2011 family gift reveal

In addition to making part of my BBA Secret Santa gift this year, I also made several gifts for my family and purchased other handmade items for gifts.  Even when I'm not making all of the gifts myself, I still enjoy giving handmade gifts when I can.

I ordered several laser engraved wooden picture frames from Edi of memoriesforlifesb.  I got the idea to make a custom college frame for my little sister-in-law (who just started college this fall) a while back and then more recently decided to order a couple more frames, too.  I came up with the concept/wording for all of these, but Edi put everything together.  I knew that Edi was going to do an excellent job, but I was still wowed by how professional these are.  Thank you Edi!

As mentioned earlier this week, I ordered a bunch of tea from Tim of teaman.  I only took this picture of Karen's tea, but I ordered enough for four more people, too.

I traded with Yvonne of yjja123 way back in the summer for a couple of her pendants.  Yep, she was way ahead on her Christmas shopping!  I've traded with Yvonne the past couple years as well and have kept both of my pendants.  This year it was time to give them to others.  I put this first one on a simple chain for my little sister-in-law.

Whenever I think of colors that I want to use for my brother's girlfriend, my mind always goes to rainbow.  Do you remember my button necklace from last year?  I knew that I wanted to give her this second pendant and knew that I also wanted to make her a herringbone wrap bracelet/necklace.  It wasn't until I had my color palette ready that I decided they belonged together.  I included a chain with a jump ring on the end so she can wear the pendant or any of her other charms without the beaded rope.  You can check out a close up photo of this pendant from the transaction since I didn't take one myself.

I have been having fun with my new charms and pendants and wanted to include a couple more for her, too.  She's a singer so that the music note charm is pretty self-explanatory.  I could have easily left it at these two charms/pendants but I decided to make a Star Wars one, too, just for fun.  She's a huge Star Wars fan.  I knew that she'd get a kick out of this.  I also know that there is a huge amount of glare on that pendant.  My listing photos for these new charm sets will not look like that.  But you can get the idea here.

Remember my Chai mix from my final 2011 show?  I got some for my brother and his girlfriend, too.  Again, unfortunately this lovely business does not have a web site or I would share it with you.

I'm sure that it's not a surprise that one of my favorite gifts to get is crafting supplies.  I love to buy crafting supplies for other people, too.  I always enjoy picking out fabric for my mom.

Also on the supply end of my present giving, a lot of people were very intrigued about what was in the huge Amazon box that I received at the beginning of the month.  I ordered two cutting mats: one for me for my paper crafts and a new portable sized one for my mom for her quilting and other fabric projects.

Amazon carries Alvin brand mats, which are supposed to be some of the best on the market.

I used this post for Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 12/30/11.