The Handmade Gifts

This is a rare shot of one of us actually working on the handmade gifts that we exchange on Christmas Eve.  There were projects going in almost every room of the house that included saws, drills, sewing machines, knitting needles, and who knows what else.

Helen made Liz this set of origami box-covered Christmas lights to hang in her room. I think she made around 150 origami boxes.

Liz likes to decorate her room for Christmas and asked for a Christmas blanket. 

She got one --made by me!

Liz decoupaged this box with quotes from Helen's favorite books.

She also photocopied some of Helen's sticky notes (which are everywhere in her room filled with quotes) and included those. Helen loved reading all these and now understands why all her favorite books were missing from her room.

Liz made me this puzzle cheese board.

Liz crocheted Helen this cowl. I also knit her an infinity scarf.

Helen made me these canvas placemats. It took her hours to paint all these stripes.

Nelson made me this Christmas tree. 

I am IN LOVE with it!

Liz had fun with forks. She made these tablet stands.

Liz and Helen got a bottle cutter and made us a set of glasses.

This was a fun project that involved a bottle cutter, candles, and ice water.

Nelson made the girls these journal kits. He made boxes for the books and sewed elastic bandoliers to hold pens, glue, and scissors. The girls have already used them at an art museum!

Each year we get a bit nervous as to whether or not we can pull off handmade gifts, and each year just gets more and more fun.  The girls say that this gift exchange is more fun than Christmas morning gifts. Nelson and I remind new parents to be careful which traditions you begin as they can stick :)