Twig Coasters: Easy Handmade Holiday Gifts

on October 23, 2008 at 3:00 PM

In the name of trimming costs this economically challenging holiday season, more and more people are talking about giving handmade holiday gifts.

Obviously, not every mom can sew, not every mom is super crafty, and none of us have much extra time. And while holiday cookies, cakes, and chocolates are fun and appropriate in many cases, when it comes gifts for family members and close friends, a lot of people like to give gifts that last beyond the holiday season.

So I'm collecting super easy handmade holiday gift ideas. Like I love these super-simple and adorable Twig Coasters from an old issue of Martha Stewart Living.

But what is EASY, you ask? Well, here's my best shot at a definition (although all ideas will be considered)!

EASY Handmade Holiday Gifts defined:

Less than 3 craft instruments (scissors, ruler, Xacto knife, etc.)
Less than 5 material goods (fabric, glue, paper, string, etc.)
Does not require a sewing machine.
Does not require a crafter skill like stitching, knitting, crocheting, etc.
Does not take longer than about 15-20 minutes (that's about the time it takes to walk into a store and buy a gift, right?).

If you have an easy handmade holiday gift idea to share, leave a comment and/or link in Discuss This below. If it really is EASY, then your idea might be featured right here on Home & Garden Buzz.

Also of interest on CafeMom:

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: crafts, diy, holiday entertaining, holidays, thrifty solutions

Comments (2)

LuminousMom

on Oct 30, 2008 at 8:30 AM

Handmade Holiday Gift: Coffee cup wrappers. This is great for office gifts or for anyone you know that seems to always have a Mocha in their hand...

Instruments:
Ruler
Scissors (straight or fun-shape edged)
Fabric Glue

Materials
Sheet of felt, any color/print (they have crocodile print!) ( 0.20 cents at JoAnne fabric or Walmart..)
Velcro (you only need about 2" per wrapper)
Paper (for making a pattern to use again)
Buttons, Jewels, felt flowers (embellishments.. not required!)

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Instructions:
On your piece of paper, measure out a 3.5" x 11" rectangle, cut out. This is your pattern.
Lay your pattern on your felt, trace and cut out (you should get two out of each piece of felt)
Dab a bit of fabric glue (I like Fabri-tac) onto a 2" section of velcro and glue one side down to the end of one of your pieces of felt. Let this dry for 10-15 minutes
Turn your piece of felt over and glue the other half of the velcro to the other side, so that when it wraps around they overlap and meet. Test this on a coffee cup before gluing/trimming to get your placement just right.
You should have about 1" spare felt that you can trim off at this point.
Take your wrapper back off and glue down embellishments. This is so so so quick and so easy.. and it makes a simple gift you can put in an envelope and give to the whole office, church, or playgroup! You can make 20 coffee cup wrappers from 2.00 worth of felt.

example: heres an etsy seller who makes them, she calls them "Coffee Sweaters" http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_2&listing_id=16280272