Last Minute Gift Ideas you can Make!

How-Tuesday: Last-Minute Gifts

Story by  julieincharge

Published on Dec 20, 2011 in Make

Photo by minieco

The holidays are nearly here! If that sentence has left you gasping for air and double-checking the calendar, sure that I am wrong, don’t worry: there’s still plenty of time to whip up something handmade for the loved ones on your list. In today’s How-Tuesday round-up, you’ll find a collection of 25 tutorials to help you create special, personalized gifts.

Sweet Treats

Time to fire up your oven! Homemade baked goods are a holiday classic. Make somecardamom sugar cookies, handmade chocolates, or spiced pumpkin seed brittle for those with a thriving sweet tooth. Make a big batch of granola to jar up for healthy crunchy friends (see below for jar ideas).

Classy Containers

Dress up that little something-something in the finest of handmade attire. Try etching glass jars, make your own fiber baskets, or revamp an old cookie tin into a handy chalkboard container that will outlive that batch of cardamom cookies and serve as a useful item around the house.

Cups & Mugs

Once you’ve got a set of Pebeo paint pens made for glass or porcelain, the possibilities are endless (and pretty fast). Make a teacup and saucer for a coffee or tea aficionado, draw ahandwriting paper motif mug for your favorite teacher, or make customized painted glassware or a cross-stitch-inspired mug for just about anyone on your list.

Paper Gems

I love paper for many reasons — it’s incredibly versatile, affordable, easy to recycle and repurpose, and lends itself to experiments and quick projects. Make globe garlands from recycled maps for a faraway friend with a case of wanderlust. Fold up jewel-toned paper gems for a treasure chest effect. Print out and fold weekly planners for a list-making fiend, or make paper dolls for an imaginative kid.

Tools of the Trade

Why not make your artist, crafter, or designer friend a handy tool to support their practice and inspire fresh creativity? Make a recycled hanging notepad or mini matchbook sketchbook for notes and sketches. Create a custom bulletin board for a studio wall — just the thing for pinning up visual inspiration or even making a visual map of Etsy sales or contacts across the country. Using an old wool sweater, stitch up a laptop sweater cozy; you can also scale this pattern fit just about any device. For the crafty set, sew a skinny pincushion designed to nestle right up against a sewing machine, or try your hand at making a knitting mushroom, a classic knitting tool for making I-cords.

Pet Presents

Shower a pet lover with quick gifts for their furry friends. Pay tribute to a precious pup with a silhouette tote bag, or whip up a handmade leash with your choice of cotton webbing and ribbon for a stylish trip to the dog park. Cat toys are a fun and quick gift. Try making a fewpom-pom toys or a catnip stuffed mouse toy. Meow!
Happy handmade holidays to you and yours!


http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/how-tuesday-last-minute-gifts/?ref=fp_blog_title

Etsy Gift Guide for Your Best Friends

Gifts For Your Best Friends

Story by  joslyn

Published on Nov 25, 2011 in Shop

Photo by Is Was and Will Be

Joslyn Taylor is the founder of Simple Lovely, a lifestyle blog that chronicles her love for design, fashion, art and food. In addition, she is a founding partner in tinyDallas, which focuses on raising kids in a creative and mindful way in her adopted hometown. She also is a freelance writer contributing to local publications such as The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas edition of Edible Magazine and Dallas Child Magazine.

I’m a bit of an obsessive gift giver — I plan, ruminate on the recipient and make lists before deciding what to buy. The act of selecting a truly meaningful gift for another person gives you a chance to really celebrate them, to consider what they love, their interests and passions.

I think the best gift is a combination of something useful and beautiful — something the recipient probably wouldn’t buy for themselves but will use and love. No dust collectors or fodder for re-gifting allowed.

The most fun (in my opinion) is sleuthing out a gift for a sister or best friend: something that honors your relationship. The ladies in my life tend to run the gamut – there are staunch foodies, earthy gals, accessory lovers, nesters — so I’ve pulled together some of my favorite picks for each. Enjoy!

For The Soulful Fashionista

[Clockwise from top left: Sailor's knot blueberry leather key fob fromautomaticsweetheart; Rose gold sparkle clutch from Scout & Catalogue; Gold earrings with gemstone from lovejujube; Triangle pendent necklaces fromamerrymishap; Grey poppy silk day dress from byrachelrose; The skyscraper necklace from ISWAS + WILLBE]

This bright blue key fob would seriously lower the risk of losing your keys.

