download Instructions

Source: Lionbrand Yarn

32. Carousel Knit Cap

Learn to Knit

CAROUSEL HAT

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

MATERIALS

SIZE: Small, Medium, Large

GAUGE:

18 stitches + 36 rows = 4" (10 cm) over garter stitch (knit every row). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.

NOTES:

HAT

With A, cast on 85 (89, 93) stitches.
Brim

Knit 1 row and mark as wrong side. Continue in garter stitch and Stripe Pattern 1 as follows: *Work 2 rows each using B, C, D, and A; repeat from * once more. Cut all colors except A.

Body

Knit 5 (7, 9) more rows using A. Note What was the wrong side of the brim is now the right side of body. Continue in garter stitch and work Stripe Pattern 2 as follows: 2 rows B, 2 rows A, 6 rows B, 2 rows C, 2 rows B, 6 rows C, 2 rows D, 2 rows C, 6 rows D, 2 rows A, 2 rows D and 6 rows A.

Crown Shaping

Finishing

Position hat so the right side of brim is facing and the cast-on edge is at the top. With crochet hook, join A with a slip stitch in the back seam, *chain 4 for trim, work 4 half double crochet in the 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in the next 2 chain, then slip stitch in the same stitch as the slip stitch at the base of trim, slip stitch in the next 3 stitches of the cast-on edge; repeat from * around. Join round with a slip stitch in the first slip stitch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Download Instructions

Source: Lion Brand Yarn

STITCH 'N BITCH The Knitter's Handbook

In Stitch 'n Bitch, Debbie Stoller-founder of the first Stitch 'n Bitch knitting group in New York City-covers every aspect of knitting and the knitting-together lifestyle: the how-to, the when-to, the what-to, the why-to. Writing with wit and attitude (The Knitty-Gritty, Blocking for Blockheads), she explains the different types of needles and yarns (and sheep, too) and all the techniques from basic to fancy, knit to purl to cast-off.

$11.16 | Buy Now

31. Bookplates

There are several sources that will allow you to print your own bookplates:

For the Child in all of us, there's Bookplates from My Home Library.
HP's collection of:
- Celtic bookplates and bookmarks.
- Northwest Native American bookplates and bookmarks.
The Book Hive's illustrated bookplates.

30. Button Clock

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Poke a hole through the center of the lid with an awl. Using a nail set, widen the hole to accommodate the shaft.
Refer to the dial template to position the button hour markers. Affix buttons with multipurpose cement. To assemble mechanism, follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Source MarthaStewart.com

MARTHA STEWART LIVING MAGAZINE
	Even if you will never make a "gourd candle" or a "Fortuny-inspired tablecloth," Martha Stewart Living can't be beat for its wealth of ideas concerning what Martha calls "good things." $28.00 \| Buy Now

29. Fortune Cookies

INGREDIENTS

fortunes

printed

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a cookie sheet. Write fortunes on strips of paper about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Generously grease 2 cookie sheets.
Mix the egg white and vanilla until foamy but not stiff. Sift the flour, salt, and sugar and blend into the egg white mixture.
Place teaspoonfuls of the batter at least 4 inches apart on one of the prepared cookie sheets. Tilt the sheet to move the batter into round shapes about 3 inches in diameter. Be careful to make batter as round and even as possible. Do not make too many, because the cookie have to be really hot to form them and once they cool it is too late. Start with 2 or 3 to a sheet and see how many you can do.
Bake for 5 minutes or until cookie has turned a golden color 1/2 inch wide around the outer edge of the circle. The center will remain pale. While one sheet is baking, prepare the other.
Remove from oven and quickly move cookie with a wide spatula and place upside down on a wooden board. Quickly place the fortune on the cookie, close to the middle and fold the cookie in half. Place the folded edge across the rim of a measuring cup and pull the pointed edges down, one on the inside of the cup and one on the outside. Place folded cookies into the cups of a muffin tin or egg carton to hold their shape until firm.

Once you've made the cookies, place as many as you like into a glass jar, seal it, and affix your handmade label on the front.

