Thursday, October 31

Day 27 - Button Paperclip Bookmarks

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


We're making up for lost time and getting started with our final week! This week is all about miscellaneous projects and gift ideas... things that you can give your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. And we'll even work on a cute gift wrapping idea later this week. But today we're starting with a really fun and easy project - button paperclip bookmarks!


This are great for anyone who likes to read. They're perfect for marking your spot in a book (or a journal) because they won't fall out and they're small enough to fit in your pocket while you read so they don't get lost!


Plus they are really cheap and easy to make. What more could you ask for in a bookmark?


Here's all you need to make them:

Wednesday, October 30

Day 26 - Hot Chocolate Mix

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


So yes... I did fall off the 31 day train. It was a series of failed projects in a row that had me spending way to much time working and not enough time with my family (not to mention things that keep the house running like dishes and, you know, cooking). So I had to step back a bit to get the focus back on my priorities. But with that said I'm still working on finishing the series, just at a slower pace, and I hope to have it all caught up next week. So... this project is the last of men's week and it's inspired by my own dear Husband. It's a yummy homemade hot chocolate mix. 


I think Husband's favorite thing about cold weather is hot chocolate. The man could drink it by the gallon. So I thought a great gift for him would be a yummy homemade version. I have a big jar I can keep stocked all winter long.


It's also nice to save some money with a homemade recipe, plus I know exactly what's going into it!


To make the hot chocolate, just mix the following ingredients and store them in an air-tight jar:

Saturday, October 26

Day 25 - River Song Tardis Moleskine {Dr. Who}

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Aaaaand I'm late. Sorry guys! I actually tried two different projects yesterday and they both failed miserably. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with a new plan to finish guys' week... and started from scratch this morning (hopefully I'll catch up tomorrow!). And Husband actually hopped in a whipped up today's Dr. Who inspired project! It's a Moleskine Journal with a Tardis twist, inspired by River Song's own journal.


It's more of a subtle modern twist on the actual notebook, but I think it's something the Whovians out there will enjoy and it's really easy to DIY.


Husband came up with this one all on his own. We're definitely Dr. Who fans and River Song is my favorite (I put in on our list of baby names in case Baby A turned out to be a girl. Husband vetoed it. Boo.). But he knows I love a good Moleskine so when he came across these pretty blue ones he hatched a plan!


I'm sure they are great as journals, but they're also great for general note-taking and such. I have one that I use just for writing down all the funny things B says and does. Read it and you will laugh until you cry. Seriously. But I also like them for writing down anything I want to remember later. Favorite verses, new recipes, good advice, Christmas lists.... you name it!


Here's all you need to make one:

Thursday, October 24

Day 24 - Wallet

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


We're spending this fourth week on gift ideas for the guys! And today we're making a handy canvas wallet.


It's easy to make and doesn't take much fabric so it's pretty cheap.


And of course it folds up to fit in his pocket.


It has room for all your monies (a $2 bill was literally the only cash I could find in the house. Win.) and six card pockets for credit cards, library cards, and of course that handy chik-fil-a card!


I love this fun beachy stripe print. It's fun twist on a traditional wallet! But of course you can use any print or color you like. If your guy is a bit more traditional a solid black would be spiffy, maybe with a pinstripe lining?


Here's all you need to make a wallet:

Wednesday, October 23

Day 23 - Spice Rub


Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Today's gift is great on its own, or it can be paired with the grill apron we made yesterday. It's a yummy spice rub!


It seems like even guys who don't normally like to cook get excited about using the grill! So a spice rub is a really easy and cheap gift that they can have fun using (and kind of like a gift to his wife, too, if it means his making dinner!).


All you need are a few things from your spice rack and a jar to gift it in (I have printable labels you can use too!) Start by mixing up your spice rub. This is one we've been liking lately:

1/3 c. salt
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. paprika
2 Tbs. oregano
2 Tbs. thyme
1 Tbs. Parsley
dash of pepper

Tuesday, October 22

Day 22 - Grill Apron

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Today we're NOT making a key chain (I know!) This one is for the guys who like to grill. It's a reversible grill apron!


