As promised, here are my christmas present ideas I am working on. I want everyone to have a homemade gift this year. It will mean alot of crocheting and embroidery at the kids sporting events. Please add your ideas so we can all have a happy, homemade, frugal holiday.

Four blocks of wood stenciled with :N-O-E-L in red and green

Canning labels for Mom

STationary (made with kid's art scanned) envelopes (dollar store) stamps and Address Labels (cute clip art) for kids.

Older relative in nursing home:Chapstick, hand/body lotion, case for glasses, note cards and envelopes, stamps, pen, deck of cards, book (maybe large print), box of candy, a beautiful pillow, lap robe or shawl.

Washcloth ideas:

http://crafterscommunity.com/projects/towel.html http://www.CHATSCO.COM http://www.craftathome.com

Washcloth Dog and Cat -- http://www.home.inreach.com/marthac/craft.html Wash Cloth Rose -- http://www.greencottage.com/Project2.html Wash Cloth bunnies -- http://www.seanet.com/~needlebeetle/washclothbunnies.htm Boo Boo Bunnies -- http://www.craftmallusa.com/projects/booboobunny.htm Towel Bunny – http://www.practicalkitchen.com/database/crafts/dish_towel_bunny.shtml Towel Bunny -- http://crafterscommunity.com/projects/misc/towelbunny.html Different – http://www.barrett-house.com/projects.cfm Towel Angel – http://crafterscommunity.com/projects/misc/towelangel.html Towel Angel – http://www.practicalkitchen.com/database/crafts/towel_angel.shtml Bunnies – http://www.geocities.com/brandi_ad/craft.html

Grinch Lightbulb:http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/momandmecrafts/GrinchInstructions.html

Water bottle holder http://www.crochetpartners.org/Patterns/CPpat164.html

Bun holder crocheted:

http://www.crochetpartners.org/Patterns/CPpat146.html

Scrunchies:

http://www.crochetpartners.org/Patterns/CPpat166.html

Make a pocket for kid's beds (for glasses) and fill with pencils paper, kleenex.

Scrapbooking frames, clipart and backgrounds for scrapbookers:

http://gracefulbee.com/:

http://www.gracefulbee.com/links/ideas.html

Free to print:

http://www.aldergrove.com/joys/free%20to%20print.htm

http://www.coolclipart.com/

http://members.home.net/coble/OpusGraphics/websets.html#wallpaper

http://scrapbooking.about.com/hobbies/scrapbooking/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.activityvillage.co.uk%2Fpatterns.htm

These graphics were obtained from the following sites: www.free-graphics.com/ www.free-clip-art.net/ www.freestuffcenter.com/clipart/ www.chipsahoy.com/index.html www.silverpoint.com/leo/lia/ www.auntie.com/clipart/

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/games.htm

Backgrounds:http://www.papershops.com/papershops/clipart/backgrounds/index.htm

***

Background: http://www.papershops.com/papershops/clipart/backgrounds/index.htm teacup card:http://jersgirl.tripod.com/teacard_missyou.jpg

**** frames:http://members.tripod.com/~jersgirl/frames.html

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

The last few years I have been fortunate enough to stick a couple of deer in the freezer. So when xmas time comes around I have been making VENISON JERKY and giving it out to all the men and boys. They each get a quart ziplock bag full. My wife makes different candies for the women and girls.

We do this because our family has gotten so big that it gets expensive to buy a worthy gift for everybody. We may buy all the children a gift, but when they become an adult we draw names. But everybody will get treats of somesort and thats why we make jerky and candy.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), August 30, 2001.

We do the same--pick names for all the grandkids. But usually the kids get jellies and jams from homegrown stuff (of course the freezer is fair game for farm veggies). Wish I were in your family--that jerky sounds good!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

Last year for the holidays I did "theme" baskets for my children.

For my daughter-in-law, I did an Italian basket. My canned spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce, homemade noodles, homemade breadsticks, etc. I included a pasta bowl set.

For my son, who loves to Bar-B-Q and loves old coke stuff, I did coke paper plates, cups, etc. my canned peaches (for dessert), homemade Bar-B-Q sauce, pickles and the like.

For my oldest, she got homemade jellies, bread, pickles, etc.

It was a pleasure to see their eyes light up at some old favorites.