I love this sweet, glittery pouch for stashing coins and business cards.

These simple gold earrings would dress up a simple black top.

Triangle necklace: One of Jenn’s clay triangle necklaces would be a perfect everyday piece.

This silk day dress is like a wearable work of art.

I love the mix of rustic black lava rock with the modern pop of pink in this necklace.

For The Nester

[Clockwise from top left: 2012 trellus calendar from Michelle Armas; Saucer/spoon rest from Dawn Dishaw Ceramics; Winter coats painting from Kiki & Polly; "Love" black lines noteset from NEAPOLITAN; Mid-century brass owl tray fromVieuxDesign; Modern white mobile from AM radio]

Michelle Armas is a favorite artist of mine — her yearly calendar is a way to share the love with all my nearest and dearest.

I like this blue pottery saucer to store rings.

I love the sentimentality of this sweet winter coat print.

These hand-painted love notecards would be perfect for my Luddite letter writing sister.

This mid-century brass owl would look great atop a stack of books.

And I’m a bit obsessed with these artful himmeli mobiles.

For The Naturalist

[Clockwise from top left: 100 succulent plant rosettes from Succulent Designs;Yarrow mound from flores del sol; Cedar spring air plant terrarium from Sea & Asters; Table top forest terrarium from CaptainCat]

I love the idea of pitching in with a few friends to get someone special an over-the-top gift. I think kick-starting someone’s garden with 100 succulents would do the trick, yes?

This sweet yarrow mound would be fool-proof for a green thumb-challenged buddy.

I love these artful, unique takes on a terrarium, and the vessels are just as pretty as the plants.

For The Foodie

[Clockwise from top left: Folded salt and pepper cellars with spoon from Pigeon Toe Ceramics; Winter fruit print from clairenereim; Wood serving board fromTimber Green Woods; Pit-fired tumbler with ceramic glaze from ClayWoodStone;Fleur de Sel caramels from The Caramel Jar; Rosemary tangelo orange marmalade from cupboardcook]

Sculptural salt and pepper cellars are simple enough to mesh with any décor.

I love framed art in the kitchen; the winter fruit print is an all-time favorite.

I’d give this beautiful natural edge wood serving board with a hunk of good cheese.

These gorgeous ceramic tumblers would be perfect for tea and could do double duty as a vase.

Food gifts like fleur de sel caramels and artisanal marmalades are my go-to for holiday hostesses.

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/gifts-for-your-best-friends/?ref=fp_blog_title

All my Etsy Orders have started Arriving - WooHoo!

Like I posted earlier, I've done a LOT of my Christmas shopping this year on etsy.com, and I'm thrilled with the items I've received so far. Unlike auction sites, stores, etc...Etsy sellers go the extra mile to include freebies, wrap items with special care or in fun/unique ways. Sometimes the package is just as cool as what's in it.  So, I'm definitely taking notes from other sellers. I've gotten the most yummy smelling candles and soaps of the purest ingredients. I've purchase unique gift items like Beerings - adorable brass rings for men that are also bottle openers!  I just received the most precious tiles (recycled of course) with hilarious sayings on them for your best friend, sister-in-law...I can't wait to give them!
What else...Oh, glasses made from recycled beer bottles and root beer bottles. They're so awesome!
Nothing has disappointed.
And I've been having a blast joining in the BNR and BNS in the Treasury. That's where you look at that treasury of items someone put together, and when you buy 1 of them, the curator replaces that item with 1 of yours from your store. That's Buy and Replace or Buy and Stay. The BNS is in the Forums. That's one where you buy an item from 1 of the listed stores, and then your store is added to the list. It stays on that list as long as you remember to check in & give a "shout out" daily. If you forget & get knocked off the list 1 day, you just buy something again to get back on.
They're a lot of fun, and we all work at promoting those treasuries/forums via twitter, FB, etc. I've really seen my page views go up this week and I've had 5 sales! WooHoo!
Well, gotta go for now...the big Garage Sale is on tomorrow at Mom & Dad's, and I've gotta get busy dragging stuff over there!