My goal for Christmas 2011 was to make or buy handmade gifts for at least a part of my giving. During the summer, I decided to save new reusable bags and use them instead of buying paper and wrapping Christmas gifts. I realize this makes me the unpopular, goober aunt, but I thought it would be a good idea to for each child to have a bag to pack any presents they receive since it normally looks like a tornado rips through the room and there’s always previous little pieces lost in the pile.

While shopping at a local fabric, I fell in love with the Robert Kaufman’s pups in pickup trucks fabric because it reminded me of my nephew and his dog. I made him a pillowcase and wrote a note letting him know why he was getting a pillowcase and that I personalized it with his name. I think he liked it, but he was really excited about the iTunes gift card.

My two older nieces who are cheerleaders got bedazzled t-shirts with the names of their mascots. Long before this space was a blog, it was marketplace for personalized and embellished tees just like the ones above. Some people who did not know me six years ago when I closed my online business don’t know I own a t-shirt press and a Caboodle full of glue-back rhinestones. If only I had a toddler in pageants (just kidding!).

My youngest nephew loves stuffed animals and while at the Crafty Supermarket I saw a stuffed skeleton that reminded me of his Halloween costume. I had it wrapped at the Yelp gift wrap stand so I never saw who made it and when my nephew opened it I wasn’t going to take it back to look, but she had a booth of great stuff!

My newest niece got a personalized onesie with her nickname, Kit-Kat, on it. As you can tell she’s thrilled to get. No really, it is hard to capture an image without an adult’s face in the background, the baby looking at the camera and the cousin helping hold up the clothing.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family!