Because my oldest is now doing her doctorate at Cornell, we live in IL, I am drying stuff for her holdiay gift. Strawberries, peaches, herbs. Things that I can send without worrying about breakage.

My children used to give me coupon books. Example. One coupon was worth them doing the laundry or cooking dinner 5 times. That was always a treat!

The possibilites are endless.

Oh!, what I did one year was make cobbler aprons and monogramed thier names on them. My brother-in-law still has his and I made that one in the 70's.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), August 30, 2001.

Last year, we saw a flannel bathrobe at a craft show for about $60. I made one for my husband for x'mas for about $15. He liked it so much that I had to make him a summer weight one as well. Very easy pattern. Could have made it easier by topstitching instead of hand sewing the hems. Someone else will get one this x'mas. I found an old dress that I had cut out years ago and never put together. I'm going to cut it down and put it together for one of my sisters. My mother-in-law is getting a quilted wall hanging.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), August 30, 2001.

hi Ann - isn't it fun (even though it's a lot of work) to make homemade christmas? I've been trying to do it for years and it's slowly catching on in the extended family. One sis-in-law makes homemade stationary and even incorporates dried flowers from her garden pressed in. I've done x-stitch one year, homemade bakery/baskets one year, and last year was lap throws and pillows. One SIL said it was such a hit that her young kids have about worn their pillows out so has requested new ones and is finding out the themes for me. This year every niece and nephew is getting a muffler I crochet with double yarns in their fav. colors, pretty fast to make. Everytime I get a chance I'm either crocheting or working on a quilt. I didn't get to can as much stuff as I wanted this year so may include a loaf of homemade bread. Using the stuff I have on hand, the only cost is usually mailing expense, which also means I have to be careful how heavy the end packaging turns out. Hope more people add to this thread - always looking for more ideas...:-)

-- yancee in texas (rnanning@comwerx.net), August 30, 2001.

This year I am making stained glass picture frames for each of my children!

Since they are one their own I am going to puchase a nice pinic basket and fill it w/ homemade jams, jellies, sauces ,herbed mustards and vinegars!

I will be reading this to help w/ ideas!!!Thanks for this thread.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), August 30, 2001.

I had a cape pattern that I transfered the top part of to newspaper for patterns and made bed capes for granny and mom. They were just long enough to go to the waist area when laying down, and I put two slits up the front about a foot long so that they could stick out their arms without bunching up the cape. Made them out of fleece (about 1 yard each) and they were a big hit! Also made up a bunch of "dress-up" clothes for my neice out of short pieces of finery that I didn't have enough of for a grown-up dress. Got a versatile costume pattern for her size and made her two dresses, some accessories, etc, then went around to the party supply stores and bought up some costume tiaras, rings, etc to round out the package. I hear that the whole family had to don the butterfly wings and antennae one after the other!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

We have tried to keep Christmas more old-fashioned: fewer gifts all around, more food and fun. Basically it goes like this: No decorating around the house until after the December child's birthday (the 9th). That way, birthday and Christmas are not so confused. All the children love to help decorate; they have some say into what goes where. The nativity scene is a special favorite of the little ones' because they are encouraged to play with and arrange it to their hearts' content. The candles scattered here and there are also exciting to the children. We bake special cookies and other goodies that we have at no other time of the year. They all help. The kitchen is a mess; no problem, they all help with that, too.

For presents, each child gets one gift from my parents and one gift from us. They also come up with their own ideas for gifts for each other. The older children some times wrap up out-grown toys, etc., for the younger ones. These are a bigger hit than you might think. The most exciting package is the stocking. Though somewhat predictable, they still look forward to it with gusto. The stockings generally contain: an assortment of candy (Hershey kisses, jelly beans, tootsie rolls, lifesavers), bubble gum, assorted nuts, a new toothbrush, crayons or special pens/pencils, hair things (girls) or ties (boys), a small toy, and something homemade. Some years I have made mittens; other years, slippers. At the bottom of the stocking is also a $2 coin (this is Canada).

For outside the family: homemade cookies and candy, potholders, candles, homemade cards. This year I plan to help them make hard- tack candy to pack into clean milk bags (another item familiar to Canadians) tied with ribbon. We also might try popcorn balls with red-hots worked in. For the children in my Sunday school class, I pack a small gift bag with crayons, a small bag of candy, and something homemade. Last year I made doll-sized quilts (my son, the only boy in the class, uses his for his teddy bear). This year I plan to make paint smocks.

