best hand made gifts

[mimififi]

What is the best hand made gift you have ever made for someone and what was it?

Mine was a memory box for my mum. I decorated a little box all beautiful and made loads of tiny index type cards to go inside and then wrote on them all the happy memories I have of her and the things we have done since I was a little girl. i still add to it now and just give her the cards. She keeps it on her bedroom dressing table.
Also, do you think handmade gifts are a good thing, or a cop out?

thoughts invited

[CompNut]

mimififi
What a beautiful gift and what a thoughtful, loving daughter you are. I'm sure your Mother treasures your gift and always will.
Handmade presents are the best ever, they show thought, time and are so personal, which a bought gift can rarely be.

Your gift to your Mother is a tribute to her for giving you a happy childhood and home, and bringing you up to be a caring, lovely daughter.
With every good wish for the future to you and your Mother.

[GraceAnais]

wow what a great idea. I'm sure my mum would love that - unfortunately i can't imagine ever having the time to make one though!

i think hand made gifts are the best. they often mean much more than something you can just buy on a credit card.

it's a shame we live in a society so obsessed with money and status rather than what really matters.

[lady_p_gold]

Mine was for a couple who were getting married and I and I blew an egg and decorated it all in gold with the date of their wedding and with their names ... it took hours but it was unusual ...

[lady_p_gold]

The memory box is a brilliant idea .. might pinch that one !!!!!

[Jennykins]

Hey Mimififi great post... Mine was when I went to a girl friends stag I took pictures all night.. then scraped booked the picutures ( blown up in size ) and wrote a story on every page of what happend that night.. than With her wedding present I gave her the book. It was really fun for her to pass it around at her wedding gift opening...

I think its great when you give somebody a hand made gift or card.. it shows you really care and took your time to make is super special...

Jen

[Bohne]

I love hand-made gifts, however, I have realized that they are not always appreciated.

I made a pair of socks for my best friend a few years ago that she never wanted to take off again.
Had to make one for her mother last year, since she liked them so much, too.

My goddaughter got a knitted scarf two years ago, which she is still taking to bed with her, however, my niece got the same scarf, and I have never seen her wear it.
So my goddaughter also got a knitted jumper last year, of which I already had to lengthen the sleeves.

Last year all the family got quilted stuff. Oven mits, pillows, blankets.
Some of them went all crazy about them.

When my husband was in Iraq christmal befor last, I made him a calender-girl calender.
12 nude pictures that don't really show anything. If you have seen the film, you'll know what I am talking about.
That really was a lot of work, but he loved it...

However, some people are just not into stuff like that.
Then it is a pity of wasting all your effort, and you'd be better off, buying them a box of chocolate.

[mimififi]

thanks all of you who answered. I didn't expect such a warm reply to the memory box, I intended it only as an example, but thank you so much.......

I love getting and giving home made stuff and have started writing my christmas lists already so I can start making stuff as from now. I'm on the scrounge for new ideas. I think I might be using some of yours, tee hee.

Thanks again everyone, and it's nice to know I'm not wasting my time, but that generarly people do appreciate home made things.

I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy now, extra christmassy!

[kate1976]

mimififi, what a beautiful, thoughtful gift for your mother!

I made my parents a calendar for Christmas, I chose 12 pictures of our family throughout the years and spent days creating it! They love it and want another one for next year so I think I'll start hunting out pictures now!!!

I have a box on my bedside table which my son made for me when he was at nursery, it has a photo of him in it, a note saying he loves me and he blew lots of kisses into it, shut the lid and decorated it! My very own box of love!!

I always appreciate handmade gifts as more thought and love goes into them!

[whiskeysheri]

That's such a sweet gift, mimififi!

I always give my family home made gifts- it means so much more. My sister split up with her boyfriend, when my niece was coming up to a year old. He took all the tapes and photos that had been taken of the baby since she was born and refused to return them. I went to everyone I knew who had ever visited my sister and the baby and used every photo I could find.

I found a huge, beautiful album which I put all the photos into and decorated it. I also put in little notes of the dates, the baby had done certain things, like crawl, smile for the first time and funny little things she had done, aswell as her hand and foot prints. I then decorated a box to put it into, wrapped in tissue paper.

I gave it to my sister for her birthday recently and she cried her heart out, which started me and my mum off! She loves it, which made me feel great (it took me about two months). I'd love to receive a home made present x