Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Magic - Material Misfits Can be Fun!

 Hello all.  Hope you are all well.  It is a brisk morning here.  I actually put the hood up on my sweatshirt when outside this morning - not that it did much good!  It is still very breezy out there.  Yesterday it looked pretty to start the day, then got cloudy and we had spitting rain and WIND!  Like 40mph gusts.  Licorice was scared of the wind and hid a lot.  He did eat some - but boy was he hungry this morning!  He ate and ate, then went in the greenhouse and curled up on his blanky.  Sweet boy.
It is still windy but not as bad as yesterday.  Supposed to be sunny!

Ok, I have resisted talking about holiday stuff now, but it is getting closer and closer, and some things need to be started now.  I know we have a lot of crafty folks that stop by here, so today is about some 'plans' I have and some ideas on what to do with odds and ends of material pieces.  You can make magic!

I have 2 littles that absolute love Disney and Mini (ages 5&6).  This is kind of what I am thinking as making as a special gift from Aunty - only in more of a patchwork design - in pinks, reds and peachy colors.
They have their blankies I made them and use them all the time - so I thought they might like these cute little pillows.

I have a 5 yr. old girlie that loves kitties so much, and her little brother is a dinosaur fanatic.  So here are a couple of ideas I found that I will give a try as a special homemade gift.  They love to cuddle and carry things around, so I thought something like this would be cute.


There are so many fun things you can do with fabric.  Make aprons, lap quilts, a bed quilt, pillows, a patchwork vest, hot pads, coasters, etc.  The list is endless.
To make hot pads - I usually line with some jean material, as it is thicker and will help absorb the heat.  I have heard of people using material from an ironing board cover!  Brilliant - heat proof.

I like this idea, and you may not need to sew.  You could probably use fabric glue.  
These look sewn, but I am thinking you could use carboard scraps, and cut out letters, then glue on fabric and add a piece of magnet to the back.  This is a great learning tool and cute too.  I have often made magnetic items using those magnets we get that are just flat advertising slabs of magnet.  I then cut and use.  ** Do be careful that kiddos aren't so small that they may try to put magnets in their mouth.**

There are just so many fun ideas out there and you can make some really cute and one of a kind holiday gifts.  You may have old clothes that can be cut up and used for projects, old jeans that are beyond wearing, material scraps from older projects, t-shirt material, there is no end to what can be used.  Maybe even old pillowcases or sheets (think thrift shop).  Even an old quilt that needs a lot of work from a thrift shop - use the good areas and you have old material and a patchwork already!

It is time to start getting creative.  Adults get food items and/or GC's from me, but the littles need something cute too.  
Get your thinking cap on and start getting creative.  Have fun and make a memorable gift.

Have a super day.

15 comments:

  1. Lots of pretty ideas for gifts, no matter the occasion! The littles will love a pillow to go with their quilts.

    Yup, breezy and cool this morning. We knew the mild weather would end and we sure enjoyed it while it lasted. Yesterday was definitely a fall day. Reminded me more of November. I'm glad Licorice has a place to keep warm.

    The quote is fabulous!

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    1. Thanks - yes these ideas could be for any occasion.
      I am still waiting on the sun they said we would have - haven't seen it yet! It is fall.
      Licorice loves the greenhouse and his bed(s) in there. Other kitties outside haven't figured it out and he never goes in when another cat is around. It is his secret place!
      Thanks

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  2. The little ones in your family will score the pillows and stuffies!
    I can sew a little bit but my skills are limited. I do have the quilt flimsy that I hope to work on at some point. But I think your projects are out of my league.

    Cold here again this a.m. Just at freezing but we should warm to 10C/50F.

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    1. I think they will like them. Really these are pretty easy and could even be done by hand if need be. Making a template will be the hardest part.
      Hope you stay warm!

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you - I sure like Pinterest - so many cute ideas for things. If you can imagine it, they have it on there.

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  4. Those are great ideas; I will steal some.

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  5. I wish making presents for my family worked well. So far it is a waste of effort.... unless I make cookies. My people want purchased stuff. Or, even better, Money, so they can purchase what they really want.

    So my prep at this season is to save up money! ;) My little paychecks will cover most of the gift giving and the supplies for cookies and such.

    It is what it is.

    MaryB

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  6. Those pillows are so cute!!! As are the stuffed kitty and dino toys. Yep I am using up bits of fabric making gifts here as well as orphan balls of yarn and leftover yarn as well. Tonight I hope to get some dry mixes made to put in the gift baskets for Kurt and Kris. I also need to copy some family recipes for the small album or recipes I made for them a few Christmas's ago.

    God bless.

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    1. They are cute aren't they? How cool. I love it. We really need to get creative and use up what we have. It helps others and it helps us as well - less money spent.
      We all like watching our pennies.

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  7. There are some really lovely ideas there. They look like they would be fun to make too.

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    1. Thanks. I thought the sewing level was pretty simple. I used to sew clothes, but haven't done that in decades, so I stick with simple things!

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  8. Patch work is so fun! Happy crafting.

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