Sources Allrecipes.com and HP.com

28. "Little Treasures" Gift Box

MATERIAL

INSTRUCTIONS

Select 2 fabrics, 1 for the outside of your box and 1 for the lining, and cut an 8" x 8" square of each. You can use fabrics that you have altered with paint or dye, or select commercial fabrics.
Cut two 8" x 8" squares of fusible web and one 8" x 8" piece of Pellon.
Make a sandwich of the 5 pieces: first, put down the lining fabric, wrong side up, then add a piece of fusible web, then the Pellon, another piece of fusible web, and finally the fabric for the outside of your box, right-side up.
Place a piece of parchment paper or a Teflon sheet on your ironing board to protect it from the fusible web, put the fabric sandwich on top of it, and place another sheet of parchment on top of the sandwich to protect your iron. Following the directions for the fusible web, iron your fabric sandwich until all layers adhere. You will probably need to press one side and then flip the fabric sandwich over and press the other side.
Trace the pattern of the box onto the dull side of the freezer paper and cut it out.
Iron the freezer paper pattern (shiny side down) onto the fabric sandwich and cut out your box. Cut carefully - this step will make the difference between an elegant piece of art and a misshapen little box. (An 18mm rotary cutter may be helpful to cut the sides of each slit and embroidery scissors to cut the ends of the slits.)
Sew close to all of the raw edges, including the slits. (I found that a straight stitch caused less fraying than a zigzag stitch.)
Put Fray Check on the raw edges of the "knobs" at the top of the box because they get a lot of use and tend to fray.
If desired, use a foam brush to paint the edges of the box with fabric paint to cover any white from the Pellon or fusible web that may show. Using a metallic bronze, gold, or copper acrylic paint will give your box a "gilded" look.
Embellish, as desired. Create designs and interest with piping, bobbin work, Swarovski crystals, beads, braid, sequins, glitter paint, and more. Remember that whatever you sew on the front will show up on the lining.
To construct the box, pull the 2 swirl-shaped petals together. Holding them with one hand, bring one of the petals with a slit up and over the top of the swirl petals. Last, bring the other slit petal up and over the other three petals.

Source Quilting Arts Magazine

QUILTING ARTS MAGAZINE
	Quilting Arts covers the latest techniques in art quilting, embellished quilting, wearable arts, mixed media, surface design, and other textile arts. Published quarterly, Quilting Arts features guest artists and teachers, and addresses a wide range of skills including surface embroidery, thread painting, stamping, beading, silk ribbon embroidery, and fabric painting. $24.95 \| Buy Now

27. Tea Gift Basket

If you have a friend that enjoys tea, this is a fun and easy gift to assemble:

MATERIALS

(these are prolific at thrift stores, and usually fairly inexpensive - the saucers are optional)

(you don't have to include the entire box of tea)

Marilyn Scott Waters

Red & Blue

Pink & Green

INSTRUCTIONS

print the Tea Bag envelopes, cut them out and assemble
insert tea bags into envelopes & place in tea cups
assemble everything in the basket
place basket on unrolled cellophane
cut a piece of cellophane large enough to gather around the basket
tie raffia or ribbon around the top of the cellophane.

note: if you like you can assemble ingredients into the tea cups and wrap them with cellophane (& do without the basket)

TEA BISCUIT RECIPE

Preheat oven to 375º
Sift the first 4 ingredients together onto a piece of wax paper.
Make a well in the center with walls high enough to contain the liquid ingredients;
add eggs, oil, vanilla, and orange juice.
Knead dough very lightly for a few seconds on a lightly floured board.
Pat the dough gently and cut the dough with a floured cutter.
Place biscuits on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375º F for 15-20 minutes. The tea biscuits should rise and be lightly brown in color.
When done, and still warm, sprinkle tops with sugar.

Recipe Source: Cooks.com

Gifts in a Jar: Cocoas, Cappuccinos, Coffees & Teas
	This book is filled with recipes to make your own gifts. Each mix fits into a quart jar. The book even includes tags complete with recipient directions with each recipe. Just cut it out, personalize and attach to the jar. Fun to make and affordable, gifts in a jar make great gifts for neighbors, teachers and friends! $9.00 \| Buy Now

26. Best Thought Cards

Here's a collection of printable cards from Marilyn Scott Waters - created to encourage friends. They're primarily aimed at women/moms, but there is a set of blank cards you can print out & make up your own encouragements.

Source: Marilyn Scott Waters

25. Handmade Christmas Ornaments

There are a plethora of ways to create handmade ornaments, here are a couple of ideas.

Wired Star Ornament:

To make an ornament like the one here, wrap one end of a 3-foot length of 18-gauge gold-colored craft wire around a pencil to form a hanging loop. With the loop at the top of a star cookie cutter, press the wire twice around the perimeter of the cookie cutter to form a star shape, twisting it around the hanging loop and using wire cutters (a parent's job) to snip off any excess. Remove the cutter.
Complete the ornament by wrapping the wire outline with lengths of 20-to 24-gauge colored lightweight wire, securing the ends in place by wrapping them around the cookie cutter outline.
Finally, tie a hanging ribbon to the loop, and your ornament is ready for display.

