Unique gifts don’t always have to be odd or especially ornate. A handmade craft can be unique based on its origin of inspiration – like foreign countries and cultures. Take your friend or loved on a trip to Europe with bistro-inspired decor, or make a card that shows off the beauty of Asian gardens. These thoughtful gifts are second to none.

Millefiori Dangling – In Italian, millefiori means a thousand flowers.

Bistro Window Sign – Give your home a French connection with this cafe-inspired sign.

Thanks A Bunch Card – Using colors that arouse the island feeling, this card is perfect.

Cherry Blossoms Card – Springtime is blooming season for cherry blossoms in Japan.

Spice Girls of the Old World – A fun way to remember the Old World and cook with yummy spices.

For more unique gift ideas, check out the Seasonal section at FaveCrafts.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Cultural Exchange

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1. Gift Sunday: Crafty Gift Cards
2. Gift Sunday: Simple and Pretty
3. Gift Sunday: Whimsical Decor

Last week we talked about adding a bit of whimsy to our gifts for that extra touch. This week, I’m bringing out the unexpected ideas as a way to get your brain thinking of all the possibilities. With all the categories of crafts we have at FaveCrafts, sometimes there isn’t an appropriate category for every wacky idea. Unexpected ideas are those crafts that really don’t fit in a particular category like Home Decor, Crochet, Kitchen Crafts or Mixed Media. These next few crafts will have your friends asking “how did you think of this?”

Magnetic Gift Set

3 Great Ways to Make a Parasol

Decorative Metal Lunchbox

Knit Hat Upcycled Pillows

If you like these projects, check out more Unexpected Ideas.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Unexpected Ideas

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1. Gift Sunday: Festive Fabric
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If you want to make that special someone a unique gift, think of adding a bit of whimsy to your decor ideas. Gift-givers often want to find something that really reminds them of their loved one, but also stands out from the standard gift ideas. One of the best ways to achieve something truly unique is to add a that whimsical touch to something like a picture frame or wall piece. Your girl friend, niece or mother won’t be likely to find such a unique item on their own.

Here’s a few decor ideas to add that whimsy to your next gift:

Enchanted Picture Frame

Collage Corkboard

Delightful Daisy Decor

Flying Girl Paper Art

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Whimsical Decor

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I don’t know about all of you, but I know a ton of pregnant women! So many babies coming in 2010! That said, I’ll be attending several baby showers this year… and likely hosting a couple… so I’ve been looking at different ways to prepare for the upcoming showers, without being too redundant. Pink and Blue are pretty standard staples, but there are plenty of fun ways to play with other details to keep each baby shower unique and equally precious.

Here are some of my favorite baby shower gifts and decorations:

ABC’s Baby Quilt

Baby Booties Knitting Pattern

Baby Caddy With Flowers

Easy Baby Cardigan

Baby Changing Combo

If you like these adorable baby crafts, I also recommend:

14 Free Baby Knitting Patterns
7 Free Crochet Patterns for Babies

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Baby Shower Mania

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Is your husband hard to craft for? I’m sure that’s a common tale among crafters. The men in our lives are rather indifferent to all the hard work that goes into a well-crafted sweater, decoration or knick knack! Perhaps the most important thing is not whether they notice that you’ve made it, but whether they’ll actually like the item you’ve made. Sometimes getting them to agree to wear a beautiful sweater is half the battle.

Here are a few manly crafts to make for your hubbies and boyfriends.

Knit Cable Socks – Who can go wrong with a new pair of socks?

Wood Button Clock – Something for the office, or his favorite room in the house.

Crochet Body Warmer – A rustic-feeling crochet vest looks great on any man.

Cozy Cabin Slippers – Another great winter gift for the men in your lives.

For more great homemade gift ideas for men, click here.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Manly Crafts

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2. Gift Sunday: Unexpected Ideas
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You know the old saying “out with the old and in with the new.” Instead of purging your things and throwing them away, this New Year, make old things new again with crafting. Everyone is looking for a way to start fresh as we prepare to enter into a brand new year, 2010. With your newly crafted “old stuff,” give a gift that’s eco-friendly and cute!

Try some of these Green Crafting ideas to recycle some of your old things:

CD Case Picture Frame

Recycled Sweater Throw Pillows

Bread Tag Jewelry

If you like these projects, check out more Green Crafting at FaveCrafts.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: New Year Crafts with Old Things

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If you love to crochet, now is the time to whip up some holiday crochet surprises for your loved ones before Christmas arrives. Small gifts for aunts, sister-in-laws or friends are often best when handmade. Even a little token can go a long way!

Crochet Snowman Amigurumi – a cute little gift to give out in sets of 3, or individually.

Holiday Crochet Hats – For those who love simple accessories like winter hats!

Patterned Poncho – Elegant for a night out, yet warm. Your best friend will love it.

Granny Square Dishcloth – If you’re handing out gifts in mass quantities, make a granny square dishcloth in a festive yarn and call it a day!

For more gift ideas for Christmas, check out the Quick & Easy Gifts section at FaveCrafts.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Easy Crochet Gifts for the Holidays

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If you’re a sewer or quilter, you may have extra fabric lying around that you don’t know what to do with. Fabric scraps can be reused to create items that you may not have otherwise made with the original fabric. Festive fabric is a nice embellishment to many different projects that your friends will love. They won’t even know that you used leftovers to make them!

Here are a few gift ideas using fabric:

Fabric Frame – A nice way to use old fabric scraps that creates a quilted look.

Spice Girls of the Old Country – Give a gift of lovely smelling dolls that go great in any kitchen.

Art Nouveau Ornament – This ornament is chic and decorative, make several and hand them out at your Christmas party.

If you like these ideas, click here for more sewing and quilting projects.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: Festive Fabric

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Cupcakes are huge this year. Who doesn’t love a dainty little cake, iced and sprinkled to delectable perfection? Well, instead of indulging in thousands of holiday calories while baking for all your nearest and dearest – try the zero calorie option of crafting cutesy cupcakes for your friends.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Cupcake Ornaments – Adorn the tree with these sweet treats. Seriously, so cute!

Delicious Cupcake Apron – For your homemaker friends who love a great apron to accompany them in the kitchen.

Cupcake Wrappers – If you do happen to make festive holiday cupcakes, wrap them in fun cupcake wrappers like these.

Fake Candy Cupcakes – These candy cupcakes can be decorated for every occasion and used for decor around the house. Create a fun Christmas scene and give them out to your friends.

Click here for more holiday gift ideas.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

Gift Sunday: For Your Sweet Tooth

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I just love introducing new crafts at FaveCrafts, especially with the help of such a nice blogger as Nancy Jacobs of Basket Master Weavings. Nancy put together our first basket weaving craft project, the Square Autumn Basket and an accompanying glossary of basket weaving terms for those new to the craft. Here is a sample basket weaving term:

Cut and Tuck or Cutting and Tucking–When finished weaving the sides, you cut the stakes or spokes that are on the inside of the basket flush with your top row of weaving. The stakes or spokes that are on the outside of the basket get folded to the inside and tucked behind a weaver to hide the ends.

According to Nancy, basket weaving is not as difficult as it may sound and you can complete the Square Autumn Basket project in just one evening. I’m especially excited to try this out as my mother loves and collects baskets. Two rooms of our family home in Indiana feature a ring of baskets around the top of the wall. What a great gift for her, right? Anyone would love a homemade basket.

This is a post from: FaveCraftsBlog

New Craft at FaveCrafts: Basket Weaving

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