The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide- DIY Gift Wrapping

I'm back with the fourth segment of The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide. DIY Christmas gifts presented with handmade wrapping is the cherry on top of a good gift. Check out these tutorials for different ways to add a personal touch to your Christmas presents this year.

Enjoy and make sure to link up at the end of the post with any other ideas you happen upon!

The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide- DIY Gift Wrapping

1. Magazine Bow 2. Felt Envelope 3. Pom Pom Packages

4. Twistie Tie Gift Toppers 5. Paint Chip Gift Tags 6. Names on Gifts

7. Brooch Gift Toppers 8. Gift Jar Variations 9. Paper Bow

LINK UP OTHER DIY WRAPPING IDEAS HERE:

An Explanation

Boy it has been a long time since my last post. If you have been a follower of my blog for a while you may have noticed that sometimes I have stints of no posts. Reason being that I had a big event coming up for work and I was rushing to get that done. But...drum roll please...I have officially quit my job and will now be staying home full time with my baby girl! I am so excited.

Now that I have time on my hands again, watch for another gift guide today :)

The How-To Gal's Christmas Gift Guide- Grandmothers

Welcome to the third week of The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide featuring DIY gifts for all of the Grandmas out there. I distinctly remember two Christmas gifts given to me by my grandmother and both were handmade. She made me a quillow one year and a beautiful pink hand knit scarf another year. Both gifts I cherish to this day. I think it's time to give back!

Join me in giving Grandma something she will cherish this year and make sure to link up at the end of the post with any other ideas you happen upon!

Let's Get Started!

The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide for Grandma!

1. Bed Warmer 2. Cinnamon Candle 3. Slippers

4. Ruffle Scarf 5. Tea Towel Apron 6. Paper Wrapped Vases

7. Accordion Scrapbook 8. Ruffle Cardigan 9. Button Pillow

10. Multi-Photo Frame 11. Photo Strip Garland 12. Ruffle Pillow

Link up more ideas for Grandma here:

Repair Almost Anything

Oh my goodness...if you haven't already seen this, you have to check out Platform 21's Remarkable Repairs Contest. Anything you can think of has been ingeniously repaired.

Examples:

Vinyl Records NEVER Go Out of Style!

Wondering what to do with all of those records sitting around your house whose songs you now have on your iPod? Why not re-purpose them into one of these fun ideas via CrookedBrains?

Here are some of my favorite ideas:

How-To Repair Drywall

A couple of months ago we had family over for a celebration of the birth of our baby girl. As all family parties usually do...things got out of hand. One of my little cousin's wasn't being watch and went upstairs by himself. Next thing we hear is something being rolled down the stairs. Remember my foot rest made for the baby's room out of an big old spindle? It crashed down the stairs into our wall. I was devastated and had no idea what to do.

Thank goodness for Google, because we were able to fix the hole with a few suggestions which I thought I would share today:

Dry wall patch kit from Lowes

Repairing Damaged Drywall article from Handy Man Fix Home Repair

Hope you never have to use these suggestions, but just in case- good luck!

The How-To Gal's Christmas Gift Guide- The Little People You Love

Welcome to this week's edition of The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide! This week I have compiled tutorials from all over the web of gifts for the little people in your life!

Enjoy and make sure to link up at the end of the post with any other ideas you happen upon!

Let's Get Started!

The How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide for the Little People You Love

1. Wild Things Tote 2. Child's Tutu 3. Textured Words Book

4. Family Coloring Book 5. Baby Leg Warmers 6. Baby Bonnet

7. Book Clock 8. Little Boy Tie 9. Butterfly Mobile

10. Kitty Crayons 11. Ruffle Collar 12. No-Sew Flutter Cape

13. Tooth Pillow 14. Play Oven Mits 15. Grover Puppet
16. Men's Shirt to Cute Skirt 17. Placemat bib 18. Argyle Onesie

Link up more ideas here:

Favorite Before and Afters

Linking up to the Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party.


Thought I would share some of my favorites from past posts! For more of my Before and Afters click HERE!

My Copper Headboard made from plywood and paper:


Love of Literature Clock:
Black Shelves and Kitchen Table:
Sewing Table to Changing Table:
And of course, my childhood desk:

It is true what my "About Me" says:

I love creating something fantastic out of something forgotten or misused in the past. Having beautiful things doesn't mean you have to pay a fortune for them. Through creative means and a little elbow grease, I believe anything can be beautified.

How-To "Refashion" a Turtleneck- Guest Blogger, Sarah Cornett

I am so excited to spotlight a fellow blogger that I happened upon when browsing one day. She is super skillful with taking the mediocre to the extraordinary! Welcome Sarah, from Sarah's Never-Ending Projects! Take it away Sarah!

"Hi all! I'm Sarah from Sarah's Never-Ending Projects! The How-To Gal asked me if I would be willing to share a project with you today, and of course I was so excited for the opportunity! Today I'm going to share with you a refashioning tutorial. This project is very simple, and inexpensive (possibly even free, if you already have what's needed!)

You will need:

*Access to a sewing machine

*Scissors

*Thread, Pins, Etc.

*A turtleneck shirt

I found this shirt at Ross for 4 dollars. Ross is a great place to find inexpensive turtlenecks, but you can also use one that you already have, if you have one.

First of all, you'll need to remove the turtleneck off of the top. Cut as close to the neck seam as possible, without crossing the seam.

You should have 2 separate pieces by this point; a tube that used to be the turtleneck, and a crew neck top.

Next, cut the seam of the turtleneck completely off, and open up fabric of the turtleneck completely up. You should have a nice-sized block of fabric now to work with.

Now cut strips from the turtleneck fabric that are about 1 1/2 inches thick. You'll need about 3 of them.

Sew the strips together, so it makes one long strip.

Now you're going to pin them to the collar of the shirt, making sure that the center of the trim matches up with just below the very top of the neckline of the shirt. fold and pin in a pleated, over-under pattern, as shown below. You may have some extra, just snip it the rest off.

From here, it's simple, just sew a single line straight down the middle of the trim, and you're ready to go!"

Voila!

Thank you so much for sharing, Sarah! Be sure to stop by her blog for other fun projects!

Do you have a step-by-step project you would like featured on The How-To Gal? I would love to feature you! Email me at the.how.to.gal@gmail.com for details!

Seemingly Sad Shelves

I got a screamin' deal at a recent garage sale. I got these shelves:


and five pairs of baby girl's shoes for $5.00. The lady selling them seemed super happy for that much! I drove away very pleased, because I knew in a couple of days and after a few coats of black glossy spray paint they would look like this:


They turned out beautiful, but I'm still working on what to put ON the shelves...any thoughts?

P.S. Don't forget to link up your holiday ideas to the How-To Gal's Handmade Christmas Gift Guide- Sister edition.
P.P.S. Keep your eyes open for a different DIY guide every week!