Wrappings: Got a roll of newsprint from the local newspaper; we will cut that up and stencil or stamp designs on it. Tie with all my oodles of scrap yarn.

One more thing: We serve dinner on the best china, meaning that the children (who have broken their share of dishes) are not allowed to wash dishes. They think this is the best present of the whole day! It is also one of the rare times my husband helps with the clean-up. He washes, I dry, and the children clean up the table.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), August 30, 2001.

Our family (kids and grandkids) decided last year that we all had too much. This year we will just buy very small gifts for the children and pool the rest of the money that we would have spent. It will go to buy supplies for our local battered woman's shelter. We will still get together for a dinner and fellowship. Jean

-- Jean (kjean@i-rule.net), August 30, 2001.

The fleece made me remember that I made quillows last year that were a big hit and planned to make simple hats and mittens out of fleece this year too.

I like the bed cape idea. We have made BIG TV pillows for the kids in the past with fun fabric.

The bed pockets I am making are sewed with fabric with a long piece that goes between the mattress and box spring and holds it in place. I'd also like to make reading pillows for the kids beds. Maybe also for our relative who is in the nursing home.

I want to make some redwork embroidery pillowcases for the girls in the family (something to keep)

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

I made fleece "quillows" last year that were a big hit, too. For the grandparents I make 5x8 scrapbook pages to go in binders. They love looking at the pages over & over again! Somehow, scrapbooking makes it more interesting to focus on the photos... They look forward to receiving a batch of pages several times a year. This is such a big relief to me as it was so hard to shop for the older folks and find something meaningful and/or useful. I always find a "little something" to send along with the pages, too - a favorite treat or something the kids made. I enjoy all your ideas!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), August 30, 2001.

I make little sheep ornaments. I take a wine cork (first I have to drink the bottle of wine, but I try to not do that at the same time I am making the ornaments...) and with a sharp pointy object (I use part of my swiss army knife) I then make four little holes (for legs), two on each end (doh...) Then I take match sticks that I have lit and put out (so the tips are black..that part is the hoof; it helps to scrape off the loose stuff, too) and insert them into the leg holes. I use a little carpenter's glue to secure them.

Next I take some wool batting and shape a little sheep out of it by draping it over the cork and pulling it around. Getting a head shape is the trickiest part..you kind of twist one end up and into a blob. When that's completed, I take a sparkly pipecleaner and cut it in small lengths. I use a section to make a tiny wreath and put it over the neck (this helps to define where the head is, in case you had a tough time!) If you want, you can figure out a way to attach a wire or ribbon so you can hang it (perhaps wrap it around the cork before you attach the wool.)

I put them in little boxes with bows, and give them to friends.

Thanks for starting this thread. I appreciate reading what other folks do.

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), August 30, 2001.

Last year I experimented and made several quart canning jars of cookie mixes. I layered the dry ingredients and topped each jar with a piece of fabric and bow. I included the final recipe (showing additional wet ingredients and baking times) and a wooden spoon or spatula. I gave them out to 11 of our aunts. I found out later that it was the uncles who liked the gift best.

I like this post, I'm getting great ideas. Now all I need is more time.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), August 30, 2001.

One year we took baskets [ can get from garage sales usualy free]and filled it with things from the garden. we had little dried herb bags[ had little bages left from baby bottles and we filled the bags with dried parsley, sage ect and tied them off with ribbon. we had hot peppers also which we made into minnie wreaths and put that into baskets to, and some baked goods and some fresh oranges off the tree.That was the best time making up the baskets with things we had grown or baked and every one was thrilled to get them.Goes to show you can do alot even living in town!

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 30, 2001.

My family always makes cheese balls (2 brick cream cheese, italian dressing spices mixed), small packages of sliced breads (from the day- old bread store), and hand-molded chocolates. The chocolates are melted from melting disks and poured into plastic molds. The melting disks are very cheep here, and you don't need a lot to make a lot of small molded chocolates. Also I make quilts, cross-stiching, and bookmarks. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001.