Source: FamilyFun

Scandinavian Bird Ornament:

this

Project pages

Also available are instructions for a Paper Dreidel box, and tree topper

Old-Fashioned Christmas Favorites
	A Heart-Warming Collection of Treasured Recipes, Memories, Handmade Gifts, Cozy Decorating Tips & Easy How To's for the Joyous Days of Christmas $24.95 \| Buy Now

24. Handmade Wind Chimes

Photo by matttorontocanada.

Wind chimes can be made out of almost any material. Whatever pleases the eye and makes a wonderful noise can be hung up and enjoyed! Glass wind chimes and metal wind chimes are particular favorites. Or, when creating your own wind chimes, try using some of these materials:

SILVERWARE CHIME

Preparing the Cutlery

Put on your safety goggles.
Drill a hole in each of the four spoon handles, approximately 1/8th of an inch from the top. Sand holes down with metal file, so that there are no sharp edges.
Choose one fork to be the hanging fork from which the spoons will be suspended. Drill a hole in the flat part of this fork, just above the tines.
Using your needle-nosed pliers, carefully bend the tines of the fork to a 90° angle.
Bend the two inside tines of the fork so that they are pointing north and south. Bend each of the two outside tines so that they are pointing east and west. Be sure to have backup forks, in case any of the tines break.
Using the tip of your pliers, carefully twist the ends of each of the tines into a loop.
Bend the handle of the fork over to make a hook to hang the chime with.
Drill a hole in your base fork. This hole should be about 1/8th of an inch from the top of the handle.

Hanging the Chime

Tie a piece of fishing line from the hole in the hanging fork to the hole in the base fork. The base fork should hang about six inches down.
Tie fishing line through each of the holes created by the tines of the hanging fork. Tie the other end of each piece of string to the hole in each spoon. The bowl of each spoon should hit the stem of the base fork.
Now you're ready to hang them

COPPER PIPE WIND CHIME

Cut six separate pipes from the copper tubing at the following lengths:
- 18 inches
- 20 inches
- 22 inches
- 24 inches
- 26 inches
- 28 inches
- To do this, you need to mark these measurements on the tubing and, using your metal crimper, cut the six pipes.
Wearing your goggles, drill a ¼ inch hole in the top of each pipe. This hole should be about a ½ inch from the top of each pipe.
Drill a ½ inch hole in the center of the large and small pieces of wood.
Drill six ¼ inch holes around the perimeter of the large piece of wood. These holes should be equidistant from one another. This piece of wood will act as the platform for the chimes.
Using your string, thread each pipe through each of the six holes on the large piece of wood. The pipes should hang a couple of inches from the base of the wood platform.
Using your nylon rope, create a loop from which to hang the chime. Thread the end of this loop through the center of the wood platform. To the base of this handle, tie the small piece of wood. The pipes will knock against this wood to create sound.
Hang and enjoy!

Reources: Repair Home and Al Carrell

Wind Toys That Spin, Sing, Twirl & Whirl
	Chimes, whirligigs, windsocks, banners, and windvanes--these 35 toys seem practically alive with sound and movement. Some can even be tuned! Made from fabric, metal, wood, glass, or clay, many are perfect for the beginning crafter. $29.44 \| Buy Now

23. Embroidered linens

Photo by dnn_rchmnd.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Set the iron temperature to high. Lay down your tea towel, Pillow case, etc. and place the transfer face down where you would like it to be. Make sure to leave enough room so you can attach the hoop.
Tape or hold the pattern firmly in place and glide the iron over the design. You need to do it only two or three times, pressing hard so a light trace of the design will appear. Don't make it too dark because you don't want it to show after you've embroidered it.
Peel off the transfer and save it for future use.
Attach the hoop around the design, so that the fabric is tight like a drum.
Thread the needle with a 12-inch strand of thread. Leave a 1-inch tail extending from the top of the needle and tie a knot at the other end.
Find your starting point and bring the needle up through the bottom of the design and out the top. Bring the needle back down. Continue the process until you've outlined the entire design, switching thread colors as desired.
When you finish, turn the piece over, snip the thread, tie it in a knot at the base of the fabric and snip excess. Iron the towel so it is crisp.

