Holiday handmade gifts on a budget

Howdy fellow crafty hubbers. It's been a while since I was here on Hubpages. I have been super busy creating as usual. Besides that, we just returned from our yearly RV vacation, which was simply amazing. Our plan was to visit all the national parks in Utah and also see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, along with the Salt Lake City Temple, we did all that. We headed south to California, then traveled with friends to Las Vegas, South Dakota, Montana and Utah. Thank goodness we visited all the national parks before they were closed down due to the government shut down, great planning on my hubby's part. So we enjoyed ourselves and took great photographs of some awesome and inspirational scenes. I will of course share those on other hubs with you as well.

So now lets get back to the crafts at hand shall we. I want to share three handmade patterns that I have made in years past, actually the checkered afghan is going to someone in the family this year, but I can't tell you who it is, it's a secret. It's very warm and cozy and looks fabulous when completed. This is a knitting pattern that I am sharing with you which does take some time to complete because you knit each panel and then you sew them all together. I started knitting this one in January and basically knitted a square or two each month while watching my favorite television shows. I just finished it a few weeks ago.

The other two projects are easy and also fun to do. The angel is made of wood and is so simple and has a country flair about her with the checkered calico paper and sweet face. I know you will want to make her as well for that special angel lover in the family. You can use the design I have included which requires a separate wooden ball head, or you can just draw the head and make it one single piece as I did as you will see in the photo of my beautiful Joy Wooden Angel.

The scrap fabric ornaments were a last minute thought since I have so much scrap fabric it isn't funny, can I get an Amen ladies! You will find that these can be made very quickly, you can make them with inspirational words or even personalize them with a child's name or their initials. Imagination is all that is needed plus some time to create of course.

So go for it - and be sure to enjoy yourself while making these beautiful gifts. Bring a smile this Christmas to those you love, by giving them a handmade gift, it will warm their heart and yours.

Blessings!

You will need:

• 4" x 4" wood piece for body

• 1-1/2" wooden ball for head

• Thin cotton thread for hair

• 12" white thin ribbon

• 5" x 5" foam craft

• Ribbon Flower (white)

• Small white star

• 1/2 Pearls you get in rows with sticky on the back, and pearl halo trim

• Craft paper (checkered any color)

• Craft Glue

• Permanment blk marker & blush

1. First cut the wood body, use the template or draw your own, make sure it is sanded and smoothed out nicely. Paint the face on the ball head with black permanent marker, as shown in the picture, then add some blush to the checks. Set aside. Remember I used one wooden piece with the head cut out, you can use a round wooden ball for head and just cut the body shape. Either way works great in natural wood.

2. Cut (1) heart shape out of the foam craft, then cut (2) same size from the craft paper, glue together placing the foam craft in between the two sides of the checkered paper, let dry. Write whatever you want on the white star with the blk permanent marker.

3. Cut stips about 8" long by 1/2" wide from the checkered paper for the arms and the thin decoration on the wooden body at the bottom, set aside.

4. Cut about 40 strips of cotton thread 8" in size for hair. Take a strand of the cotton and tie in the center of the hair (that is the part section at the top) tie loosely so that the hair can stay together.

5. Glue the ball head to the top of the wooden piece, hold in place till dry. Next glue the thin ribbon around the neck area to hide neck, then glue the ribbon flower on. Now add some glue to the top of the head and place the hair (at the part) onto the head and hold in place, add more glue to the sides of the hair, pull hair towards the face since the back will not show.

6. Glue the arms in place, starting on the backside of the wooden piece, glue in front then add the star.

7. Next glue the bead halo or any type of halo you can make, a gold thin ribbon works just a well. Next place a strip of glue along the center of the heart wings facing you, add a folded piece of the white ribbon for hanging, let dry. Then add more glue and place the body onto the wooden heart and hold in place, see photo for placement.

8. Last but not least glue each 1/2 pearl decoration on the checkered trim at the bottom of the dress. You are done - she looks beautiful!

You will need:

• Scrap calico fabric, any design and color
• (1) piece approx. 7" x 6" - Heart
• (1) piece approx. 6" x 5" - Tree
• (1) piece approx. 5" x 5" - Circle

• Quilt Stuffing

• Thin solid color ribbon for bows and hanging

• Small size foam craft letters (color to add contrast to the fabric)

• Sequins - gems for decoration

• Thread and needle

• Fabric or craft glue
• zig-zag scissors

1. Using the template attached on page 2 of pattern, cut out shapes 2 of each. You can also use your own designs if you like. Place fabric right sides facing out, then pin an 8" piece of the thin ribbon in the center for the hanger, then sew the whole piece together using basic hand stitch, leave a small section for stuffing, at each botton end. Also make sure you leave a good edge all the way around approx. 1/4", so you can cut with the zig zag scissors.

2. Stuff the ornaments lightly till they take on their shape, sew the ends together tie off.

3. Cut all the way around the edges with the zig zag scissors.

4. Tie small bows and glue to the center where the hanger ribbon is, see photo, then glue the gem in place.

5. Glue the letters for the words you want to add to the ornament, you can even personalize these with kids names, etc. They will love them! Great way to put scrap fabric to use.

You will need:

• Pair of size 10 - 6mm knitting needles*

• 1 skein Red (14 oz.) **

• 1 skein Black (14 oz) *

• 1 skein White (14 oz.)

• (I used the "super savor" Red Heart Skeins 744 yards ea.)

• Plastic sewing needle

Finished size 45" x 54" (5 squares wide by 6 squares length)
Each square measures approximately 9" wide by 9.25" high

Cast on 34 stitches onto needle, then using the red color knit in garter stitch until square measures approx. 9" wide by 9.25" high or 31 ripples = 62 rows in all.

Switch to the white and knit 62 rows, then switch to the black, then red again, then white, then black. You have made one panel. Continue making the panels by using info below or just looking at the photo for reference. You will have 5 panels each with 6 squares in all, then sew panels together using the main color or color of choice with the plastic sewing needle on the reverse side of the afghan.

Panel 1: red, wht, blk, red, wht blk
Panel 2: wht, blk, red, wht, blk, red
Panel 3: blk, red, wht, blk, red, wht.
Panel 4: red, wht, blk, red, wht, blk
Panel 5: wht, blk, red, wht, blk, red

Beautiful!