I too love to keep Christmas "Old Fashioned" with fewer gifts and more fellowship time with family and friends. We make most of our gifts, we've made baskets filled with home canned and baked goodies, "theme" baskets and even the jars of mixes( for cookies of cakes). I'm not much for sewing but have made simple scarves out of fleece and little craft dolls. I don't seem to have the time for needle point or cross stitch anymore, but have made pillowcases and dish towels as gifts. We usually make homemade ornaments for friends, this has become a tradition and they all ask what we're making each year. I've often done different ones for each member of a family but in my scaling down mode it's become one such ornament per family. We've made a family tradition of making our sugar cookies on Christmas eve and letting the kids decorate them, funny even our soon to be teenage boy looks forward to X-mas eve day. We have a few of those hard to make or shop for men. Well, one year I printed out a list of items for each month for the following year, example; January a choice of a loaf of homemade bread and real churned butter or cinnamon rolls, February a pot of homemade chili and cornbread. Not only did those hard to buy for guys love it, but so did the wives( ours were given to my Dad and Father in law) It was never a problem because I always double and triple what ever I make( cookies and goodies) so we enjoyed them too and the meals I just made big batches and that is what we ate for supper also. At the bottom I asked that they call in their choice a couple days in advance of when they wanted it. Needless to say, this was the gift that kept on giving all year and it only cost me the ingredience and my time, but it sure was a hit. You can do this as big or as simple as you'd like and it's fun to customize it to the persons tastes.

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), August 30, 2001.

This has really been a good post. When I get to thinking about it the main reason we quit buying gifts for the adults was because it seems like you can't really buy something that they really enjoy. You don't know what they already have. Or what there true interest is. When they open their present from you, you can almost read their minds "What is it, and what am I going to do with that?". Since we started making jerky and candy for everybody it seems nobody is disapointed with the gift.

I'm going to have to come back to this post often and renew some ideals. Thanks Ann for bringing this up!

-- R.H. in Okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), August 31, 2001.

I have an EASY knitted tube sock pattern if anyone is interested send me an off list e-mail and I'll get it out to you. Sally

-- sally stanton (mallardhen67@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001.

Please, whomever mentioned "quillows", what are they (or what is it)?? Sounds fun, but I've never heard of them.... Thanks!

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), August 31, 2001.

Quillows are a combination quilt and pillow. A pocket is sewn into the quilt and it folds up into a pillow (easier to take in the car). One of my little ones likes it because she doesn't get teased so much about taking her blankie (it's disguised as a pillow). Anyway, here are directions: http://quilting.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa020298.htm

I made mine out of fleece but to tell you the truth I couldn't get the thread tension right and in someplaces it kind of looks stretched out, not flat hem. It was only when sewing across the grain. Perhaps someone can help with that. I liked using fleece because it is so soft, many choices as to color and pattern and it's faster because you don't have to put together two sides and batting like a traditional quilt.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001.

For adult family members and friends, we usually make jams, jellies, pickles, marmalade (I have a beautiful pumpkin marmalade recipe that I'd e-mail to anyone who wants it.) and a variety of goat cheeses. For children, we usually try to give them something to do. Most kids have too much stuff as it is, but they would love to have a pass to the children's museum or movie tickets or something along those lines. Our own children do get some things, but the commercialism of Christmas drives me crazy so I prefer to make them something rather than buy things. I've loved reading what others are making or have made. I'll be making some clothes for my kids for Christmas, but don't know beyond that. I wish I was as organized as my mother....she's already done all her Christmas shopping!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), August 31, 2001.

OK. Here are my new ideas but I'll need help: Turbie Twists and rice heating pads made with (new)tube socks)

Can anyone help with how to make a turbie twist?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

Found the turbie twist instructions:

http://www.perfectlittlestitches.com/headwrap.html

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

I helped my 7 year old grandson make mommie bath salts last years (epsom salts from the dollar store in a pretty container with a few drops of essential oil at the 1/3, 2/3 and filled stages) but daddy hijacked them and used them up himself!

-- Mitzi Giles (Egiles2@prodigy.net), September 03, 2001.

NO I refuse to think about Christmas already !!!!!!!!!!!!!! O.K. I'm better now .Did you guess I haven't even thought of it yet ? Thanks for the great ideas .Tag sale baskets with jams , fudge and cookies always goes well .The gift tag is usually an ornament with the families name and year on it .Mittens work up pretty fast and everyone loves them .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), September 03, 2001.