Source Kathy Cano-Murillo

If you like this...
Try Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To --from 11.46

22. Clay Pot (or Tin Can) Quickbreads

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Wash clay pot (or can) with warm water only. towel dry. Cover drain hole w/ small piece of aluminum foil. Grease inside of pot & lip with butter, margarine, or oil.
Preheat oven 375 F. and bake according to the times below:
- cornbread for 45 min,
- all others 60 min. Use any quickbread recipe.
Spoon batter into Pot or Can, bake immediately.
bread is done when topcrust is lightly browned.

From RecipeTips.com:

Other Baking Containers: almost any other type of oven-safe and food-safe container can be used to bake bread, such as a stoneware baking dish or terra-cotta pots or even coffee cans as is the case when making Boston brown bread.

When using a terra-cotta flowerpot, it must be thoroughly dry. It is best to place it in a warm, sunny location for several hours. After drying, the pot should be well greased with cooking oil, placed in a 375ºF oven for about an hour, and then cooled. This process can be repeated several times until oil has thoroughly soaked the terra-cotta. The seasoned flowerpot should not be washed after use because washing will have an adverse effect on the seasoned surfaces - simply wipe the pot clean.

Also an option: Create a quick bread gift basket:

Clean Clay Pot
you can pre-season as suggested above, or enclose seasoning instructions

Quick Bread Mix
provide in original packaging, or buy a cellophane bag & empty the contents into it - provide a label telling what kind of quick bread it is

Dish Towel
Wooden mixing spoon
Baking Instructions

If you liked this...
Try The Best Quick Breads: 150 Recipes for Muffins, Scones, Shortcakes, Gingerbreads, Cornbreads, Coffeecakes, and More (Paperback) --from 7.20

21. Paperwhites

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS
Paperwhites are best grown in a shallow pot or bowl with no drainage holes in the bottom. They can even be grown in mason jars filled with small stones.

Fill the pot 2/3 full with gravel, small stones, or even fun things like colored beads or marbles.
Place as many paperwhite bulbs as will fit on top of the gravel, with the pointed side up.
Then fill in gravel around the bulbs, leaving the top halves exposed.
Add water up to the base of the bulbs and maintain it at this level.
Place the pot in a cool area.
Within a few days, roots will appear. When green shoots appear, move the pot to a cool, sunny spot. Sit back and watch them grow and bloom.

If you liked this...

Park Seed's paperwhite kit

from 11.44

20. Tea Cup Lights

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185°. Remove old wicks with tongs.
Cut a piece of wicking to the cup’s height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup’s bottom.
Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup’s rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.

From Martha Stewart

19. Custom-Tailored Luminaries

These charming candleholders illuminate any space with lovely pinpoints of light. And because they are "stitched" on a sewing machine, you can make multiples in a single sitting.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by stitching patterns onto sheets of card stock. Lightly trace a design or use one of MarthaStewart.com's templates onto the paper with a pencil. Stitch over the pencil marks. As the needle punctures the card stock (with or without thread) it creates tiny holes through which the candlelight will flicker.
Cut to size, and wrap around glass cylinders; secure with double-sided tape.

From Martha Stewart

If you liked this...

Martha's Homemade Holidays

used and new from $5.52

18. Tin Can luminary

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Make sure the can is empty of its contents and cleaned
fill the can with water and put into the freezer to allow the water to freeze.
Once frozen, remove from freezer & tape a design (a star, a tree, etc) to the side of the can.
Take a large nail and hammer it at intervals along the lines of your design (with spaces in between).
Let the ice melt and drain the water from the can.
Once dry, put a candle inside and watch your design light up.

Source Family Education

17. Ice Cube Candles

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt the candle wax &/or crayons. This is best done by filling one pot up with water and placing a second (thrift store) pot on top - like a double boiler. You won't want to use the same pot to melt your wax in that you'd normally cook food in.
Cut the carton to a desired height.
Cut the wick about 4 inches taller than your desired candle
Secure the wick in the carton, tying the top to a pencil or tongue depressor (so it won't fall into the carton)
fill the carton with ice cubes. The coarser|larger the cubes are, the larger the holes in the candle.
Make sure the wick is standing upright and pour the melted wax into the carton.
When wax is set (ice will have melted) remove the milk carton and you have a candle that kind of looks like swiss cheese. There may be some water that will drain out as you remove the carton.

Source FamilyEducation.com

If you liked this...

