Before having children I tried making handmade gifts for others. One year I painted ceramic figurines, another year I painted wooden sculptures and another year I tried making candles (oh, that was a mess!) I did make a shadow box for my dad and another for my mother-in-law. My dad loves fishing so I made a fishing theme inside. I made it look like the inside of a fishing cabin where I glued a small table and chair and a tackle box and fishing rod and even some small fishing magazines. These are all items I bought at a craft store that is supposed to be for doll houses. It turned out so adorable. It hangs in the extra bedroom at my parents' house. I wish I had a picture to show you. I made a garden theme for my mother-in-law. Those were fun to put together.
This year I decided to make salt dough ornaments with the kids. The recipe is on my box of cookie cutters. I pulled out all the Christmas shapes and then mixed up the dough (using flour, salt and water). I rolled out the dough, just like you would when making cookies, and I pressed each shape with the cookie cutters. I stuck them in the oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes just like the recipe said. Well, let's just say, the ornaments didn't come out right after it baked. Some were still soft in the middle and others grew bubbles and got all lumpy. I have no idea what happened there but I allowed the kids to paint them anyway.
There may be a few worth saving but for the most part these ornaments didn't turn out as I had hoped. At least the kids had fun.
Without fail, year after year since my son was born, my most favorite gift to create and give is a calendar for my husband to use at work. I've created the calendars at either Artscow or Shutterfly but if I'm running low on time (like this year) I just create one at Walgreens and it's usually ready the same day. The thing I love, love, love about Artscow and Shutterfly is that when you sign up for an account and create/buy products you will randomly get e-mail offers for free or discounted items. Same with Walgreens. I'm always getting e-mails for discounted prints or a free 8x10 print. I've also used those sites to create photobooks too.
And I can't forget this one! I always wanted to be a writer. That is my dream. Well, if you can imagine, becoming a writer and getting books published isn't easy. A few years ago I decided to create a fun book for my parents and I found a website that allowed me to do just that. I wrote the story and my husband drew the pictures. I wrote the book about two dogs my parents used to own, Boston Terriers named Rocky and Barney. Rocky and Barney were brothers from the same litter and they were such humorous dogs with different personalities. They really kept us entertained. So it only made sense to create a children's story about Rocky and Barney. Of course, if you didn't know these two, you wouldn't understand it. That's what made it so special. You can see the book here. Rocky and Barney's Day Out. That's probably the most heartfelt gift I ever made anyone.
Love your post! Those shadow boxes must have been really special. I've never been able to successfully make salt dough either - it always turns out as you say....someone did tell me to add more salt than the recipe called for but we've not got around to trying it again....I ADORE your book! What an amazingly thoughtful (and very cool!) present.....love it!!!! [A fellow Blogmas-er]
ReplyDeleteYour shadow boxes sound beautiful, I would have loved to have seen a photo. Love the salt dough ornaments, always a great idea when you have little ones :)
ReplyDeleteAs for your book, oh my gosh, it is adorable, what a great gift.