How to Make Handmade Gifts
A gift holds a deeper meaning if it comes with a thought. The intent attached in making the gift doubles the joy for the sender and the receiver. These reasons make a handmade gift more worthy of being treasured, than a gift that has been picked up from a mall at a pretentious price. The best part about handmade gifts is that they do not require any expensive material and can be made very easily in a matter of hours. Let's see a few examples of handmade gifts and how to make it.
Caterpillar Bookmark
The time taken to make this handmade gift is 10 minutes and it is a favorite one for every reader. If you are giving this gift to a child, it can be a great motivating tool to read.
Things You Will Need
- Craft Paper
- Chenille Stems or Pipe Cleaners
- Wiggle Eyes
- Ribbon
- Fine-Tip Marker
- Craft Glue
- Scissors
For the body of the caterpillar, cut out as many circles as you like from the craft paper. However, the size of the circles have to go from biggest to the smallest. With some glue attach the circles so that they form a chain, going in the ascending order. Shape the pipe cleaner into the caterpillar's spectacles and paste it on the biggest circle. Now paste the wiggle eyes inside those spectacles to get the effect of eyes. With the fine-tip marker make a smiling mouth. For the tail, cut small strips of the ribbon and stick them together to the smallest circle, so that they make a bunch.
Mobile Glove
With a number of people using cell phones, a mobile glove is an ideal handmade gift. It will make perfect use of the things that you don't have the heart to throw away.
Things You Will Need
- An old scarf or any other fabric
- Matching needle and thread
- Magnetic buttons
- A ribbon
A cell phone is no bigger than your palm. So cut out the fabric that is twice the size of your palm or the cell phone. Sew the three sides to make it into a pouch. Towards the open end of the pouch, stitch the magnetic buttons. To make a handle stitch the ribbon at the corners of the pouch and your mobile glove is ready!
Potpourri Sachets
The sweet fragrance of handmade potpourri makes it the ideal gift for a housewarming party. This perfect present is a wonderful way of adding to the warmth of a home and distinct fragrance associated to it.
Things You Will Need
- 1 cup dried orange peel
- 10 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
- 1/3 cup star anise
- 1/3 cup allspice berries
- 2 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 cup small pine cones
- Essential oil of your choice
- Eye dropper
- Large resealable plastic bag or nonreactive bowl
- Large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
In a large bowl gently toss orange peel, cinnamon sticks, spices, pine cones and all other ingredients so that they are well mixed together. Add a few drops, say 10 - 15 of essential oil. Use vanilla if possible, as its fragrance has a tranquilizing effect on the senses. Once toss the mix gently, and store it in an air tight jar to prevent the fragrance from escaping.
CD Holder
One can never have enough of CD holders. So, here's a handmade gift for your friend, who can use this to get a little more organized.
Things You Will Need
- Craft Paper
- 1/4-inch thick ribbon
- Hook and loop tape
- Craft foam letters
- Craft glue
- Scissors
- Hole puncher
Cut the craft into 6 1/2" x 12" and fold it into half. Slide in as many CD covers as you want and punch the closed side of the fold, so that it becomes a book. Stick the hook and loop on the holes which are seen on the cover. Now, thread a ribbon through the congruent holes and tie and tie a bow on the top. With the craft glue, stick the craft foam letter that spell your friend's name.
Jewelry Box
Girls can't can never get enough of jewelry and this makes a handmade jewelry boxes the best gift for them. This gift can be given to an adult or a teenager.
Things You Will Need
- Box with Lid
- Scrapbook Paper
- Ribbon
- Buttons
- Embroidery Floss and Needle
- Craft Glue
- Scissors
Cover the box inside-out with the paper. Create a border for the box with the ribbon and with embroidery floss and needle sew the buttons onto the ribbon. If the buttons are falling off to a side, stick them with glue. Make a ribbon flower and stick it on top of the box to complete the look.
Most of the materials required to make these gifts can be easily found at home or in stationery shops. Make this virtue of handmade gifts, your motivation to give your friends an incredible creative token of love. Lastly, a handmade gift is the perfect way to show how much you care. So unleash your imagination and let it guide you to create some of the unforgettable gifts.
