My daughter always wants to make presents for everyone come holiday time. She came up with this Felt Heart Ornament project all on her own. I think she did an excellent job. I’m still waiting to receive mine! She gave everyone else their ornament yesterday. She had tucked them in their stockings for St. Nicholas day, so sweet that she is always thinking about others.

Handmade Holidays | How To | Felt Heart Ornament

Supplies:

• Pink Craft Felt
• Embroidery Floss
• Needle
• Scissors
• Poly-fil Stuffing
• Black Stamping Ink (We used Staz-on)
• Letter Stamps
• Assorted Picture Stamps
• Ribbon or Beads

How To:

1. Cut two identical heart shapes from felt.
2. Use your stamps and ink to personalize each side of the heart with an image.
3. Sew your hearts together using a needle and embroidery floss.
4. Add any embellishments such as beads and ribbon as you sew.
5. Before sewing the entire heart closed add some stuffing, then finish sewing the heart closed.
6. Use the embroidery floss to sew a loop at the top of the heart so it can hang.
7. Tuck in a stocking for a Christmas morning surprise!

The post Handmade Holidays | Felt Heart Ornaments appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

{Handmade Holiday Idea #2}

Hot Chocolate Mix in a cute package is an easy to make gift. I find these little packs are great gifts for co-workers and school teachers. They are simple, thoughtful and usable. Use my free download for the printable gift wrapper to create your own.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients and supplies you will need:

Supplies:

• Cello bag (not wider than 4″)
• Ribbon
• Tape
• Hole Punch
• Hot Chocolate Gift Wrapper Download (Free Below)

Ingredients:

• Hot Cocoa Mix
• Mini Marshmallows
• Chocolate Chips
• Mini Candy Cane

How To | Hot Chocolate Gift Wrapper

1. Print out and assemble Hot Chocolate Gift Wrapper. The wrapper is in two pieces on the printable sheet. Cut out the pieces and tape them together at the bottom where directed. Fold at fold lines.

2. Follow the directions on your Hot Chocolate Mix and add enough for one 8oz. cup to your the bag. Next add the marshmallows and chocolate chips.

3. Roll over top of bag until it reaches desired height to fit inside gift wrapper. Tape bag closed. Tape bag to one side of gift wrapper.

4. Use your hole punch to punch two holes (try to go through to bag also) at the top of gift wrapper. Use hole punch to punch hole at top of candy cane wrapper. Thread ribbon through holes, then thread one side of the ribbon through candy cane wrapper. Tie ribbon and trim off extra length.

5. Present your handmade gift with a smile!

Wrapped and Ready to Gift

*Free Downloads:

Deer Theme Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Wrapper

Holly Theme Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Wrapper

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Here are some great links to check out to gather inspiration for more gift ideas:

• Amy from Inspireco made this most delicious digital magazine featuring a number of talented artists (including Mary Engelbreit). You can find oodles of inspiration for holiday decor and gifts here: inspired ideas
• Martha has a great list of ideas for Christmas Ornaments: Christmas Ornament Photo Gallery
• Here is a beautiful way to send your Christmas greetings and save paper. I love the way it still comes in an envelope: Paperless Post

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The post Printable | Hot Chocolate Mix Gift appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

The months of November and December are a very busy time of year at our house. I love to prepare activities to do with my children each day of Advent. I also love to make handmade gifts for friends and family.

This year I am busy preparing my Advent activities, which will center around the Jesse Tree. I will be posting a children’s advent craft focused on the Jesse Tree theme every day in December. I will be posting instructions and more details a little later this month (this all depends on if the baby comes early or not). All of you who want to join in and do the same activities with your kids will have time to prepare and pick up supplies before December begins.

On another note, a lot of bloggers are posting ideas for enjoying a Handmade Holiday. I am hoping to post at least four handmade projects you can create and give as gifts. These are simple gifts that don’t require too much time or money. This calendar is the first of four (or more) handmade gift posts for November.

I made this calendar project for Colorbök back in 2009. I think it makes a perfect gift. It is a great size for hanging in an office or on the refrigerator. I slipped my picture behind a photo frame so that I could easily switch it out every month or two.

How To | Photo Calendar

Ingredients:

• 8.5 x 11 Scrapbooking Paper
• Assorted Scrapbooking Products
• Adhesive
• Stapler
• Favorite Photo
• 2011 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar
• Eyelet (optional)

1. Print calendar and cut in half. Staple to bottom of 8.5 x 11 Scrapbooking Paper.

2. Decorate top of calendar page using scrapbooking products. Add your photo in the appropriate spot.

3. Set an eyelet in the top center of the page to create a place for it to hang from. You could also tie a ribbon through the eyelet and create a loop for hanging.

4. Wrap in a pretty mailer envelope. Another option is to use one of these printed file folders to enclose your calendar and then wrap a pretty ribbon around the outside. Printed File Folder

Free Download: 2011 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

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The post How To | Photo Calendar Gift appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.