Gifts from the Heart

Have you ever received a gift from someone and every time you use it you think of that person?  I love to receive these kinds of gifts.  I really love to give gifts like that also.  

Gifts from the heart

Most of our family lives at least 2 hours away from us if not more.    I look forward to the special visits from our kids and love it when they bring our grandkids.

For the last 2 years when we have had our family reunions, we also have a giant birthday party.  All of the grandkids get their birthday presents at this time.  They get to decorate their own cupcake for their birthday cake.  It is so much fun and they enjoy it so much.  Last year they received a book “The Christmas Gift.”   This was a special gift for them and they have enjoyed it year round.  There are some sentimental reasons why they love this book.

Something Special

This year I made the kids something that I thought would be special to them.  I love to take pictures.  By the time the kids finish a visit I have usually taken at least 100 pictures if not more.

It is so enjoyable to look thru the pictures when everything is done!  It reminds me of the fun we have had.   This year I enjoyed making each of the grandkids a pillow.  I used pictures that I took, of the activities, they enjoy doing.  I love things that are soft so I made each of them something soft and special just for them.

Custom pillows

Since I take so many pictures, I chose one of my favorites pictures of each child.  I then ordered some Minky  material.   I also ordered some broadcloth material for the front side of them.  It works best with a white or a cream.  I cut each piece of material 16 1/4 x 16 1/4 inches.

The perfect gift

After choosing the favorite picture and making it the size that I wanted it I printed the picture onto the special iron on paper.  After printing you iron it onto your material.  You need to make sure and print it backward on your material.  Especially if you put their name on it.  Otherwise, the name will be backward on the finished product.

Iron on picture

Wait until it cools a little and then peel the paper off very carefully.  If the picture is still sticking to the iron on paper, you didn’t iron it long enough.  Stop and iron it more so that the picture will come off of the paper.  Continue to peel it slowly and carefully starting from a corner until the picture is peeled off from the paper.

Now you are ready to sew the pillows together.  Put the material together with the right sides facing each other.  Sew all the way around the pillow.  Leave a small opening to stuff the pillow.  After stuffing it you can sew the opening either by hand or with a needle and thread.  Your project is complete.

Now watch the smile on their cute little faces.  My grandkids loved these!  They use them in the car and also to sleep on.  They have been used a lot and have washed up very nicely.  Which is a great plus.

This is a great gift for any occasion.

I hope you liked my blog post.  I would love to have you comment below.