DIY Gifts and Stocking Stuffers: Part 1

Every year I resolve to get started making gifts early, and I almost always end up rushing things at the end. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but there are undoubtedly those of you who are on top of things and want to get started. For those of you looking for some inexpensive and fun ideas, this post is for you. NOTE: I haven't tried these yet myself, but I intend to. They look as if they would be fun and are also practical.

Jewelry Refrigerator Magnets

Here's your opportunity to reuse/recycle some of those brooches/pins in your jewelry box or to pay a trip to your local thrift store (or visit some garage/estate sales) in search of thrifty treasure to turn into special gifts. The basic idea is that you're removing the back part of the jewelry and affixing a magnet to it. I could easily see sewing a little cloth bag or decorating a small box and tossing a few of these in for a pretty and sparkly gift. 

Source

For detailed instructions on how to make this happen, here's a written tutorial (with photos), and here's a video. (Here's the URL for the video, just in case.

Mason Jar Lid Coasters

If you visit this blog regularly, you'll know that I'm rather fond of DIY coasters. So these mason jar lid coasters are right up my alley. I've seen them with the lid painted, the cork liner decorated in numerous ways (including colored patterns) and others, like these on Amazon that are more rustic. You'll find many on Etsy, on Amazon, and elsewhere.

Purchase on Amazon

You can, of course, make your own. Here's a link to some instructions (these have lids that are spray painted, but you can, of course, leave yours the traditional silver). And here's a video

If you don't care for the mason jar lip part, you can always cut shapes from the cork and decorate those. The lid isn't really necessary, I suppose.

Key Chain Wristlet

I'm not a super fan of key chains, because...how many do you need and don't we all have more than enough? But these were so pretty and easy, and they had the added convenience of being a wristlet (I'm always worried I'm going to drop my keys), so here goes. 

You'll find some pretty ones online. Try Etsy and Amazon.

Buy from Amazon

But here are some simple instructions. Very few materials are needed. The ribbon is stitched to the cotton webbing and then inserted in the key fob, so not much sewing is needed. Most of the videos I saw demonstrated this sewing method, but I also saw one where fusible tape (iron-on tape) was used to affix the ribbon to the webbing and also one where only fabric glue was used. The very short video (here and below) uses both the fusible tape and stitching, so it's all up to you whether you prefer to stitch the ribbon to the webbing or to fuse/glue the parts together.

That's all for today. It looks as if I have plenty of simple crafts to get me started. More to follow.

Have a great day! (Also, check out my book pages. I've finally got them up on the site again).

Myrna