Please keep doing this thread!!!!! I have been frantically searching the web for presents for my parents,sister ect.Whenever I find something that looks right, i find : an ad! my search has so far found quite a few things, I'll copy them on here; Ornaments for a tree1. 1 cup cornstarch 2 cups baking soda 1 1/2 cups of water Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the cornstarch and baking soda; gradually add the water.Grease baking sheet with butter or margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles smooth mashed potatoes. Turn out on to a counter and knead until smooth. Cut out designs using holiday-themed cookie cutters. Using a pencil, poke a hole in the top of each ornament. Place in the oven for about 5 minutes to harden the clay. Remove from oven. If desired, spray polyurethane on the ornaments to make them last longer. Set aside for 24 hours.Paint the ornaments as desired. Leave the ornaments for another 24 hours or until dried completely. Tie a colored ribbon through the hole in the ornament and hang on the Christmas tree (can also use a metal ornament hanger). These ornaments will last forever, write the year you made them on the back of the ornament for sentimental purposes. Gingerbread house 1/2 c butter 2/3 c brown sugar 1/2 c molasses 1 egg 1 ts baking soda 1 ts cinnamon 2 1/2 c flour Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Mix in molasses, egg, baking soda, cinnamon, and flour. Spread onto a cookie sheet to about 1/2" thickness. Bake at 350 degress for about 10 minutes or until done (keep your eye on it). When cool, cut into 6 rectangles. Use icing to glue the house together. Decorate with candies, sparkles, etc. Homemade Christmas Candy Canes

3 c Sugar 1 t Peppermint flavoring 3/4 c Lt. corn syrup 3/4 ts Red vegetable coloring 1/4 ts Cream of tartar Any self-respecting Christmas tree has a right to complain if it isn't decked out with a candy cane. The sugar, water, syrup, and cream of tartar you combine and heat till the sugar's dissolved real fine.Divide into two saucepans, boil, but don't stir, please, until each lot 280 degrees. Add 1/2 ts peppermint to each lot and add the coloring to one, the other not: place on an enamel or marble table to cool. (First oiling the table, as a general rule). Like taffy you stretch and pull and form into ropes of red and white, now twist them around again and again. And form them into your candy cane.Now on an oiled surface you allow them to harden, then announce to your family that they are ready for your Christmas tree. Chrismas Holiday Spice Potpourrie

4 Oranges 4 Lemons 1/2 c Whole cloves 1/2 c Whole allspice 10 Cinnamon Sticks, broken 10 Bay leaves, crumbled 8 oz Decorated jelly jars with bands lids

Using a vegetable peeler, peel fruit carefully, removing only the peel, not any of the white pith. cut or tear into one inch pieces.Spread peel on paper towel lined pan. Place in preheated oven to 175, or set oven to WARM. dry in oven for 1 1/2 hours, tossing occasionally. Peels should be leathery and/or slightly crunchy. spread peels on towels and let air dry for 24 hours.Combine with remaining ingredients. Fill jars with mixture, place lids on and screw bands on tightly. Yield: 3 or 4 half pint jars. T o use: Remove lid and leave band on for decoration to fragrance a room. OR put one Tblsp into a jar and fill jar with boiling water to release fragrance.

Christmas Cinnamon Ornaments

1 c Applesauce, drained 1 c Cinnamon 1 oz Cloves, ground 1 oz Nutmeg, ground 1 oz Ginger, ground Cinnamon for dusting the cutting board

Combine ingredients to make a stiff dough. Roll out on board dusted with ground cinnamon. Cut with cookie cutters of your choice. Put hole in top for string. Lay out flat to dry. Turn over every 12 hours until completely dry. Candle Holders Red apples can be made into candle holders by cutting holes in them with an apple corer or paring knife. Insert candles and tie colorful ribbons around them. Note: Place candles in the freezer for a while before lighting. They will burn more slowly and drip a lot less.

