It’s the first Wednesday of August, so once again it’s five DIY
gifts you can make now for the holiday season. At the end of the post are links
to the DIYS from previous years.
Infinity Scarf: With
all the T-shirts lying around at this time of year, grab an Xlarge and some
scissors. Cut off the hem. Next cut below the armholes, or if there is a large
print on the front, just below the design. Now stretch and stretch until you
have a nifty Infinity scarf in less than 5 minutes
Another approach is to use fabric and sew one. This is a
good tutorial on making an infinity scarf. You can make the scares out of a variety of styles of fabric and in
various lengths, so don’t feel limited by the size and type of material used in
this video. You can make them out of polar fleece, wool, jersey, flannel, knit fabrics or whatever strikes your fancy. Have
an old pair of pajama bottoms handy? Check out how to make an infinity scarf
from them.
Knife Block or Strip:
For the person who has lots of knives, this is wonderful idea that takes little
time and is inexpensive. I have knife strips in my kitchen, which I love. For the wood workers, check
out how to make Rainbow Wood Magnetic Knife Strip.
Fire Starters:
I’ve made these for the last several years and my friends with wood stoves,
fire pits, and fireplaces love them.There are lots of ways to do this, but this
is my preferred method as it is inexpensive to make, looks great, and is quick
to do.
• Collect old candle fragments-or purchase cheap ones
from the Dollar Store.
• Collect pine cones and let dry for a few days so they open
up and will crumble a bit when you crush them. Pick up pine needles, small
berries or other small woodsie items.
• Purchase a tube of cotton pads from the Dollar Store.
These will be in the cosmetic section as they are used for removing make up.
• Use a double boiler method to melt the wax. Be sure to use a dedicated pot. If you have Scentsy warmer
that will also work.
• Lay out wax paper and scatter it with pieces of pine cone,
needles, flexes of bark, dried berries, herb pieces etc.
• Immerse the pad into the melted max for a few seconds
until it is covered in wax and remove with tweezers or another tool. Lay on the
prepared wax paper. Flip it over so both sides are evenly coated and then set
aside to dry and cool.
• When cool, place as many as you want into a cellophane
bag, along with a note that explains that these are fire starters.
If you come across small pine cones, you can always make
pine cone fire starters, which will look very attractive in a gift box.
Flavored Syrups:
This is a good time to test out which syrups you like so that when it’s closer
to the holiday season, you can make a batch or two to go along with someone’s
favorite coffee, ice cream or even a box of pancake mix. It’s also a good time
to check out tag sales and thrift stores for interesting bottles to hold the
syrup.
The basic recipe is 1 cup water and 1 cup water, heated and
stirred until the sugar is melted. If you have old Candy Canes try 1 cup water
and 12 standard size candy canes. Place in a pot and bring to a boil stirring
constantly. DIY Flavored Syrups
Book with Activities:
This may be more appropriate for the child on your gift list, but depending on
the book and the adult, you may come up with some clever ideas. Start by
picking a book that you think the person will like. Go through it and come up
with ideas they can do when they are reading a particular chapter.
I’ve been working on this for a family in my community. One
of our local grandmothers wrote a book about her life on a farm in the 1940s
and 50s. So along with the book, I’m including cookie cutters and the author’s
sugar cookie recipe. Since hot chocolate was something the one room school
house teacher would make during the harsh days of winter, I’m including instant
hot chocolate mix that I make myself. All of the items are set in a mixing bowl
from that era.
Vacation is a good time for “junkin’ and yard sales. Never
know what treasurers you’ll find.
Take Fives from Previous Years
• 2010: Candles; Eyeglass case and bookmarks; fabric
flower brooch
• 2011: Environmentally
friendly cleaning products; Cookie Cutter Fudge; Balloon Candle Holders; Popsicle
Bracelets; Frame a game Board
• 2012: Make a variety of items using the sun including
sun stencils and art work
• 2013: From fruitcakes to fabric covered canvas
Not interested in today’s activity? Check out the Take a Break Pinterest for lots of ideas.
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