10 AWESOME Gift Ideas for Guys

Is it just me or is buying gifts for men really hard?  I'm under the personal opinion that I'm really easy to buy for: fabric + art + something new to wear and I'm as happy as a clam.

So If you're like me and need a little help, check out these ideas.

(These are not affiliated or sponsored ideas).

What guy wouldn't love the "world's BEST hammock"?  Makes you wonder what qualifies it as such, huh?

Roo The World's BEST Camping Hammock - $99

I don't know a single man that does not just Love Bacon.

The Big Book of Bacon - $ 15

These wallets are just awesome.

Men's Recycled bike tire wallet - $ 24

Nothing dresses up a man quite as nicely as a freshly sewn bow tie.

Bow Tie Sewing Pattern - $ 5

This gift idea is for those 20-something brother-in-law types.

The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocolipse - $14

This game is an absolute favorite of ours.  It's really fun to play with a big group, but can also be played with just two players.

7 Wonders - $32

Love these beautiful cutting boards.

State Shaped Cutting Board- $ 48

Might be the fanciest dried meat I've ever seen.

Grass-fed Biltong  - $10

My idea of fun is in my sewing room, music blaring, sewing away.  But I know many who love to get outdoors and ...well....survive in nature.

Bushcraft 101 - $13

These are really beautiful journals.

Dark Brown Leather Journal - $ 25

This print just makes me laugh.  Again, another Bacon reference.

Cow Butcher Diagram - $ 12

There you go, hope you enjoyed my roundup.  Did I make your shopping a little easier...?

Picking a Christmas Card with Minted

It's that time of year again where it's time to gather up the kiddos and head outside and take those dear family pictures.  Once you check that off the list you get the joy of trying to decide which picture you like the best, but most importantly which Christmas card to choose.  My absolute favorite card company is Minted. They have the best selection with unique indie designs and even offer free addressing, which I really love!

Well, I sat down the other day perused them all and narrowed it down to my seven favorite cards.  No easy task, I assure you.

#1

Merry Wish Holiday

# 2

Merrily Holiday

#3 -- This year they offer foil pressed cards that are so lovely and shiny.

Frost Foil Pressed

#4

Very Merry

#5

Bright Stripes

#6 -- Here's my second favorite card, another foil pressed card.  I almost went with this one.

Frosted Window Panel

Great cards, right?  But, wait, didn't I say 7?  Well, the seventh was ordered today.  I'll be happy to share it with you when it arrives (PLUS-- a little something special).

Check out Minted for more.

Canvas Winner!!

Congrats to Stephanie F. on her new Easy Canvas Print.

Everyone else who didn't win, don't worry, Easy Canvas Prints is having a 75% off sale right Now.  Check it out!

Easy Quilted Christmas Stockings

Last year I was a guest on U -Create where I shared how to make these stockings.

I'm happy to share this project here with you today with plenty of time left to make stockings until Christmas.

 

Last year I started this project and got five of them completed...with a baby due any day and not quite positive on the name we were going to name her, I didn't make ever make the 6th.  A couple days ago I had a free afternoon and finished my sixth and put together this tutorial for you.

ALSO, I will mention for the sake of internet safety I've removed all my children's names.  They are actually on the quilted tops and they look darling.  Sorry, I can't share them with you.

Want to make your own?  Here's how.

MATERIALS:

1. Print out of Easy Quilted Stocking Pattern

2. 1/2 yard of thick felt (purchased from the bolt)

3. 1/2 yard of fabric

4. 1/2 yard of quilted cotton fabric

5. Lots of matching fabrics scraps

6. Print out of the name, using a word document

STEP ONE: Collect all your fabric. Jo-Ann's has the best deals on Christmas fabric about a month before Christmas.

 I have matching fabric scraps in each stocking.  I love how it ties them all together.

STEP TWO:  Cut out the main pattern pieces and tape them together, lining up on the orange lines and abc spots.

STEP THREE:  Flip the main pattern piece to the backside and cut out one main stocking piece out of your nice fabric, to be the stocking back.  Cut out your scraps and decide how you want them to be place.  Sometimes I do three scraps in a row, sometimes two, sometimes just one long one.  I just cut out random rectangles to suit my liking.  I always add two or three rows past the size of my stocking.

STEP FOUR:  Connect each scrap by sewing all your pieces together, placing right sides together.  Sew using a 1/2" inseam.  Press seams open.  Continue until each row has all its scraps connected.

STEP FIVE:  Now with right sides together, connect the rows together.  Sew on a 1/2" inseam and press seams open.

STEP SIX:  Press from the front smoothing everything out.  Place pattern on top and pin in place.  Cut out main stocking piece (make sure it's facing the opposite direction as your back piece). 

STEP SEVEN:  Cut out two pieces of felt.

STEP EIGHT:  Place main stocking pieces on top of felt and pin together.  Using a double needle (or stitching twice, like I do) quilt through both layers.  Then, space 1 1/2" over to the left and start again.  I use a 1 1/2" piece of felt to be my guide. Continue the length of the stocking. Repeat with the back piece.

STEP NINE:  Place stocking pieces together with right sides facing and stitch around the entire stocking.  Finish the edges with a zig-zag stitch or serged edges.

Hubby gave me an early Christmas present this year-- a Serger.  I'm so excited about it!  This was my first project using it.  I had a little trouble with the curve--still figuring out this beast.  I really should have left it how it looked when this picture was taken.  I tried to go back over it a couple of times-- and really shaved it waaaay down.  Darn it!

STEP TEN:  Cut out your two stocking top pieces on the fold using quilted cotton.  Make a print out of your name(s), using a word document.  I used the font Honey Script. Then, using an exacto knife I cut out each of the letters. 

If you have a fancy machine that cuts things out for you, this would be ideal.

Placed the now stencil, on the bottom half center of one top piece and use a pencil to write the name in place.

STEP ELEVEN:  Then, following the pencil marks I embroidered each name using my normal sewing machine.  I just use a super tight tension and a zig-zag stitch and move it really slowly, my zig zag stitch varied from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 depending on how wide I wanted it to be.  I pull the material slowly forwards and backwards, as needed.

STEP TWELVE:  Make a hanger from a piece of the quilted cotton to your desired size.  With right sides together stitch up both sides, making sure to add the hanger in between.  Fold right side out. 

 STEP THIRTEEN:  With the main stocking inside out and the stocking top right side out, place the top stocking piece inside the main stocking facing the front side.

STEP FOURTEEN:  Sew around the top piece and the main stocking piece.  Finish the edge with either a zig-zag stitch or a serged edge.

STEP FIFTEEN:  Flip right side out!  ALL Done!

You can see how I shaved off the top of my boot here.  All my other stockings follow my normal stocking design.

 I love the matching cheer these stockings bring.

 Thanks so much for having me!!

For more please visit my blog and shop!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!