334: Shake Flash Light

Ok, this is probably outside of my skill set to make, especially since I don't understand about 1/4 of the words in the directions, but how completely cool is this? It's a flashlight that you shake to charge. Oh yeah, and it's made out of electrical bits and an old Tic-Tac box.

Did someone say MacGyver?

I'm going to have to have to get Dad to teach me what those words mean so I can make one or a dozen.

Photo used without permission from Instructables.

333: Clothing

To give handmade clothing as a gift, you need more than just sewing skills. You need a sense of your giftee's style. No one wants parachute pants for Christmahanakwanza. Take a close look at what your giftee wears and what colors and fabrics they like. If you feel confident that you can make something they would wear and enjoy, clothing becomes a great gift idea.

The big pattern companies have their catalogs online, so you can browse styles from the comfort of your own home. I tend to stick with Simplicity and New Look, but McCall's, Butterick and Vogue are also easily found in the US. Don't discount patterns from some of the smaller or foreign manufacturers. Making something from a pattern gives you a tested and (hopefully) clear framework and pre-determined pieces to create your garment. It is very important that you get measurements for your giftee though. Many patterns run on the smaller side and it would be a shame to make a medium when what fits is a large.

If you can't find a pattern you like, you're trying to save money or you just want to be a little more adventurous with your sewing, there are tons of talented people online who run blogs with directions on how to create your own clothes. Check out Burda Style, Modern Sewing, Love To Sew, My Mama Made It, Little Blue Boo, and Sew, Mama, Sew for projects.

Photo used without permission from Burda Style.

332: Crayon Rings

There is not tutorial for making crayon rings, but Timothy Lilies has created a fun fashion accessory using (and I'm guessing here) classic resin casting techniques.

I would imagine that melted crayons would mold nicely in a cast made for resin. Having done some resin casting for miniature buildings, I can tell you that it's not all that hard. Check out Micro Mark for supplies and a basic tutorial on making a rubber mold. The process from there is pretty simple. You'll need a ring to use as a template. See how Mr. Lilies has chosen a very streamlined shape? That's the kind of thing you want to look for. Stay away from rings with lots of detail and thin sections. You could try sculpting a ring template from wax or soap if you are really industrious.

Once you have your template, it's an easy thing to make your mold. I think for these rings I'd make a two part mold that splits in the middle. The directions on the Micro Mark website (or that come with your kit, should you get a full resin casting kit, will tell you how to do this. When the mold is set up, spray it with mold release and instead of using resin, use melted crayon. You'll need to clean up any casting lines or sprue, but wax trims nicely with a craft knife.

Voila! Do a set in all the colors of the rainbow!

Photo used without permission from Future Perfect.

331: Bowling Pins

I had a bowling set when I was little and I remember my Mom letting me bowl in the front hallway. I suppose she figured there were fewer things there that I could break.

This bowling pin set could be a dangerous gift (especially if your kids and the concept of "gentle" are mutually exclusive) but how adorable are the pins? It's such a simple project and way fun activity for those cold winter days. So, come on Mom! Find a spot in the house where there are few windows and even fewer knick knacks and get in the fun.

Consider starting a holiday bowling league and get the whole family involved. I suggest using the rules for Candlepin Bowling, a New England bowling variation, because the ball and pins look very similar to these fun elf guys. You can always modify the rules based on the age of your players.

If you want to have a less seasonal bowling set, consider painting your pins to look like animals, or members of your family or - for the cynical - people your giftee doesn't like. Maybe paint them in the colors of an unpopular sports team or paint each pin with garden pests (for the giftee that gardens, of course) or paint them with pictures of your child's least favorite things. Get creative and don't forget to decorate the balls too! If this is a gift for a group, make a bunch of balls so that everyone has one of their own.

Photo used without permission from The Long Thread.

330: Rainbows

One of my all-time favorite Christmas gifts came from a cousin who lives on a mountaintop in North Carolina. It was back in the day when it was all the rage to give your gifts sealed in tin cans. I got this little can and it blew my mind that something could be in it other than soup but lo and behold, the tin can revealed a prism crystal.

This crystal has hung in every home I have lived in since. That's a lot of mileage for a holiday gift.

So this gift falls under the category of "mostly" handmade. I have no idea how crystals are made. I'm pretty sure it's magic. Or robots. What I can tell you is that a trip through your local salvage shop or "gift" store should uncover crystals, either reclaimed from someone's old chandelier or new ones under bright lights so that they catch your eye. You might even be able to find some on eBay or Etsy.

Once you have your crystal, add your mono-filament thread, and wrap it up. Perhaps in a cool box you made yourself. Or, go wild and get a bunch of prisms to make a rainbow curtain. While there isn't much that's homemade about this gift, it's a small, potentially recycled thing that has the power to bring a lot of joy during those long winter days to come.

Photo used without permission from A Storybook Life.

329: Pencil Holder

Tell someone you're giving them a pencil holder and their response will probably be politely enthusiastic. After all, there's not much that is sexy about a pencil holder right? Not necessarily. A quick dig around the web shows that recycled cans can be made quite lovely.

Take these tiled tins for example. The author of the tutorial used a hot wire and some foam, but check out the notes at the bottom of the first page. Folks have had pretty good success with the "fun foam" that is available in packs at the craft store.

There are lots of other objects that can be recycled into pen/pencil/marker caddies like these CD cases or these old floppy disks (great for retro geeks) or even old chip or oatmeal cans. Get really recyclable crazy and turn an old phone book into a pencil holder - only we'll take ours decorated please. Little paint. Maybe some rubber stamps or other scrapbooking embellishments. Yeah. That could look great. Woodworkers can even get into the act and use scrap lumber to make fancy pencil holders.

This makes a great gift project for kids and could be combined with Idea #241: Decorated Pens. Handmade holidays are about putting in the time, and with a little time, this seemingly simple idea can be appreciated for years to come.

Photo used without permission from Instructables.

328: Kitchen Towels

Anyone who loves to cook will tell you that you can never have too many kitchen towels. Create your own customized kitchen towels and give them as gifts or as the wrapping for a gift.

You can purchase towels and add appliques or loops for hanging to spice them up. You can go all out and make your own towels from soft and heavy cotton, linen, waffle weave or terrycloth.

Photo used without permission from Kojo Designs.