$10 Christmas Challenge: My Ideas So Far

We are getting into the spirit of our $10 Christmas Challenge with holiday crafting!  I have finished a hat for Lucas this week and I have another knitting project about 2/3 finished.  I scored some really great things at the thrift stores last weekend, so I thought I would tell you about some of the ideas I have had.

First of all, I went to the “linens” section of each thrift store and I looked for sheets, curtains and other large pieces of fabric.  For example, I found an awesome zebra print flat sheet for $2.99.  As a sheet, by itself, it isn’t worth much, but it is a wonderful large piece of fabric and I am thinking of making aprons out of it.  There is no way I could have bought that much fabric for such a low price at the fabric store!  Incidentally, I have sewn with sheets before and it is GREAT because there is less hemming to do if you cut it right!

Zebra Flat Sheet $2.99

I also found some beautiful curtain panels that were practically yelling my name from across the store.  I’m about to go all Scarlett O’Hara on those things!  I’m thinking maybe they can become skirts  for the girls, with matching dresses for their American girl dolls.  (But if I run out of time and they have to become chair pads in my dining room . . . well, that’s OK with me too!)

Curtain Panels $3.99 Floral isn’t usually my thing, but I really love these!  It must be the bold colors!

I also found several games in great shape (I will count the pieces to make sure!) and I picked those up as well.  Each was under $1.

Thrift Store Games

I scored a meaningful gift for both my husband, Eric and my sister-in-law, April last weekend.  I wish I could show you.  I paid $.79 each and I feel really certain that they will both like it!  I’ll tell you after Christmas, OK?

I also grabbed some great baskets to use when I give things like jams, pickles and crafts to family members.

Gift Baskets in Training

Our other ideas include marshmallow shooter guns for the kids, a handmade kindle cover, doll clothes, reading pillows, and an awesome skateboard swing (if I can just find a cheap skateboard!)  I have a Handmade Christmas Pinterest board that you are welcome to check out.  I am pinning my ideas there as I find them.

Of course, I’m not blogging about what I’ve got in the works for Eric, but I’ll just say that if I can pull it off, it’s BIG and he will REALLY like it!

Basically, the only problem I am having right now with our Christmas Challenge is having enough time to get all these crafts done, especially because I can’t make things for the kids while they are around!  I know I will make it work somehow though.  The kids are totally on board with our challenge, and Erica has been crafting and wrapping things all week!  It is really neat to watch how excited she is when she has a new gift idea!

I’ll keep you posted as I get further into the challenge, and of course, I would love to hear what you would make with the fabric I bought!