DIY & Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Discussion in 'DIY (Do It Yourself)' started by R Stowe, Nov 15, 2016.

  1. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    I've been making nearly all of the gifts for friends and family the last few years. I've been working in leather for a bit now and I only have the most basic of tools. I've become a little more serious about carving this year so that will definitely have an influence on this years gifts.

    Anyways, here's a list of projects I've made or will be making this year. Feel free to keep adding ideas. I'll try to update this with either pictures or links to other threads.

    1. Spoon carving in general. I've carved from cut wood and from shaped blanks I purchased online.
    2. I handled a blank from Wolf Creek Forge with micarta and made a sheath for it
    3. Leather valet trays are quick and simple projects
    4. Leather belts
    5. Wallets and card holders
    6. Leather watch bands
    7. Burnt designs into leather coasters
    8. Coffee cup or shot glass leather wraps with a baseball stitch
    9. Leather belt pouches
    10. 550 cord bracelets
    11. Knife sheaths and axe covers
    12. Leather book covers for journals
    13. Leather book marks with designs burnt into them
    14. Rifle sleeve with shell holders
    15. Leather glasses case with clip
    16. Oil cloth and foam kneeling/sit pad
    17. Paddle strops
    18. DIY sling shots
    19. Bamboo fishing kit
    20. Knit wool hats (one of students is making these for me)
    21. Twig and epoxy picture frames with basswood backs
    22. Customized leather keychains with marine shackles
    23. Figurines carved from basswood
    24. I have an idea for a neat little crossbow but I'm not sure who'll gift it to yet

    So there are two dozen ideas to get us started and now I realize I need to take pictures of way more gifts!

    Post up completed projects or future ones. Sometimes a little inspiration is all we need.

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  2. LMF Joe

    LMF Joe Member

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    I love making presents.
    -Buying knife blanks and finishing them is not too bad to do. Great for kitchen sets.
    - Making bracelets from bike chains.
    -This year i'm making my wife a passive speaker to amplify the music from her phone.
    -Custom signs on my cnc router (okay, that one's not for everybody)
    -You can get silver putty and make jewelry, like broaches.
     
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  3. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    Those are some awesome ideas Joe! What kind of passive speaker are you making? I think I might handle my mom a kitchen knife with some nice maple or something this year.
     
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  4. LMF Joe

    LMF Joe Member

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    Something like this, but a little more ornate.
    [​IMG]

    For the kitchen knives, you can get some very nice VG10 laminated blanks for a good price. Just make sure you use stabilized wood for kitchen use.
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  5. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    That's really cool. I have some stabilized birds eye maple I hope to use on a kitchen knife.
     
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  6. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    I cant believe i missed this thread! What great ideas fellas!!!!
     
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  7. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Making a birdhouse and something out of an oak burl this year. Just not sure what and not in your skill levels.
     
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  8. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    I have made dovetail boxes, jewelry boxes, rubber band guns, wooden toys, cutting boards, leather wrapped journals, handmade pens, candlesticks and bowls turned on lathe, and of course knives.

    These were knives gifted last year at Christmas.

    IMG_0333.JPG IMG_0335.JPG

    Last year at Christmas my brother gave me this spike.
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    This I will return the spike as this knif-chete.
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  9. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Very cool Semo!
     
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  10. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    That's an awesome turn around on that spike.
     
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  11. bladesmith3

    bladesmith3 Member

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    beautiful and thoughtful.
     
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  12. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Pocket dump trays.
    image.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2016
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  13. Bcamos

    Bcamos Member

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  14. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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  15. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    Forged up a little candle stand for Mom.....

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  16. R Stowe

    R Stowe Moderator Staff Member

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    That's awesome.
     
  17. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Nice metal work. Mom will be happy.
     
  18. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    She was. That made it all worth while. :D
     
  19. LMF Joe

    LMF Joe Member

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    Finished the passive speaker for my wife's S7 phone. Looks awesome, sounds okay. Need to experiment more with the feed passage to the speaker.
    @R Stowe

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