presents Archives - Lulastic and the Hippyshake

25 handmade gifts for grown ups

30 December, 2012

At anyone time, if you were to peer into the window of my home, you would see me doing one of two things; reading a book or working on a little crafty something to go in my box of handmade gifts. Yes, my dishes (and my kids) are a bit dirty. But I am happy in my soul and so our home and children are too! (I jest… sort of.)

So addicted am I to crafting, that if I am away from my workstation for a few days I start to get a bit twitchy and end up doing things like trying to make origami out of leaves on a hiking holiday, or rummaging through host’s drawers for a sewing kit. I need to make myself a tiny mobile craft kit to soothe these craft cravings. (*DRAGON’S DEN ALERT*) But one of the massive bonuses of an insatiable crafting urge is that it saves us a stack of money. I have found that one happy way of hanging on to pennies but living generously is by crafting handmade gifts for every occasion. So there you will find me, burrowing a way on a pair of slippers or gluing glitter al over a kids toy.

Whilst I mostly tend to focus on handmade crafts for kids today I wanted to focus on handmade gifts for grown Ups. Here I present to you my top 25 handmade gifts- the things I have most enjoyed making, and giving.Bottle Top Magnets are always going to be a winner – who doesn’t need as many magnets going to hold up those lists and kids drawings?! These can be personalised so easily. If you haven’t played with resin yet, I REALLY recommend you give it a shot it is SO much fun! Natural homemade body scrub with 2 ingredients – this post includes a How To for the beautiful upcycled jar.Following right along the beauty path- I made a few bottles of South London Rosehip Oil, rosehips foraged from the fair streets of Peckham. It is dead easy but creates a most luxurious gift.This lace bowl was wicked to make and with it’s useful but vintage feel is appreciated by EVERYONE! handmade lace bowl I made these decoupage bird decorations for our Christmas tree, but I was so pleased with them I might do a batch as presents. Who doesn’t love a little bird hanging on the corner of their mirror? Opening a gift and finding a pair of slippers is like being given a cuddle, I reckon. They are the most cosy, pleasant gift to receive and these ones are made out of the armpit of an old jump, and take SIX minutes.
You know how impossible it is to resist buying vintage tourist spoons from charity shops? Here is a little gift that gives them a new purpose- a spoon peg rack!You may have picked up by now that I love playing with resin.I use ice cube trays a lot and had a lot of fun making these stars with paper which I made in to jewelry.My Go-To hand made present though has to be a little framed crossstich. I choose unexpected quotes or song lyrics and frame them in a little charity shop frame. They can be stiched so quickly and whilst doing other things but really show a lot of loving thought.

As Christmas looms- what dear friend WOULDN’T want a little collection of blingtastical dino figures? These are fun to make and would adorn any festive table or even beauty cabinet. (Imagine a dino holding out your stick of mascara every morning? Bloody brill.)

Here are a few of my favourite gift ideas from the beauty section of my other blog, Wonderthrift…

I whipped up an amazing homemade calendula balm that can be given in a beautifully tagged jar. It can be used for almost every skin ailment but is the perfect gift for the gardener in your life….
soothing marigold balm this lip soother an absolute breeze. Just two ingredients but it will restore lips to luscious Betty Boop style loveliness.

This body scrub is quick to make, costs very little and is the perfect emergency (AH, CRAP IT IS MUM”S BIRTHDAY TODAY) gift. Make a bit extra to keep on your own shelf as it is beeeeeyootiful.

And finally, in a cheeky gesture my 10th idea is not just one but, well, TEN. You see, I went to choose one of these teacups ideas and couldn’t choose. They would all be a delightful gift. So go right ahead and give one of these crafty ways to upcycle teacups a crack…

What have you enjoyed making this year? What was your favourite handmade gift to receive? And are you vowing to be thrifty in 2013?

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Thrifty

Six steps to a thrifty Christmas

22 November, 2012

For the first time since we were students Tim and I are REALLY having to reign it in, money wise. We don’t have a lodger for the first time since having this GIANT mortgage, both of us only work part time and we just spent every last penny on a beautiful van called Betty. Of course, we aren’t poor, we just don’t have any dosh, if you know what I mean. We could get all entrepreneurial, and take extra hours and craft things up and sell and things, but Alan Sugar we’re not. Every spare moment is bound up in Enjoying Life and Committing to the Things We Value, of which money simply isn’t one.

So, this Christmas is becoming Seriously Frugal. Fortunately we have been practicing for a few years now, and here are six ways we are doing it:

Christmas Trees
Every year for the last few years we have picked up a discarded tree from a school or college. It does mean waiting a bit longer- at least mid-December but sometimes you don’t find one until the 20th. But these trees are ENORMOUS and WONDERFUL! Big fatties, we had to push it through our giant front window last year as it wouldn’t squeeze down our hall. The schools are normally thrilled to have it taken off their hands. We gloat as we sail past other massive trees going for £70.

Presents
For the last 3 years we have only do Secret Santa in our family. We agree a price and use an internet service so it is all proper hush, and someone else is in charge. (The one year I did it I managed to know exactly who was buying for who, I well messed it up.) This way someone gets something really thoughtful and there are not piles of pressies sitting around that provoke only pseudo-thanks.

For other people, dear friends and children, I don’t tend to do much, and if I do it nearly ALWAYS involves a jar. (These 18 ways to upcycle your jars should provide some ideas.)

Tim and I have never done proper Christmas presents, we stick to a £10 budget, and I suspect we will do the same with Ramona. I feel pretty passionate about helping Ramona to understand that Things don’t Equal Happiness, and that love can be shown in millions of ways even throughout a traditional period of gift-giving.

Decorations
I haven’t bought any Christmas decorations in my life, I am the opposite of my sister who is obsessed with them. But I have crafted some up over the last couple of years using pegs, old fabric and scrabble letters (sound gorgeous, don’t they?!) and have been rather pleased with myself! This search on Pinterest will hook you up with millions of possibilities.

Food
I have only hosted one family Christmas before and we simply shared the food gathering out. I think this is becoming increasingly normal, as people struggle to find the bulk of money to lay on an exceptional festive spread at their party. I have a friend who every year does Christmas with her old school chums and each year each one brings a different traditional contribution. Just this weekend someone wrote in to the Guardian Money supplement, questioning this practice and the overwhelming response by readers was that guests contributing food made for a special and wonderful celebration. Don’t be shy.

Wrapping
I am officially the world’s worst wrapper (Wrapper that is, not Rapper- in terms of Rapping I am actually rather excellent, particularly with Do the Bartman and Ice Ice Baby). Often my gifts look like I have pulled them out of the bin (I usually have) (JOKES, honest, I only get things out the bin for myself.) (Cor, now I sound bin selfish) because wrapping requires a finesse I don’t have. I always use recycled paper and my pressies always look ugly. However, I have a dear friend who wraps everything with newspaper and her gifts look AMAZING! Just check out the possibilities of using recycled wrapping.

Christmas Frocks
Christmas time is a time to look nice, no? To feel happy with your outfit, to feel fresh. For me, a new frock is synonymous with the festivities and has been since I was a tot. If this is the same for you I have to say: Get ye to a Swap Shop now! I already have a swap organised, at a local cafe down the road. A little google could show up one in your region, and if not just organise one for your street or even just your friends. It is THE thriftiest way to clear out your wardrobe and get some new things in, and have a whale of a time whilst doing it. I could not be more of a fan!

As you can see, I only have 6 areas that I have attacked with my Wand of Frugality. I am sure there are a million more. For those of you who have been doing a thrifty Christmas for yonks, how do you do it? Would love to collect some ideas on here.