Gift Ideas | Sunshine in my pocket

Archive | Gift Ideas RSS feed for this section

Christmas Tags (free printable)!

By KariV on December 19, 2013 in Christmas, Freebies, Gift Ideas, Holidays

It’s less than a week until Christmas! Do you have all your gifts wrapped?

About this time of year I’m searching for some gift tags…and this year I MADE some to share with you! So head on over to my guest post for the 25 Days of Christmas and score some free printable tags.

I know I still have so much to do! Here’s wishing you a stress-free, fun-filled Holiday Season!

Comments { 0 }

How to sew Baby Burp Cloths

By KariV on November 7, 2013 in DIY, Gift Ideas

Have you heard?!? I am a grandma!! And when I found out I was going to be a grandma…the first thing I did was go shopping for FABRIC. These Designer Burp Cloths are so soft and beautiful. And every mom needs a stack of them.

I got all of these fabrics from JoAnn’s. They are thick cotten fabric on one side, and soft white chenille on the other. I whipped up a bunch of these in a single day.

Just look at how soft that chenille is.

To make your own, just cut out the fabric into rectangles. I made mine about 14″ x 9″. Put right sides together, and sew them up, leaving about 3″ on one side to turn the fabrics right side out. Then iron, and hand stitch the hole closed.

These are just like sewing up the Baby Blanket I shared a while ago, only on a much smaller scale. They are machine washable in cold water…and you KNOW that’s important!

Ok, I just HAVE to share a picture of my new granddaughter:

Isn’t she adorable?!? I’m completely in love.

Oh, and before I go…these make great baby shower gifts!

Comments { 2 }

Exciting Announcement! And blanket sewing tutorial

By KariV on October 9, 2013 in DIY, Gift Ideas

I just can’t wait to tell you: I’m going to be a GRANDMA!! I know, I know…it’s pretty hard to believe. But, by the time this posts, I MAY already be a grandma. My daughter went into the hospital last night to be induced.

Oh. my. goodness. So I’ve never been a grandma before, but I imagine that grandmas SEW! So guess what I’ve been doing?

Sewing! One of the first things I put together is a baby blanket…with a really SOFT minky inside. It’s a simple project to start with, so how could I resist?

Now, notice the PINK ribbon. It’s a girl! But I bought the aqua fabric before I knew 🙂 ….girls like aqua, too.
Here’s how to make one:

You will need —
1 1/4 yd. minky fabric
1 1/4 yd. cotton fabric
matching thread
sewing supplies

Put the soft fabric on your cutting mat right side up. Place the printed cotton fabric face DOWN on the minky. Trim the minky to the same size as the cotton fabric. Pin all the way around. Sew, leaving a 3 inch hole in order to turn it right side out.

Turn it right side out by pulling the fabric through the unstitched portion:

Iron the cotton side of the blanket, turning that edge under 1/4″ to match the stitched portion. Then top stitch, making sure to close up the hole.

Look how soft and awesome this blanket is:

Don’t you think it will be perfect for newborn baby pictures?! Can’t wait!

Comments { 2 }

Chocolate Survival Kit

By KariV on August 28, 2013 in DIY, Freebies, Gift Ideas

Last week I participated in a PinChat Live party about desserts in jars. It reminded me that I haven’t yet posted about one of my favorite “Survival Kits” in a jar! Here it is:

This is the perfect little gift for anyone who is up against some tough trials. When I delivered one last night, my neighbor’s daughter said “EVERYONE needs one of these!” (I wish I could make one for everyone!)

I also made one for my husband, who was in a bicycle accident over the weekend. He loved it and keeps it close to his favorite chair to “help in the recuperation process.” He didn’t even mind that it was pink. 😉

I love that this is a great way to recycle those jars, too. This jar started out as a jar filled with peaches:

I just peeled off the label and ran it all through the dishwasher. If there is any sticky residue, a little citrus (or lemon) essential oil should take that right off.
See that lid? Nothing a little gold spray paint can’t fix.

Then just fill it up with some of your favorite chocolate, tie a ribbon, attach the note and deliver. Everyone loves it.

A mason jar works well, too! I like to use a little washi tape on the lid, but fabric looks great, too.

I’m thinking this little note would look good in blue, what do you think?

If you’d like the printable, like my page first here:

Then download the printable here:

8-13 chocolate survival kit pink

8-13 chocolate survival kit blue

Before I go, I just want to thank my neighbors the WHITINGS for bring me an entire giant container of chocolate…and they didn’t even know that it was just what I needed! 🙂 (You guys are the best!)

So you see, you never know who just might need a survival kit filled with chocolate. If you do give out a kit or two, please let me know. I’d love to hear!

Comments { 0 }

Cutting Fabric with the Cricut (and easy pillowcases)

By KariV on July 24, 2013 in DIY, Gift Ideas, Paper Crafting

I don’t remember much about going to girls camp when I was a youth, but one thing I DO remember is receiving a homemade pillow case with my name embroidered on it. I still have that pillowcase all these years later! So I really wanted to make pillowcases for the girls this year.

I was excited to cut names out of fabric with my Cricut and then iron them on. Here’s a quick video on how to do this: (It’s easier than I thought!)

I’ve seen other videos where they use fabric stiffener to cut the fabric. You have to paint on the stiffener and then wait for a day or so for it to completely dry. It seemed messy and took WAY too long for me!

So instead, I used “Heat & Bond,” which you can find at JoAnn’s or WalMart…and it worked great!

I sewed up a bunch of these pillowcases using the burrito method. There is a good tutorial here. This is a fast way to make cute pillowcases, including a sweet little piping (hot pink houndstooth on my pillowcases).

Our camp director, Krista, picked out the fabrics for these and I LOVE them! I think she has an extraordinary eye for putting fabrics together. (Thanks, Krista!)

Then I cut the fabric letters using the Cricut, and ironed them on. They turned out fantastic! And I think they look great with the waterbottles for camp.

So if you have a cricut and haven’t tried cutting fabric yet, what are you waiting for? It’s easy and there is so much you can do with fabric. I am ready to work on my next fabric project. See you next time.

Comments { 0 }