Things I'm Working On This Week: Kids' Holiday Gifts

I need to stop looking at other blogs. Seriously! There are so many awesome ideas floating around out there, especially when it comes to holiday gift giving, and there's no way in the world I have room to squeeze even one more tiny project into my holiday crafting list...well, maybe one or two teeensy ones ;)

This week I'm working on projects for my boys' holiday gifts. Since we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, that adds up to a ton of presents that I'm required to come up with! I've always attempted to make at least half of the boys' Hanukkah presents, but even at only 50% homemade that still adds up to 12 presents I have to create, and that's only for my kids! I better get craftin'!

This week I'm working on:

* Soft fabric blocks for Simon - tutorials for these are abundant, but I am still searching for the perfect idea to help keep the blocks more square and sturdy. Mitch suggested stuffing them with a square block of foam, which seems to be an easy and viable idea, but I don't have foam to test his theory yet. I had also thought of using a plastic needlework mesh "skeleton" cube in the interior because I have some of that left over from another project.

* I-Spy Book for Sutton - my three-year-old is obsessed with I-Spy books, so I decided to make him a personalized one using items and toys from around the house. So far I've photographed a few "cities" built with blocks and Legos with their other toys, a pile of play food, a bunch of different Halloween candy, art supplies, and a rainbow made out of their toys. I still need to come up with five or six more ideas, so any other layout suggestions would be much appreciated! I will be getting this printed in 8x8 hardback format from Shutterfly, because I stumbled upon a free book code (and who doesn't like free?!?).

* Card Game for Sawyer - my four-year-old is starting to get into games, so I am making him an Old Maid card game using our family members photos as the cards. Between the boys aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, we'll have a perfect number of cards for a game of Old Maid. I'll order two of each family member's photo (with the name of each person Photoshopped on to it), cut them to size, back it with a piece of scrapbook paper and then laminate them. Still not sure who to use as the Old Maid yet, but I'm thinking about dressing up one of their favorite stuffed animals so that no one will be offended that I called them Old ;)

I'll be sure to post photos when I'm done (and maybe a tutorial if I end up doing something radically new and different for the blocks), but I just thought this might spark some creative ideas for all of you!

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