And here's my main squeeze showing it off. It's nice and wide to keep the mess off his clothes and has a couple pockets to keep things handy.


And did I mention reversible? Why hello, plaid. Let's be friends.


I even made this fun "Grillmaster" logo you print onto iron-on paper. You can choose black print like I did, or red print. And just like with my child-size apron, I save a bunch of money by using flat sheets to make this!


And while I was at it... I made a smaller version too that you can use to make a matching grill apron for your littler guys! (use this apron tutorial and just skip the ruffle)


Here's what you need to make one:

Monday, October 21

Day 21 - "Lucky Us" Keychain

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


We're tackling gifts for the guys this week, and today we're making... another key chain. They're not all keychains, I promise! And I planned to spread these two out across the week. But it pretty much came down to this being the only thing I could pull off today. So we're going to roll with it. :)


This is another way to commemorate special events in your guy's life.  You know, all the things that make him such a lucky guy. And what better way to do it than with some lucky pennies?


It's all metal so your guy won't feel shy about carrying it around.


The fun (and maybe a bit tricky) part of this is finding the right pennies. Try to find some with years that you got married, met, had kids, or even graduated. So many possibilities! You could even do the birth year of a parent or grandparent as a portable memorial.


Here's all you need to make one:

Sunday, October 20

Day 20 - "Best Day Ever" Key Chain

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Today we're kicking off week three! This week's theme is the most challenging for me because guys are so hard to find gifts for! So hopefully by the end you'll have a few new ideas for the gentlemen on your list. We'll start with this easy but meaningful keychain!


This is a great way to commemorate a special day in his life! An anniversary, the birth of child, or even his own birthday or graduation date for the single guys.


And a nice little keychain is perfect because he'll always have it with him. For a great gift from the kids you could put their names on it instead, or their initials and birthdays. They would love knowing daddy always has their gift in his pocket!


Here's what you need to make one:

Saturday, October 19

Day 19 - Hair Stuffs

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Today we're wrapping up ladies week with some fun accessories. This is another one that is super easy to make and great for last minute gifts! It's actually two projects in one because we'll be making fabric headbands and beaded bobby pins for a hair styling gift set!


These are perfect for an accessory-loving friend, or really anyone with hair! ;)


The headbands are nice and wide and they tie in the back so you don't have to mess with elastic. Which is a super bonus for me because apparently I have a weird head-shape and have never found an elastic headband that will stay on my head!


The bobby pins are a fun way to add a little color and sparkle to your day. Make a bunch to go with any outfit! I like to use them alone to pull my hair back, or stick them around a bun just for pretty!


You can mix and match the pieces to make some really cute little gift sets.


Friday, October 18

Day 18 - Stamped Washer Necklaces

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


We're making another jewelry project today. This one is really fun and easy to personalize. It's a stamped washer necklace!


These are cheap and easy to make, and they're cute to boot! My favorite thing about them is that you really can make them say anything! I'll be showing several style ideas today.


 And I even have some printable tags you can use as inspiration!


You can do names, important dates, inspirational words... just about anything!


Here's all you need to make one:

Thursday, October 17

Day 17 - Sewing Kit

Welcome back, friends! This month we're working on 31 handmade gifts for everyone on your list. You can find links to the full series here.


Today we're putting together a fun gift for your crafty friends. It's a mason jar sewing kit... with a twist! It has everything you need to make your own clutch or tote bag!


One of my favorite gifts last year was this cute little sewing kit with a pin cushion on top that my cousin made for me. The bottom is full of little sewing do-dads and thread. So cute, and so practical for a sewing girl like myself!


So I thought it would be fun to take it just a step further. You know how people are always making cookie mixes and stuff in jars? Well, I thought why not make a sewing kit and include everything you need to actually complete a small project?! You make the pin-cushion-topped jar and instead of flour & sugar fill it up with fabric pieces, thread, directions for completing the project (I made printables of a couple different options for you), and other sewing goodies.


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