The Candlemaker's Companion

new and used from 9.80

16. Handmade Soap

MATERIAL

(Lavender, rose and jasmine work well)

INSTRUCTIONS

Grate soap in a blender or food processor.
Boil a pot of water and put a glass bowl over the pot, (like a double boiler.)
Add some almond oil into the bowl.
Add the soap into the bowl.
Take the water from the pot and add it into the bowl until soap changes into paste.
Add oils, color, oats, and vitamin E as desired.
Let cool in molds of your choice. You can use anything for a mold - ice cube trays, cookie cutters or soap molds (found at the craft store.
Air out on wax paper for a day or two.

from kidzworld

If you liked this...

The Soapmaker's Companion

used and new from 7.98

15. Bath Bomb

MATERIALS
Dry Ingredients

citric acid

Wet Ingredients

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend the citric acid and baking soda – this step is super important – if you don’t blend well, you end up with a grainy bomb. You may want to sift the ingredients together to ensure a smoother texture.
Once you’ve blended really well, add your colorant. Dry pigments work best – don’t add too much though
In a separate container, mix wet ingredients
Slowly drizzle the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring constantly to prevent a reaction from starting. Make sure you mix in all of the wet ingredients. The mixture will be somewhat crumbly.
Pack the mixture into your mold – wait a few minutes and tap them out. Let them air dry for 3 or 4 hours. The harder you pack the bath bombs, the more dense, heavy, and durable bomb you will get.

Sources: teach soap, Brenda Sharpe, and Not Martha

14. Sugar Scrub

MATERIALS

you can also use ground coffee (see note below)

INSTRUCTIONS

mix the sugar and oil in the plastic container.
add any optional scents you like:
- Vanilla: Great especially in the coffee or brown sugar scrub.
- Orange, lime, tangerine or lemon: For an uplifting effect.
- Rosemary, eucalyptus or peppermint: For clearing out the sinuses and stimulating the body
- Cinnamon or clove: For improving circulation and adding a spicy kick to your scrub.
- Rose, jasmine or ylang-ylang: for a romantic floral scrub.
- Geranium: For balancing your mood.
- Lavender: For promoting relaxation.
to use: place some on a wash cloth and rub in circles anywhere you need exfoliation.
note: the sugar may settle to the bottom, so it may be necessary to shake before using.

Note: Coffee can be used as a topical scrub as well.
From Cancerlynx.com:

Coffee is granular and feels nice on the skin but the caffeine has added benefits. Applied topically coffee helps to redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of cellulite. It also acts as a vasorestrictor, tightening and shrinking blood vessels thereby helping eliminate varicose veins. It has been used for years in spas in Hawaii and on the coast of Bali.

13. Bath Salts

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Stir ingredients together, making sure the essential oil gets incorporated into the salt mixture
Pour mixture into the glass jar
Attach instructions: Add 2 TBSP bath salt to warm bath....

12. Laundry Sachet

Similar to the No Sew Sachet, except this time you don't use glue or heat sensitive adhesives.

MATERIALS

Another option is to use small muslin draw string bags (usually found at craft stores & just cinch the bag closed after adding the lavender)

INSTRUCTIONS

For each sachet, place 2 matching 5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and sew the edges together on 3 sides.
ll the sachet with about 1/2 cup of lavender. Then sew together the open edges.

These may be thrown into the dryer with your damp clothes. Use up to 6 times before replenishing or replacing.

11. Grain filled Hug (Heating Pad)

Grain-filled heating pads have become quite popular in health food stores, gifts shops and at craft bazaars. But they are often quite costly. Here is a set of simple and thrifty instructions to make your own rice-filled heating pad using scraps of fabric you may already have on hand.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS
Part one: The rice bag

From pre-washed cotton muslin, or similar fabric, cut a piece 8" x 22".
Fold the rectangle in half so now it measures 8" x 11" and sew the two longer edges. You can use your serger, if you have one.
Turn right sides out, so you now have a nice little fabric bag. Iron if necessary.
Fill the bag with about 3 C. of grain (rice, barley, whatever). It should be pretty full, about 2/3 filled, but still have some give to it, like a bean bag.
Sew or serge the end of the bag shut. You may want to turn in the ends so there are no raw edges, and use pins to keep the grain from sliding out on the sewing table. Of course, you can also whipstitch the opening closed by hand.

Part Two: The Cover

You can use either cotton flannel, a small towel, or regular quilting cotton for the cover: anything that will be soft and comfortable against the skin. Do not use synthetic fabrics, or fabrics with metallics in them. This is going to be heated in the microwave, remember!

