Hand Made Gift Idea - Heating Pads

It's December and Christmas is on the way! This morning I was up and at 'em and by 5:45 I had my sewing machine set up and a couple of pillowcases ready to go.

Don't let the words 'sewing machine' scare you off - while I wish I could sew like Tea Rose Home, the truth is, I'm just getting back into sewing after a nearly 10 year hiatus. What does that mean? Well, I'm back to only making 'beginner' projects and pretty much anything that says it will take 1 hour or less (which usually takes me 2 hours).

That being said, this morning I completed 4 (count 'em - FOUR!) Christmas gifts in exactly one hour. That included cutting, ironing, sewing, filling, and closing.

I did about 5 minutes of googling and came up with something our kids already have and use at least 3 times each week. Heating Pads!

As these pads are frugal to make, environmentally friendly, and handmade, they are a great option for gift giving. I already had a stash of fun pillowcases and plenty of rice in the pantry, so it was an easy choice. If the heating pad gets worn out, the rice can be composted and the fabric can be reused for quilting.

For the sake of getting off the computer to spend time with my kids, I've included the link to Martha Stewart's tutorial. It's easy and each one can be made in 15 minutes. She uses cherry pits, but I used rice for the filling.  I have also used barley in the past.  I'd say it's even worth it to make up a couple of extras - you never know when you'll need one.

If you have a 'must make' craft for gift giving, let us know - we're always looking for great ideas!