Help... I am getting further behind making gifts for christmas! 1st I got a bad cold 2nd I tore some tendons and ligaments in my foot 3rd my dh has to have surgry. I feel like a sinking ship! Any ideas for some quicker items to make? I have to sew for 9 count them 9 grands 4 girls & 5 boys all under 11 yrs. I am brain fogged! Any words of wisdom for the weary....Guess I needed to unload thanks for being here! Jan

I am a grandmother of 11. There comes a time in one's life that you have to cry uncle. This is that time for you. Grandchildren LOVE having gift cards. Even my littles one at 3 was thrilled to have a "credit card". The older ones get what they want rather than things from gramma. Go ahead with gift cards -- even if it's only mere dollars. Explain that you're overwhelmed right now. Trust me, it'll be freeing for you!
I pray things will get better for you!!!! That's a lot to try to handle right now!

{{{HUGE}}}

d

Here's an easy pillow case pattern. I made two of these in about 45 minutes.

http://www.conkerrcancer.org/pdf/hotdogmethod.pdf

How about little wallets with a couple dollars tucked in them. There are a lot of simple patterns if you do a google search. The little kids think they are in heaven to have a grown up wallet with money in it. I made my grandaughter a simple little purse no pattern and filled it with things from the dollar tree. Pretend cell phone, little makeup mirror, lip gloss.

I agree. Don't sew. Shop! Gift cards are great. Kids and teens love CASH!!! Could get an inexpensive wallet, coin purse and put the money/gc inside. Get gift bags at dollar store..done! Focus on you and hubby. That's more important right now. No guilt now. You can sew for tkids during the year for your "therapy."

I think the pillow cases are a wonderful idea. Use them for wrapping around a book. Nice gift!

Take it easy on yourself. You don't want to get sick again when you have DH to take care of, too.

Oh Jan, It really is sounding like you may have bitten off more then you can chew considering the recent illness and other crisis that have suddenly hit you. Maybe you can sew for some and buy for some this year then sew for the others next year? To have all these projects and circumstances hanging over your head with a rapidly approaching deadline is not good for you. Adds to your stress levels and may make you prone to make dangerous mistakes (like sewing through a finger or cutting yourself with rotary cutter!)

Do yourself a favor and take some of the stress off of yourself. If buying isn't an option, maybe some homemade treats might be in order for some of the grands. Or maybe some sweatshirts with a simple fusible applique design. You could whip those out fairly quickly but does involve purchasing the premade sweatshirts. Good luck sweety. And quit trying to push yourself so hard. When it is feeling this overwhelming chances are you have too much on your plate, and not of your own choosing with all the other unforseeable things that are happening in your life right now.

You could also give them a 'coupon' to be redeemed when things slow down a little. Make it for whatever you were going to make in the first place.

This is what I would tell you!

I agree, Donna, little purses/wallets with gift cards are a great idea for the girls! For my grandsons, I made small totebags for them to put their smaller toys in when they wanted to take them someplace.

If you can't, you can't. Explain it to the family and let it go at that.

I love the little purse, I just bought that same butterfly material. Think I will copy after you!! And Gramma, the dollar store for little girls is a great place to shop. I did it last year for my 7 year old , bought hair items, lip gloss,( and real lipstick too) nail polish , bubble bath and lotion, hand cleaner, polish remover pads (ready to use) She loved it and still is using those things. Gel pins, post it notes, a big pack of white paper, stickers, beads and elastic for making braclets. For the little brother, I could find lots of little things in the party supply area, plus cars, play dough, puzzles. To make it more fun to open, I put it all in one big box, I wrapped everything so it took a few minutes to see what was there,LOL, And for the teen-agers, they love the cash rather than gift cards. That way they can shop where ever they like. I've also bought those big cans of flavored popcorn, cans of nuts.

I love that litle purse and I know it would l look great on a DG. Sure wish you had a pattern for it! Sewwwww cute. Mary M

I agree. Work on your projects after Christmas or whenever you feel you can for next year and don't stress over it. Prepaid Visa cards, cash for older kids. Savings bonds and a small toy for the younger kids. My kids are so very happy now to see their bonds, now that they want to go to college and buy cars where as the toys, they no longer play with or remember who gave those toys to them.
Give them extra hugs. Hope you and your hubby get better soon.

A lady at church had sometimes such as you have, and she made little swatches from the intended project and took Christmas Cards and put slits inside page on left and stuck those swatches through the slits. At the signature space she added IOU, God Willing. Now that spoke volumes to me.

Blessings,
Ruth

Gift cards are definitely a good option - not too "fun" to give (they don't feel very personalized I guess), but very nice to receive. My 3 year old DS got one for his Bday and had a BLAST picking out what he could get with it (a good lesson in money, too, since he only had X amt of dollars to spend).

If you still want to make something, the pillowcases and purse/wallet combos are a good idea. Maybe some beanbags for the boys? I'm sure you could find tons of game ideas online to print out to go with them.

I agree with this 100%...excellent idea!
Kids love having their own money and choices, even if you don't have much bc of medical bills.
It will help them feel better too, if they ever need to give themselves a break, so for this year, give yourself a break...um, not a good choice of words...let up on yourself? :thumbup:

Why not take a break and give them the gift of your time in creating their gift with you the older ones. My kids would love it if their grandma would do this. That way you cut down the gifts and get more time with the kids!!

