Homemade Gift Ideas

Lovable Layers
The people you know have so many special traits and individual virtues that make them who they are. Make your homemade gift something that highlights their personalities and what they mean to you.

Mini Memory Holder
This homemade gift is a great way to show your appreciation and capture special moments for your family and friends. Create a miniature collection of memories, milestones, clippings and photos with a simple-to-make book. By doing an easy accordion fold with chipboard bookends covered in decorative paper, you’ll be able to provide layers of remembrances for years to come.

MATERIALS
11” x 17” cardstock or other thick, quality paper
24” Ribbon
Chipboard (you can also recycle the back of a notepad or a cereal box)
Decorative patterned paper, wrapping paper or wallpaper scraps
Glue (glue stick or decoupage glue)
Scissors
Small envelopes (coin envelopes, vellum envelopes etc.)
Photos, memorabilia, clippings

1. Start by folding your cardstock in half. Then fold the bottom up to the top, and then fold in half again.
2. Unfold, and you should have 8 squares total. Using your scissors cut through the center of the squares, leaving the last two uncut (still attached).
3. Fold the cardstock back up into an accordion so the front and back pages are a single layer.
4. For the front and back covers of your book, use scraps of chipboard or recycled cardboard pieces. Cut two covers approximately 5” x 6 1/2” so they are a bit larger than the folded cardstock.
5. Prepare paper scraps to cover the chipboard. Cut two squares of paper that are around 1/4” larger all around than your chipboard squares. You will be folding the paper over the edges (like you would if you were wrapping a present or covering a book) and using your glue stick or decoupage glue to adhere it to the chipboard.
6. For easier folding, snip off the corners of your paper squares, making a crescent shape on each corner. Center the chipboard on the paper and bring the edges over making a crisp fold. Glue the paper to the backside of the chipboard.
7. Once your chipboard pieces are covered, place them face down (finished side down) side by side with one finger width (about 1/2”) between the two. Center the ribbon so you have equal amounts hanging over on each side and glue to the chipboard. You’ll use the excess ribbon to tie in a bow that will hold the book together.
8. Attach the first page of the inside of your book to one piece of covered chipboard and the last page to the other using your glue. Press firmly but not too hard so the ribbon doesn’t show through too much.
9. Decorate the inside and outside of the book as you wish with photos, memorabilia and other scrapbooking embellishments. Once finished, tie the ribbon overhang together in a bow.

• Add miniature pockets for holding small items by gluing tiny envelopes to your pages.
• Make your book smaller or larger simply by altering the size of cardstock and chipboard you use.
• This is a great homemade gift for friends and family who are far away. The small size of the book makes it easy to mail.

Love to Read
If you have friends or family who love to read but they’re finding that buying books is getting really expensive, offer to take a day to celebrate their love for books. Create a custom book journal and head out to their favorite bookstore. Use these tips to make it a special Valentine's Day:

• Book Journal: Create a book journal for your friends or family members where they can record books they’d like to remember and inspiration or quotations they come across. Customize their book journal by writing a personal message or a quote from their favorite author inside. And use the helpful tips from A Well-Covered Gift to add a personalized cover and matching bookmark.
• Literary Lounging: Choose a cozy bookstore, grab some books off the shelf, find a sofa and get your favorite drinks from the café.
• Readable Reference: Take your time to peruse through the books and write down phrases, thoughts or ideas that you’d like to takeaway in your journals. Mark down the author and book title so you can reference it later. Eventually you’ll each have your own little book full of your favorite sayings and ideas, plus you’ve spent some quality time together without spending a lot of money.

Message in a Bottle
Make a personal love letter or poem extra special by rolling it up, tying a ribbon and placing it in an etched glass bottle. Etching cream is easy to use and you can personalize a wine bottle, jar, vase or any non-tempered glass surface. If you decide to do a jar, fill it with folded notes on decorative paper that your loved one can pull out and read throughout the year. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Etching cream is available at most craft stores and is easier to handle than older etching methods. Still, be sure to exercise caution by using gloves and covering your surface with newspaper.
• You can use a variety of materials to create your pattern or image on the glass. Try to create an image that will be meaningful to the recipient, or just make it pretty! Stickers, masking tape, stencils, vinyl letters or numbers and contact paper can all be used.
• Make sure to wash and dry your glass thoroughly before applying stickers and etching cream.
• Follow the directions on the etching cream bottle. You will likely use a paintbrush or foam brush to apply the cream. Make sure to get into all the spaces you want to be etched.

More Heartfelt, Homemade Ideas
Home Made Simple has tons of ideas to help you do something thoughtful for those you love this Valentine’s Day and beyond. Here are just a few great suggestions:

• Let your family and friends keep the things they love close to their heart with a stylishly simple Keepsake Pendant Necklace.
• With a decorative Box of Memories they can collect reminders of life’s special moments with a lovely creation they can put on display.
• Give an old chandelier a sweet look by transforming it with paint, keepsakes and more.
• Brighten someone’s day any time of year with thoughtful and simple homemade gifts and activities.