My mom has a group of stitching friends that she has lunch with once or twice a month. Well, a few of them have been cleaning out their stash and passing it on to me. I have received frames, a lot of fabric pieces (which will be great for bookmarks), patterns, etc.

This case which opens on both sides is filled with all kinds of floss and beads. My head is spinning with ideas of what I can do with all of this. Also, in this case were three needlepoint squares. I finished them off and made them into bookmarks. Here is a picture to show you. Aren’t they cute?

They have given me so much stash that I have to share the wealth. I have a box ready to be mailed to a stitching friend. She’ll love it. I don’t think Mom’s friends are done cleaning out yet. My mother has also informed me that she is almost ready to clean out her stash as well. What am I going to do with it all? Any suggestions?

Jen chimes in:

What a haul! That’s some good stash.

I love getting stash surprises because they always include things I wouldn’t buy on my own, which presents the opportunity to create things I wouldn’t normally create. New-to-me stash also has a way of making me look at my old stash differently, inspiring new ideas and combinations.

Inherited stash challenges us to find ways to use it. I can imagine those orphaned needlepoint squares looking up hopefully at Mo asking, “All right, what can you do with us?” And now they are oh-so-proud bookmarks ready to serve a reader. What a great lonely-orphan-gets-adopted story!

Harriet has a wonderful story about trading unused stash with friends: Once upon a time, she received in a stash swap something she herself had off-loaded years earlier. No one had used it. This time, however, it spawned a Brilliant Idea, and Harriet put it to use at last.

Do you have a fun stash story?

I have always been an embroiderer, and more recently a designer, and have always felt that I couldn’t possibly get involved in any other type of craft because I was so focused on fabric and thread. I used to call anything to do with scrapbooking ‘the dark side’ and sit and scoff at those who were enticed there.

The rot set in about a year ago when I discovered cartonnage – the French art/craft of making cardboard boxes and covering them with fabric. I told myself it was OK because those clever French  girls (well, mainly girls, but I bet there are boys who do it too) also include lots of beautiful embroidery in their finishing. So … my studio expanded a little to include glue and board and lots of lovely patchworking fabric and I was happy for a bit.

Then I happened to need a little manual machine to cut circles which meant I had to go into a scrapbooking store. I REALLY tried to not look too closely at all that lovely patterned paper, and ribbons and stamps and glitter and, and, and …  I did, really! I bought my little manual machine and headed home. I played with it. I cut lots of circles with it. I looked it up on the internet and found out what else I could do with it. I was reasonably content that it wouldn’t take over my creative life, but it was there if I needed it.

I continued to design embroidery, and cartonnage projects and blend the two together. But then I decided I needed something a bit different. I needed an edge to what I was designing. I signed up for a wonderful on-line magazine which was full of the most amazing mixed media projects. I devoured every new issue as it was published. My creative juices started to run. I began to see possibilities. I could see how I could put a bit of an edge on my future design work.

And now it’s happened. I have crossed over to the dark side!

I have ordered (and eagerly await) an amazing machine which interfaces with my computer to design and cut fabric, paper and 1mm cardboard (chipboard) into anything that I might fancy designing. The only restriction is that it has to fit into a space 12″ wide x 24″ long.

My mind is full of ideas … journals, bookmarks, things to hang, things to sit, the basis of things that I can then cover with fabric and stitching. Did you notice I said stitching? I can’t let the stitching go … but now I feel as though I can include it into this wonderful world of mixed media which I have discovered lurking just over on the dark side.

Do I now sign up for classes at my local scrapbooking store? I’ve already signed up for two monthly newsletters from two stores close by to where I live. I think it’s only a matter of time …

Here’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a few years: embroidered cookies. Sugar cookies with holes poked before baking and licorice laces.

Actually, this could be nice for Valentine’s Day. Hmmm.

Heads up, friends–stitchers, readers, everyone–this is a creative gift idea you can really do this year, and I really, really, really hope you will.

Charity donations, gift certificates/cards, and coupons. I know it doesn’t sound especially creative, and it’s certainly not a new idea, but I’m serious.

Some people have all they want and need and more. They don’t want anything. Make a donation to charity in their names. Choose a charity that supports their interests and experiences.

Do you feel lame giving gift certificates? Well, how do you feel receiving them? Most people I know like getting them. I don’t think I’d want it to become routine, but sometimes it’s a real treat. And a gift certificate to your favorite needlework shop can be the beginning of a very long and fulfilling stitching addiction for a friend.

Remember when we used to give our parents a coupon good for “one room-cleaning without complaint” or “an extra night of dish-washing provided with a smile”? Well, I think we should offer kids, friends, and relatives coupons for reading time together, trips to the library, shared craft time, and embroidery lessons. Giving your time is a wonderful gift: it tells the person, “I like you and want to spend time with you,” and specifying an activity guarantees a quality shared experience.

Now, I said this was a two-part gift idea; this is just part one. We’re going to make these gifts even better tomorrow, in part two. See you then!

Really.

