Wow, i haven't stopped making things!  I never knew there were so many birthdays in January and February.  I ended up making a personalised t-shirt for my 18 year old cousin, which i have added a picture of.  This must be the 4th attempt.  I used printable transfer paper that i had from years ago and couldn't remember which way round it went in the printer so ended up printing it twice.  Then i didn't know what to do when i ironed it on and took it off before it had cooled and everything was a mess, half on the t-shirt and half still on the paper!  I ended up having to print it again and ironing it on to a blue piece of fabric and then sewing it over the top to hide the mess.  A simple job that ended up taking all night.  I think i managed to hide the mess though and i hope he likes it.  My son did the design using all his favourite fonts.  Cost: £4 for t-shirt and ink for printer.

I also made a bracelet for my Aunty.  A friend at work had shown me and some colleagues how to make a basic bracelet so i went out and got some supplies over the Christmas holidays.  It's easy to get started.  You only need a few things - wire, crimp beads, lobster clasps, rings and cutting and pressing pliers.  I got all my things from e-bay.  I've been looking for a useful video on youtube to show you how to make a bracelet but i can't find one.  If you are interested in jewellery making there are lots of places/websites to go to find out more. Cost: nothing specific but £7.50 for tub of beads from Hobbycraft

I've also had a couple of colleagues birthday's at work.  It's always hard with colleagues because you don't always know what they're hobbies and interests are.  I stuck to work related things this time and made name badge chains.  I already had the clasps from other unused name badge chains and just found some scraps of fabric that i liked from my boxes.  I  made a really simple tube out of the fabric (wrong sides together and then turned inside out) and sewed the 2 ends together.  I found a little charm to match one of the chains and added that too.  Easy as that but look really pretty and people are always happy to receive home made gifts.  I was inspired by My Bearpaw's name badges.  They are a little more advanced than my examples but fabulous and i will have to try making some this year.  My Bearpaw Cost: £0