crafts

yeah. My mom is really busy with work and chores, so she really doesn't have time for that.

But i really enjoy making things, art class is definitley my favorite!

:)

For Christmas I don't ever make my kids gifts. They would think I lost my cookies:)

For Halloween I do make the costumes~ they are always cuter homemade anyways. Valentines day I make something special for my kids. Usually a huge heart shaped cookie.

I've done both. Since my son was left home, I've been making him boxer shorts but he told me last year that he has enough to do him for a lifetime. I loved picking out silly fabrics and making them. I've made PJ pants, blankets, quilts, afghans and even a coat once for my daughter. She was at OU and I made a reversible coat, in cream and crimson! I just don't have much time to do that now but I love making gifts for people. I think about the person I'm doing it for and pray for them as I make the gifts so there's lots of love in every one.

I have my kids make stuff on just about any/all holidays. I usually have them pick out at least 1 thing they would enjoy doing for the holiday. We spend alot of time at Michaels (for those not familiar, its a craft store here). I take them all there at least once a month to pick out a few things to make or do. The boys like making the wooden insects and cars. My daughter likes to make smelly candles and lip gloss. Then every month the store by us does at least 1 family event where you pay a set price (usually $5.00) and the kids make whatever craft they are demonstrtating (we went over Christmas and they each made an ornament). Its tiem consuming, I know where the kids are, its interactive, and its a family thing and its close to home. I have all kinds of things that the kids have made. They each have a treasure box they made and they keep personal items in them which usually vary each month.

I have four kids and I always try to make them at least one item and buy the rest. When they were very young (3 out of 4 are now teens) I used to make them sweaters but now they don't really go for the homemade look. I have made them knitted and crocheted toys and they still sleep with them sometimes or display them in their rooms. I have also made rag rugs for my daughters bedrooms and pillows for their beds.

At halloween I always make their costumes. My kids have never had store bought costumes. I would say that 99% of the kids at school do, but not mine. They actually like the costumes that I make. I am not much of a sewer, but I do my best. Some of the costumes that I have made were fairly easy like cat hats, Lion wigs and tails, Dalmation puppy hat and tail, strawberry hat and coat, pumpkin hat and sweater, etc. but some were pretty difficult. I'm actually quite proud of the results. A few years ago all four of them were characters from the Lord of the Rings movies. They were dressed as Strider/Aragorn, Frodo Baggins, Eowyn, and Arwen. I made everything including the dresses, cloaks, wigs, hairy hobbit feet and more. It took quite awhile, but the results were worth it.

Most of the times I do things for myself. Its cheaper that way. It is good to personalize your gifts or how you make things.

I always consult this site for help on doing things http://www.gifti.us