Hey, what have you got in there? Can I see?”

Okay, let’s be honest, many of us have mountains of stash. Some of it dates back to when we were just learning to stitch and didn’t know what we were buying. We’ve changed our minds about this and don’t remember what that was for. Oh, and this–this was such a bargain, it was actually more expensive not to buy it.

Many of us hoard craft supplies, er, things we call craft supplies. Seriously, you never know when you’re going to want that old-fashioned door off a mailbox, and just because I don’t like that brown linen doesn’t mean it won’t be perfect for some as-yet-undiscovered project.

I understand. Do not get rid of that mailbox door; where on earth would you get another? But pack that brown linen up. You’ve got fabrics you like better, and if push comes to shove and you have to have brown fabric, you can get more. If you haven’t used it in 5-10 years, and if it’s not one-of-a kind, don’t hesitate. Put it in a box and give it to a fellow or would-be crafter.

In sorting through our stash, we see what we have, remember what we planned, and become inspired. In off-loading some, we are better prepared to acquire what we’ll actually use. The recipient will see the stash as brand new and come up with all kinds of brilliant ideas for using it.

A box of random craft and needlework supplies is a fantastic gift for kids and crafters alike–kids are natural crafters.

Maybe even better is to host a stash-exchange with fellow stitchers. Refreshing our stash gives us fresh ideas.

Embroidered stitchbands and ribbons = hatband.

Dress up and personalize a hat for a special gift.

• 9 Easy Kitchen Knits
• 53 Winter Wonderland Crafts
• 48 Mittens and Scarves
• 71 Festive Ornaments
• 28 Easy Beading Projects

That’s just on page one.

And I’m offering one idea a day for twenty-four days? What a piker!

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed?

My response: nod my head and smile, hit Delete, then walk away and do my own thing. Or Harriet’s thing. She’s going to help me reach that 24 goal.

This is an idea we both have on our lists, but I like something Harriet does with it. She calls them Party Markers; I was going to call them Mug Markers.

This is Harriet’s sketch. I happen to know she routinely sketches her ideas. I want to do more sketching of project ideas! Sketching is good.

You’ve probably seen wine glass markers. Well, they work on mugs, too, if you’re more inclined to cocoa or tea, or if you’re serving the under-21 crowd.

The rings that attach the embroidery to the stem or handle can be earring hoops, available wherever you find jewelry findings: bead shop, craft stores, etc.

Harriet suggests making some with the initials of your frequent or repeat visitors as well as some generic ones for less frequent guests. I love the idea of having personal markers for regular visitors. Brilliant and fun!

Can you think of anyone on your gift list who might enjoy a set of Party Markers?

We can stitch a shortish ribbon (about 18 inches–or you can always measure the head) and sew a few inches (about 3 inches) of elastic between the two ends to make a stretchy headband. Or we can stitch a longish ribbon (32 inches, or more if you want dangley ends) and tie it in a knot around the head. I find backing the stitchband with Ultrasuede not only covers the back side of the embroidery but also makes it less slippery on the old bean.

If you’re going with long dangley ends, maybe you’d like to add some beads to them.

They’re super-simple, quick, and can be made from tiny scraps. They can add color, interest, and a personal touch to a plain package. Wouldn’t these look great with some tiny spruce cuttings and cones?

You might be surprised what recipients do with them. I’ve seen some of mine hanging on Christmas trees, picture frames, lamps, and–oh, yeah–ears!

So if you don’t love the tag idea, how about a pair of earrings?

Check out the tutorial.

I’ve never done it for real, but I’ve had it in my head to stitch some elaborate ribbons to use on plainly wrapped packages. (I’ve played with a couple of experimental ones, like the one in the image, which was chopped into pieces for further experiments.) I envision using narrow stitch bands, grosgrain ribbon, and whatever else presents itself at the time. Or we could make bows with our embellished ribbons, ones that stay made and get tied onto packages.

These embellished ribbons wouldn’t be thrown away with the rest of the wrappings, but would be re-gifted year after year, traveling from person to person to person, and living a long stitchy life.

Aside: Since throwing my hat over the fence with this 24 Creative Gift Ideas challenge, I’ve been scribbling a list of ideas as they come to me. I have 16 as-yet-unused ideas on my list at the moment. I wrote 2 down as I typed this. As far as I’m concerned, derivative ideas are fair game. This right here–the ideas begetting ideas–is what sends me flipping, skipping, and tripping over the moon. I love idea generation.

Idea fulfillment is pretty satisfying, too; it just takes way-yonder longer.

So, does this idea do anything for anyone? Does it give you another idea (derivative ideas count for you, too) or make you want to try it?

Another aside: I keep wanting to say “execute the idea,” but that conjures images of sad craft projects lined up before a firing squad. To be sure, I execute my fair share of ideas, but I never set out deliberately to do that. I spared you the sight of my failed attempts to make embroidery floss tree tassels for this challenge. Oh, the carnage!

I still think it’s a good idea. The execution was poor–and complete.