Homemade Gifts

As Jeff so aptly put it, "We rocked the homemade gifts this year!"  Indeed, there were some fine and lovely gifts, lovingly crafted for one another - always my favorite kind of gifts.  As in past years, it's hard to decide which I enjoyed more - the making of the crafts, or the giving of the gift.  I loved the time I got to spend, too, with the kids and with Jeff as we made these gifts. 

Leo made "no sew" fleece blankets for his brothers - this one was for Aidan; Pax's had monsters on once side and orange fleece on the other.  

The 5 of us each designed a plate with Sharpie markers, then made it foodsafe by baking it in the oven.

Initial "C" covered in bottle caps for beer-lovin' Jeff

Initial "R" out of corks - for friends

Bunch of Grapes made out of corks for my wine enthusiast father

All things Harry Potter for Aidan:  Golden Snitch; Quill pen; hollowed out secret hideaway book; faux glasses

I used iron transfer paper to make Leo's favorite drawings into pillows for his bed.  On left:  his amazing robot; on right: his beloved Flat Cat portrait.

This is my mother's favorite Christmas quote that I turned into a decorative canvas

Ornaments for teachers

A slew of sweet ornaments for each brother's tree (in each of their rooms)

The completed Pax gift to brothers

For Chef Pax - a personalized apron and cookbook of favorite recipes, plus photos

Aidan made these AMAZING coffee mugs for each brother, with my mom's guidance and instruction.  Leo's mug has a snail inside; Pax's has a turtle.  And they are BIG, because, as Aidan said, "They drink a LOT of coffee."

The kids made these hand-some bowls out of clay (again, with my mom's amazing guidance!)

Jeff's gift to me:  an new kind of family portrait for our walls.  He painted them, freehand. 

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."  -Mother Teresa

(If you haven't read this blog in awhile, you may want to start here to catch up on the 
previous-yet-related posts...)