I would gladly get gift cards if money allowed. The shortage of cash is why I sew from scraps I will try for smaller projects thank you for all the kind words. Jan

Go with the gift cards. Since I still can't sew due to shoulder surgery, my grandchildren are getting gift cards with a catch. After Christmas, I will take them shopping and do lunch with them. A day out with just the Grandkids adds a finishing touch to the holidays. This way it doesn't appear like "I only gave gift cards"...I am also giving them time with me one-on-one...NO Parents Allowed that day!

That is the pillow case I have made and I know I sewed it right but I can't get it to turn back out all the way. I made the case and the end piece the same pink with navy color and the little strip was navy.

I made a bed pocket for my grandson and it was quick and easy. I would also listen to the gift card idea too.

So sorry that you have so much going on. Maybe you should get in contact with Toys for tots if you have that option in your state. Also you have the best tool to shop at and not leave your home....the internet. Lots of good deals out there right now. I wish you the best that things will work out and may God bless you.

[quote=mrspete]A lady at church had sometimes such as you have, and she made little swatches from the intended project and took Christmas Cards and put slits inside page on left and stuck those swatches through the slits. At the signature space she added IOU, God Willing. Now that spoke volumes to me.

This is the best idea yet! Think I'll copy it and use it when I need it! Wonderful.

This year is also a bad one for me; the dog had ACL surgery and has to be kept away from stairs etc. My pocketbook took a big hit with that one. I have 6 grands, 3 of each. The boys are 19, 16, and 15 so they are getting $50 bills. Boys love cash. The girls are 6, 9, &12 and I had already finished the quilt for the middle one and started on the 12 year olds. So for the little one I just got some polar fleece in her favorite color (red) and used up some charms from a summer project for her and made a cute small blanket. The adults each got a Christmas table runner at Thanksgiving. Not too much else going on in the gift line before Christmas. I'll be lucky to get the decorations out.

Fleece double tied is quick and easy and incredible choices now.

Such great ideas!!!

Great idea! Nice looking purse too.

If they are older you could wrap up some fabrics and a choice of patterns so they can"pick" what they want you to make for them!

Heres a link for some cute Elf Slippers which you can probably mass produce pretty quick. Hope you like.

http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2009/01...-tutorial.html

Get some fleece and make blankets, it is on sale in every store in our area. It comes wide and a yard of it makes a nice throw for a child any age. Serge the edges or make a fringe, both look nice and are so cuddly and soft. Fleece comes in solids and many figures, something for everyone.

Carol J.

I did this once for a baby afghan that I was going to crochet, had several strands of the yarn and a sample of what was to be done- put it in a card and went to the shower anyway. The afghan was done before the baby arrived and everyone was happy. Sometimes, ya' just can't do it all!!!

I gave up sewing for each grandchild years ago/ Sometimes someone gets something sewn from grandma at christmas but not often. I did make stockings one year and filled them with caps and mittens etc. but with # 24 and grands on top of that it gets hectic so they usally just get a few little things and they think it is special. Mine run from 24 down to the 25th not born yet so the older ones usually do not get anything at Christmas but get their things made throught the year. They have to stand back and let their little ones get now.

love the purse and wallet. Are you sure you don't have the pattern?

I did not have a pattern but looked at some pics of little purses on the net. It is just a rectangle with one edge curve two layers sewn together with flannel for a little body turned quilted and then I sewed up the side seams added a strap and a snap.

One year I made all my grandkids a Quillow, some still use theirs and they are much older.They love them on cold nights while watching TV
Pickle

I feel for you! This is a similar year for us and we all have tiny budgets. Three of my grandchildren got we did Christmas with them already) handmade, personalized stockings, dollar store items and a family gift of coca cola items to add to their collection. The other 6 are getting fleece blankets, personalized with an applique and their name. I bought fireside anti pill fleece when it was half off a year ago for this purpose. Other family members are getting Christmas tree wallhangings, handmade ornaments, etc. Zero dollars except for postage as I am using scraps and supplies on hand for all. PM if you would like patterns. The fleece blankets will be wrapped and tied with ribbon (the kids love to play with it)and a small dollar store toy could be tucked into the ribbon although I am not doing that. Or they could be put into a simple pillow case as mentioned in other posts. Best of luck, think positive, this too shall pass. Soon you get another year to start over (smile). Hang in there. The purses, wallets, gift cards are great ideas and most children would just love them. Not in my budget, nor yours apparently, but something to keep in mind for future such as birthdays.

I wish I would be your grandchild, so you would make the pretty purse and wallet! Ha,ha!

I love Butterflies!

Pillow cases! :)

I have worn my self to a frazzle for so many years thinking I HAVE to make Christmas presents for everyone. Becasue I can and because I do like it. But I finally realized that I do NOT have to make something for everyone. I make a couple, but at the end of the day - kids would much rather have a toy or electronics, men are pretty much happy with tools or sporting equipment. So that leaves a few women in my family - certainly much more do-able and it make the holidays less stressful for me - and those around me who are catching the fallout of my stress!