I began doing this many years ago. We have two children (now grown and moved out, boy and girl) and two "adopted" (boy and girl, also grown and moved
out) and for birthdays their gift was to be “Monarch” for the day. They decided what to watch on tv, they chose the games to play (we played a lot
of board games) they chose the meals. Very few purchased gifts. The same for Christmas. Except everyone would give me their favorite meals and
desserts and we would have them spread out throughout the month. Most of the gifts are homemade for example:
*A travel game made from felt, one side checkers and the other tic-tac-toe. (can be for boy or girl)
This is a no sew project, just use felt and the “wonderunder” or “stitchwithcery” stuff, all you need is an iron. with the "game board" made
like a pocket to hold the pieces.
*A poncho made from a fleece blanket (more girly
)
*Sewn pj bottoms, either pants or shorts (boy or girl)
*Hubby a bucket buddy made from old jeans
*Made a book for the “String Game” it had many of the directions to make the different shapes (remember “cats cradle?”) - that could go either
way, but to me more girl.
*macramé plant hangers (all it is is tying knots!!!) - adults
*crocheted sponges (work GREAT) - adults
*for all my kids made a binder with their favorite recipes in it and old family recipes with who they were from – and if they were handwritten I
photocopied them along with any time we had “special” recipes or traditions (is: cabbage rolls with a foil wrapped dime in one roll for New Years
with Black Eyed Peas etc and why we had them) Now every year I send them new recipes I think they may like to add to their book.
*I have made lap quilts from the kids old clothes for the grandparents
*crocheted scarves and face warmers (Hubby’s favorite) - all
*one year for daughter’s birthday (her birthday is dec 31st!) we went camping, made her favorite cake at the campsite using a box oven and her
favorite foods and we just had a blast. Cold, but fun
Have made many, many, things over the years, those were what I could remember off the top of my head. They had a few purchased items too but not a
lot. Once the kids hit 16 their purchased gifts changed to towels and sheets and plate ware, pots and pans, silverware, utensils, etc.
*this year, pj bottoms for mother,
*crocheted fingerless gloves for the girls (being able to text is more important than warm fingers! Actually not fingerless, the tip of the forefinger
and thumb flip off)
*painting a game from wood pieces (zombie game) for son along with a coffin to store the “dice”, (we both so enjoy zombies! I am also designing
some kitchen towels for him and the theme is “zombie chef” – thank goodness his girlfriend/future DIL has our sense of humor!)
*adopted son a lap quilt made from our holey jeans (he misses us – is in another state
)
*step-father I make brownies every year for him,
*sister am sewing a sea monster onto a shower curtain (she loves the sea monsters),
*nephew will make a mat for his legos and a star wars clock with miniature star wars figures spray painted silver and glued at the numbers.
*Along with a dozen cookies for everyone. And gluten free fudge for mom.
*Also for daughters birthday either a bed pillowchair or a crocheted shade umbrella and an mp3 player cover.
*Hubby will get nice warm crocheted wool socks (he works outside) and another face warmer and every year he gets homemade soft bread pretzels.
*And every year we BOTH get the knowledge that we don’t have to dread any credit card payments due – we don’t have any!!!
edit on 6-11-2011 by Casing because: (no reason given)
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