Christmas

Merry Christmas Wishes
From 101lifeStyle.com

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas:

4.Christmas Gifts For Kids:

Personalised Stuffed Toys:

Your Kids favourite stuffed toy personalized with an Adorable outfit that says Merry Christmas / Happy Jingle-Jangle etc will sure to brighten up your child and make the gift all the more special.If you are unable to make a stuffed toy on your own, you can also buy a stuffed toy and personalize it at home.
Steps To Create One at Home:
Materials Needed:
Clothes of your choice(you will need, clothes of two contrasting colours, one for the stuffed toy and another for its dress); scissors; different colored thread and yarn ; a sewing machine if possible ; filling.

Method:
On the larger cloth draw a sketch with a light colored marker (but be sure you can see it) of the animal or person you'd like to make. Be sure to leave about a 1/4 inch of cloth that you'll sew. Cut out two figures from the sketch you've made. If you want to add anything now, go ahead. Sew the two together, leaving a hole to stuff the animal. Stuff the animal with cotton or other material. Make sure it's not too tight, and don't understuff it! (lay your head on the animal to see if you're comfortable, since many people sleep with stuffed animals, especially kids) Sew the hole closed, either by hand or with a sewing machine. Add embellishments! Take a rounded needle to make the eyes by either using a button or just stitching a circle. Add a mouth with a black yarn or draw one on! Draw ears on the same cloth (or a different one to mix it up), cut them out and sew them on. You can add pink fabric to the inside of the ear if you want to. Add anything else, like tails or whatever you want, by drawing them on a cloth and sewing them on.
How To Decorate:
Pick the other piece of cloth and according to the Stuffed animals measurements, double fold the cloth and draw out a vest or a dress for it. Cut the cloth leaving a 1 inch extra border.Sew firmly leaving the neck , hands and the bottom open.You can also sew a message like “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays”, “Have Super Fun” etc.Clothe the stuffed animal.You can also buy a small cap or fix a small patch of hair on the head (avoid if the gift is meant for small children). Put it in a cardboard box, wrap it up with bright Christmas papers and tie ribbons and add a tag.

Tips:
An easy way to make the front and back of the toy identical is to fold the cloth in half, draw the design, and cut both halves out at the same time.
Try to hide messy ends of string as best you can. Sew very strongly - a sewing machine would work best. If you add a bow to your stuffed animal, sew it on tightly so that it won't fall off. If you would like a pop out nose cut three triangles and sew them all together then sew onto your animal.

Breakfast Sets:

Materials Needed:
A non-breakable breakfast set (plates, trays, mug, bowls, spoons and fork); pencil and paper: Pebeo Porcelaine 150 glaze (sold at many art supply stores); Watercolor brush or cotton swabs;

Method:
Try out a few designs on paper before decorating. When ready, lay the item to be decorated first eg mug on its side and apply the glaze, which is a little thicker than India ink, with the brush or a cotton swab. Let the painted mug air-dry for at least 24 hours. Set the glaze by baking the mug in a preheated 325 degree oven for 35 minutes. Similarly you can do the other items, namely bowls, and plates.
Tips: To keep the project cost efficient, pick up only primary colors (red, yellow and blue) and mix them to create a variety of hues.

Handmade Birthday Album:

With so many beautiful papers and gift wrap selections available, creative album possibilities are endless.

Materials Needed:
2 mat boards, 7" square; 2 sheets of decorative paper, cut to 8" squares; 2 pieces cardstock, 6-1/2" square; 1 piece cardstock, 6-1/2" x 7"; 6 square envelopes, 6-1/2" square; 32" ribbon; Ruler; Scissors; Bone folder or scoring tool; CraftTac dry adhesive;

Method:
After cutting decorative paper to size, miter the corners for easier folding Then, coat decorative paper with dry adhesive and press over one of the mat cover boards. Fold edges of paper over and press down to secure. Repeat with remaining mat cover board. Place a piece of 6-1/2" x 7" cardstock on a flat surface and score at 1/2" intervals along the 7" side Once cardstock is scored, accordion fold to 6-1/2" x 1/2" to create the album spine. Next, glue ribbon across the center of the inside of back cover board. Then, glue one end tab of the accordion fold spine to back cover and the other end tab to inside of front cover. Use cardstock cut to 6-1/2" (square) to both inside covers to cover the tabs and ribbon tie. Next, glue six square envelopes into the accordion folds of the spine. (Note: Avoid pushing the envelope edge all the way into the slot. Leave about 1/16" from the innermost point.) When the book is opened at center, there should be three envelopes on the left and three on the right. The front of the pockets should now face the front of the book. Place glue on the righthand side of the first "mountain" fold. Align the edges of the pocket envelope with cover and press firmly into place. Attach second and third pockets in the same manner. Working backward, attach pocket 6 to the left side of the last mountain fold. Repeat with remaining two pockets, ending with pockets 3 and 4 in the same groove at center of book. Align pocket edges again and press until dry. Embellish book as desired -- stamping, decoupage, feathers, beads or mementos -- anything goes!

Creative Game Sets:

Depending on the age group of the child, you can gift him building blocks, puzzles, Money exchange games, Video games, Board games, drawing games, Mind games, word games, Team games, Guessing games, card games and plenty of other games which are available in the market. The games will be all the more fun if they are simple and easy to play reading instructions.

Handmade Piggy Banks:

Here is a fun and very messy craft to make. Gift this piggy bank to your child for storing all his loose coins/pocketmoney. Make sure to wear old clothing and cover your working area with lots of newspaper.
Materials Needed:
Homemade paste (Combine six cups of water with 3 cups of flour and heat until mixture is like thick cream. Allow mixture to cool.); Newspaper; scissors; A Balloon; Masking Tape; Cardboard or Boxboard; one cup from an egg carton; Pipe cleaner; Paint, paint brushes; varnish or Hodge Podge; .

Method:
While paste is cooling, collect your supplies. Blow up the balloon and tie a knot at end. This will be the pig's body. Cut or tear newspaper into strips. Tape the cup from the egg carton on knot end of the balloon. Cut two ears from the box board or cardboard and tape onto the balloon.
To make the legs: Cut two circles from the box board or cardboard. Cut circles in half. Take each half circle and form cones Attach the legs with tape to the underside of your piggy.
Cut and bend pipe cleaner into a curly tail and tape onto the large end of the balloon. Paste on approximately 4 layers of newspaper strips over the entire pig. Allow to dry for at least two days. Cut a rectangular coin slot in the top of your pig, then burst the balloon with a pin. Decorate with paints and allow to dry. Apply at least one coat of varnish or Hodge Podge to protect and strengthen your masterpiece.

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