Scented Cinnamon Ornaments (non-edible) 4 oz Cinnamon 1 tb Cloves 1 tb Nutmeg 3/4 c Applesauce 2 tb White glue Ribbon In medium bowl, combine cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Add applesauce and glue; stir to combine. Work mixture with hands 2 to 3 minutes or until dough is smooth and ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Divide into 4 portions. On floured surface, roll each portion to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with floured cookie cutters of different shapes (stars, christmas trees, snowman, etc.). Using a toothpick, make a small hole in the top of the ornament. Place cutouts on wire racks and allow to dry at room temperature for several days or dry them in a dehydrator. Thread ribbon through hole in ornament. DO NOT EAT. Makes about 32 (2 inch) ornaments. For a Bookworm: Fill basket with a gift certificate to their favorite bookstore, a package of fancy bookmarks, mug filled with individual serving of flavored coffees, cocoa, tea, buy or make a tape of a fireplace, then the person can curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book (even in the summertime). Classic Cooked Christmas Egg-Nog (alcohol-free) 6 Eggs 1/4 c Sugar 1/4 ts Salt, optional 1 qt Milk, divided 1 ts Vanilla Garnishes or stir-ins In large saucepan, beat together eggs, sugar and salt, if desired. Stir in 2 cups of the milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a metal spoon and reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 2 cups milk and vanilla. Cover and regfigerate until thoroughly chilled, several hours or overnight. Just before serving, pour into bowl or pitcher. Garnish or add stir- ins, if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 1 1/2 quarts or 12 (1/2 cup) servings Garnishes and Stir-Ins (Choose 1 or several): Chocolate curls Cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon Extracts of flavorings Fruit juice or nectar Ground nutmeg Maraschino cherries Orange slices Peppermint sticks or candy canes Sherbet or ice cream Whipping cream, whipped

Alcohol additions: Flavored brandy or liqueur Plain brandy, rum or whiskey Christmas Divinity Fudge

1 1/2 c White sugar 1 c Brown sugar 1/2 c Corn syrup 3/4 c Water 1 pn Of salt 1 Egg white, beaten 1 ts vanilla extract 1 ts almond flavoring Place the sugars, corn syrup, and water in a pot and cook until dissolved, then cook to hard ball stage (265F.).Add salt and egg white to mixture. Add vanilla and almond flavouring. Beat until candy stands in peaks. Drop by teaspoonsful onto waxed paper. Snowmen necklaces White glue (like Elmer's glue) Paper clip Waxed paper Scraps of construction paper: black, and orange A hole punch (for cutting eyes, and buttons) Scissors Googly eyes (from a craft store) - optional Tiny buttons - optional 2 very tiny twigs (for arms) String or yarn (for hanging it fromWorking on waxed paper, spread 2 or 3 blobs of white glue in the shape of a snowman. Unfold a paper clip into a V-shape (to use as a hanger). Cut a tiny hat from black construction paper and put it on the snowman on top of the paper clip hanger. Put the ends of the paper clip into the glue at the top of the snowman. For the snowman's eyes, use black paper circles cut with a hole punch,or use googly eyes. Put the eyes on the snowman. Add a tiny orange (carrot-shaped) nose. Add a few paper buttons (or small real buttons) down the front of the body. Let the glue dry - it will take a few days. When it dries, the glue will become transparent. When it is completely dry, peel it gently off the waxed paper. String the snowman on some yarn for a cool necklace or use a shorter string to use as an ornament. Pine Cone Christmas Tree. For each Pine Cone Christmas Tree you will need: a large, open pine cone (pick one that is tree-shaped and stands upright easily) Glitter A few cotton balls White glue (like Elmer's) Dental floss and a needle Small beads A small bow or star to top off your little tree. Glue a few cotton balls to the bottom of the pine cone. These look like snow and help the "tree" stand upright. Put a little dab of glue at the tips of the pine cone and then sprinkle on glitter.String some small beads onto dental floss (about 1 to 1 1/2 ft or more, depending on the size of the pine cone). To string the beads easily, tie one bead securely to the string. Then give the floss to the child for stringing. Older children can use a needle to help with the stringing. When the stringing is done, tie off the last bead with a knot. Wrap the beads around the pine cone and glue them to the tree. Top off your tree with a small bow or other decoration. Enjoy! Morag

-- Morag (rowan@iprism.com), December 04, 2001.

For my children I'm going to sew library book bags because we check out a lot of books and they like to carry their own books home. I don't have a pattern for them and haven't started yet, but thought I'd share the idea.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), December 05, 2001.

All these crafts should so good and I would love to start making some now. I do alot of crafts adn always looking for new craft ideas. right now Iwant to make the dish towel ange, bunny and elephant but no luck finding the directions and pictures of them. If anyone has the pattern for making them would you send them. If someone needs aspecial pattern I will do the same. I sew, crochet and knit the only thing I don't know how to do is tatting. --J.K. in NY. ( rkessler@twcny.rr.com )

-- Jean Kessler (rkessler@twcny.rr.com), February 24, 2002.