DIY for the Grownups

DIY gifts for the grown ups were harder than for the kids. I made stuff for the girls that I had already made for myself or I thought I might enjoy. I made each one a organizational clutch and some upcycled t-shirt bags. I also made KC, B's girlfriend, a couple of pillows.

I made the clutch for myself for my trip to Italy. I wanted something lightweight to carry things like shout wipes, a few pills, a sewing kit and bandaids. I hate it when you take that stuff and it all scatters into the bottom of your purse, but I don't want to take the whole box/bottle. I loved mine and thought Mom, Meg and KC would, too. When I made mine, I used a potholder I found for .99 at Walmart. I wanted theirs to be a little classier, but no more expensive :)  I found some cute quilted Japanese fabric in a remnant bin. I was able to get 4 from the piece of fabric and it was only around $2. Even LESS than a Walmart potholder! After cutting them the approximate size of a potholder, I finished the edges with coordinating bias tape, using a little more of the tape to make a loop.  I used 6 ziploc snack bags per clutch, alternating them from side to side and securing with some tape. I zigzagged up the middle and, TADAAA!, gift made. I finished it with a vintage button from my stash of buttons. Mom loves it because it's so lightweight and she plans on keeping her checkbook in it along with coupons. Meg is using hers for cash organization instead of the Dave Ramsey-ish envelopes. 

both sides of the quilted fabric

Vintage button and bias tape loop

Wish I had taken a pic of the inside, check out the link if you want to see it.

I also made reusable, upcycled grocery bags from some old t-shirts we had. I like the idea of reusing bags, but I don't like how bulky they can sometimes be. The insides are hard to clean, too. I made 2 for mom and Meg, 1 for KC (hers was the best, an old "I heart NY" shirt), and a lunch bag for B made from a kids shirt. I cut out the sleeves, leaving the seam of the sleeve intact to reinforce the "handle". I then used a plate to trace a semicircle for the opening of the bag. I didn't finish the edges or anything, just closed up the bottom on the inside of the shirt. A 10 minute project for all of them and something they can throw in the car to take into the store for shopping. They are lightweight and easy to clean, too.

Old shirts

I used a plate to cut the opening for the bag

New bags

I saw some signs on my way to work that said KC-this or KC-that and I really wanted to use these for her, making something personal. At first I was going to just do some prints, but you never know about wall space and if it fits their style. I had some leftover printable fabric so I printed the pictures I took one morning onto the fabric and then made pillows with them. I had some vintage tablecloth that I was saving for something special. If a Christmas gift for your son's girlfriend isn't special, I don't know what is. This was safe, too, because if she didn't like it, she could always bury them under other pillows.

Vintage table cloth

The back of the pillows

The front 

It wasn't too hard for the guys, I just focused on what they like. This is where my major fail came in. I misjudged the intensity of what my dad likes and went for something I thought he would enjoy, instead. For B, I made I that t-shirt bag with a kid's shirt to use as a lunch bag and about 10 days worth of frozen meals so he can come and get what he needs and not have to cook/buy lunch for a couple of weeks or more. He loved it. Having opened that before my dad opened his, Dad thought I had made him food, too. But no, I made some (I thought) wonderful Vick's shower disks.  I made them in silver cupcake liners and put them in a plastic Glad container to keep them from smelling up the room. Well, he thought I made divinity (it was white and candy looking) and took a HUGE bite before asking what it was. Like I said, major misstep for me. He loves food the way I love food and thought that's what I would make for him. Don't know if he's going to enjoy those shower disks as much now that he's eaten one! For Eddie, I had already bought him some vintage pharmacy bottles at the WLYS and since that predated the DIY Christmas mandate, it was allowed.

My other major fail came with the adult gift, too. More on that later.

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