Backpack's- Project #17

Last year for Christmas, I helped my daughter make these backpacks for her friends for Christmas. I was really proud of her. It was a good project for a girl her age to tackle. Not too hard, but enough of a challenge to give her a huge sense of pride and accomplishment!
Since we are in a new place, with new friends, it was the perfect gift to give again.
Again, the challenge was finding out how to correctly spell everyone's name (this one above, we weren't sure, so she just got an initial)
This one here was my favorite fabric.

While unpacking some boxes, I came across some notepads and pencils. We thought they would be perfect to fill the backpacks with.

I really liked doing this with my kids for several reasons:
1. By turning their focus to doing something for their friends, they took their focus off how many presents were under the tree for them. (At least for a little while)
2. It teaches them to be frugal: All the fabric and thread came from my stash, the only thing we had to buy was the cording. I made her buy it herself, but gave her a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby. (And yet, as cheap as these were, I think they were just as appreciated as any store bought gift!)
3. It teaches them some sewing skills.
4. It gives them a sense of accomplishment.
5. After all the effort they put into making gifts, they are more appreciate of the gifts they receive from others.
6. what better bonding than some mommy-time working on projects?

Project #16- Marble Bags

For Christmas, I helped my 9-year old girl make backpacks for her friends (post coming soon), so for my 9-year old boy, I needed to figure out something that he could make as gifts to give away to his friends, and he could also get some crafting-with-mom time.
So we came up with these little marble bags. We ended up making 8 of them, all with his friends names embroidered on them.
The biggest challenge: figuring out how his friends all spelled their names.

Projects #14, and #15

For a special 3-year old boy on my Christmas list this year, I decided to put my embroidery unit to good use.
I had a child size apron that I had bought from Hobby Lobby, and put his name, and a little dinosaur on it. I've seen pictures of him helping out lots in the kitchen, so hopefully, this will go to good use.
I also made him a reversible Batman/Superman cape. I've made these for most of my nieces and nephews. With a few exceptions, they seem to really like them.

He was also the recipient of the fishing game, so I guess all his gifts were sewn this year. (Which is good, because then I don't have to worry that he already has them!)