The week leading up to Christmas was so much fun with whispered secrets, hiding places, and what I call “cranial hiccups,” those good ideas that seem to pop up out of nowhere. The girls drew names and made handmade Christmas gifts for one another. They each thought hard about what their secret sister would appreciate. Here’s what they each ended up with.
Cookie helped trace, cut out, and sew barrette covers for Fudge.
Fudge helped cut out and sew the velcro on the chaps and vest for Truffle. Truffle has wanted chaps for a very long time. We also made some for Special Dark out of the leftover material.
Brownie made a handbag for Cookie. When we were cutting out the material Cookie walked in and started crying because Brownie was “using my material for my bag that you never made me. She can’t use my material!” I shooed her out and told her Brownie was making a Christmas gift. Cookie didn’t make the connection until after she opened her gift Christmas morning.
Semisweet, Bon Bon, and Brownie each received iPod covers from Truffle, Semisweet, and Bon Bon in that order. It was so hard NOT to let on that they each thought of the same much needed gift. You should have heard the laughter when they were all opened.
We also tried very hard to do handmade gifts for others as well.
We made Scrabble Tile Pendants for cousins, sisters-in-law, and sisters.
I bought personalized guitar picks from Panicmama’s etsy shop for my dad and brothers. My dad’s pick said “To our Leader of the Band” on one side and “We thank you for the music” on the other. My brothers’ said “His blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul.” All are lyrics from Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band” which my dad played a lot when I was growing up.
My mom was here when I was making all the notepads. She couldn’t get over how easy they were to make! It is very addicting – just what I need, right?
And to finish with, the kids presented Mr. Ferrero Rocher and I with letters from each of them to each of us telling us what they liked about us, what they enjoy doing with us, and showing their appreciation. We told them it wasn’t nice of them to make us cry on Christmas day.
thanks so much for the necklace. I’ll probably wear it to the New Year’s Eve Dance!
Seriously, the notepads rock! Must try that myself…
Happy New Year!
What amazing gifts…I love the iPod covers.
What GREAT ideas!!! Thanks for sharing! Love it!
Speechless yet again. 🙂 You are amazing!
How fun-Paul will thank you for feeding my “must have personalized notepad” addiction, lol. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What fun gifts! I’m interested to see how to make the note pads. They look fun!
hi,I have gone through your blog just today and i was touched by this post regarding the letters your kids gave you.i have started my bolg today.
I wanna say “keep up the good work.Wish i could post such inetersting things on my blog too.Watch out for me.”
Take care.
hey i was wondering if i could know how Brownie made the hand bag.I sure would love to make one myself and ofcourse show it to you once i’m done.Could you pls give a tutorial on that hand bag.Also add a note on the kinda material you used.
Thanks a ton.
Sampoorna,
If you click on the word handbag (in red) on my post it will take you to the tutorial I did last year for making them. It includes all the information about materials and supplies.
Or you could just click here . ☺
You and all of your handmade gifts are amazing! I love to see all of your girly ideas, and can’t wait to try the scrabble necklaces!
What wonderful, thoughtful gifts. I love that you guys did it in secret!
Can hardly wait to see how you did the note pads.
Thanks for the mention in your wonderful blog! I am glad the picks were at hit!
Renee
Panicmama Jewelry
panicmama.etsy.com