Cut your cover with dimensions one to two inches wider than you cut your grain bag, and three to five inches longer. In this example, that would be 9x25 inches.
Lay the fabric wrong side up on your table, and fold over one end about half an inch to hem it. Fold the opposite end over the same way.
Sew both end hems. (separately, not together)
Lay the cover out again, right side up. Take one hemmed end and fold it back a few inches. In this example we should have 2 inches to fold. Finger press into place. Fold the opposite hemmed end over the previous fold, so the hem meets up with the first folded edge
Sew the two long edges of the cover, being sure to sew through all the layers.
Turn inside out. You should now have something that resembles a fabric sandwich bag, with a flap at one end. When the grain bag is inserted, fold the flap over the open end to close it.
That's it! Remember that the cover can be taken off for cleaning, since the grain inside can't get wet.

Heating Instructions:

From Reddawn.net

10. Eye Pillow

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Before you start, add 5 - 10 drops of essential oil to 2/3 cup rice. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then mix well to blend, and leave it for about an hour. This allows the rice to absorb the oil, preventing greasy spots on your fabric. If you're making several pillows, you can mix up a big batch of rice and oil at once. Alternately, you can skip the oil and use 1/4 to 1/3 lavender flowers in place of some of the rice.
Fold the square of fabric in half, right sides facing (the opposite side of what you want to show up should be on the outside; you'll turn it inside-out after you sew it up)
Sew along the long side and one short side to form a pouch. If you're sewing by hand, keep your stitches small. Look at the decorative stitching on your jeans for a guideline.
Turn pouch rightside-out. You can use a pen with a lid to poke out the corners and make them nice and square.
Fold open edge in about 1/2" on itself; iron. (If you don't have an iron, just skip this step and you'll fold it in when you sew it.
Fill pouch with 2/3 cup scented rice. Slightly roll up the envelope lengthwise, slide it into the pouch, and use it to hold the pouch open and while you fill it with rice.
Sew up open side. If you didn't iron the hem in earlier, then make sure you fold in the unfinished edges. If you're handsewing, sew several extra stitches at the beginning and the end of the seam to prevent it from unraveling.

Recline, situate pillow over closed eyes, and relax. Eye pillow may be chilled or stored in the freezer for use over the eyes or forehead to help ease a headache or hangover. If fragrance fades, revive with a few drops of essential oil along seam.

From Smile and Act Nice

9. Envelope Sachet

Use Martha Stewart's heart or butterfly templates to the desired size, or make your own pattern. Graph paper is good for creating a grid design (such as the one shown at top left). Working on a cutting mat or piece of felt, lay your template over an envelope.

With a thick pin, punch holes through the template and envelope until the dotted design is complete.

Fill the envelope with blends of scented ingredients. We like the following combinations: cedar tips, cedar shavings, and lavender; orange tea and dried roses; and lemon verbena, chamomile and dried lemon peel. (Vary the amount depending on the envelope size; we used 1 tablespoon in the gift-card envelope.)

With a glue stick, seal the envelope.

Poke whimsical designs in your paper envelopes, then add your choice of aromatic blends.

From MarthaStewart.com

8. No Sew Sachets

Even kids who don't sew can help fashion a bunch of these fragrant, colorful sachets. It's a great way to use up all your fabric remnants.

MATERIALS:

INSTRUCTIONS

For each sachet, place 2 matching 5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and glue the edges together on 3 sides. Spread the glue close to the edges to prevent fraying.
Once the glue is dry, fill the sachet with about 1/2 cup of potpourri. Then glue together the open edges and again let the glue dry.
Arrange the finished sachets in multicolored stacks and tie them together with a festive ribbon or yarn.

from FamilyFun.com

7. Spiced Hot Pad

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

With the right sides facing, stitch the checked fabrics into a four-patch, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Center and fuse the 5-inch calico circle to the four-patch.
Layer calico back, fleece (sprinkled with crushed cinnamon sticks and cloves), and pieced circle. Baste the layers together at the edge.
Bind the edge with mini rickrack. Topstitch jumbo rickrack around the small circle.

from Better Homes & Gardens

6. Lady Bug Hot Pad

The ladybug has button spots, while the other hot pad holds crushed cinnamon sticks and cloves for an aromatic bonus.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Layer and pin the back checked circle, fleece, and front checked circle. Topstitch rickrack through the center of the fabrics.
Fold the black fabric in half lengthwise and pin to layered fabrics using the photograph as a guide. Trim the raw edges even with the circle. Remove the straight pins.
Bind the outside edge with bias tape, adding a loop for hanging. Stitch buttons on each side of the rickrack to make the dots on the ladybug.

from Better Homes & Gardensm