12 Days: Make & Doodle

By Contributing Writer on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 17:44

[Editor’s Note: This article was written by the team of gaelick.com, an award-winning Irish website for LGBT-news.]

There may be a gloomy ol’ recession cloud hanging over this Christmas but, as the adage goes, “every cloud has a silver lining”… which can be improved with sequins and beads according to the handy how-to guides below. So here’s Gaelick’s guide to gift-giving which doesn’t skimp on the generosity and doesn’t leave you feeling pick-pocketed. And if there is one thing the internet is superb at, it’s pooling the ingenuity of arty-crafty types from around the globe, who love to share their templates and recipes. Below is a mini-compendium of some of the great ideas out there. The links below bring you to other sites so have a snoop around and see what else grabs your fancy.

1. Bubble Bathing Set

Megan over on NotMartha.com has shared a comprehensive and surprisingly straightforward “How To” guide for making bath bombs. All you’ll need is baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, mineral salts, fragrance oils, vegetable oil and food colouring. As the author of an alternative bath bombmaking how-to guide  says “Everybody loves bath bombs. It is like taking a bath in champagne, only without the show tunes and chorus boys.” Click here to see how it’s done…

2. Freezer Paper Stencilling

Here’s one I’m planning on employing myself for a few gifts this yuletide. Jessica Jones over on How About Orange… has shared a nifty way to print patterns and illustrations onto t-shirts, dishcloths, bags, pencil cases. Hell, you could print on your granny with this technique. And if your giftee is a latte fiend, check out this fun wee stencil. Click here to see how it’s done…

3. Pillow and Behold: A Cushion for Men

Janet Clare has put together a super tutorial which is intended for the men or IT professionals in your life. But really it is a nice craft idea for anyone who likes a cush’ for their toosh. The tutorial shows you how to make cushions out of suit fabric but any fabric will do. And if you’re brave enough to have a go at embroidering it, there are instructions to guide you through every stitch and snip so personalising it should be a cinch. Click here to see how it’s done…

4. Tree-rific Ornaments

There are all kinds of ideas for making Christmas tree decorations. So rather than choose just one, here’s a list of some of the best how-to guides for funky tree appendages: