It's probably dangerous to be posting about Christmas gifts, but this one is so simple and quick, I wanted to share it before the holidays. And it is the kind of thing I love to see hanging around my home. Yes, this gift is for Dan, but I think I love it just as much as I hope he will.

We're on an extremely small budget for the holidays this year. I've had to be super-organized and super-creative. I've also had to figure out exactly what I want to get each person on my list, versus wandering aimlessly online and in shops, looking for something to catch my eye.

Ironically, it has been somewhat liberating to be reigned in so tightly this year. In my mind I came up with a plan--one nice, squeal-worthy gift for each child and a few smaller, inexpensive gifts. But for Dan, I knew I wanted to give him a few things that were either handmade or "created" at home.

In the past I made him these silhouettes of the girls, which he loved and immediately hung up in our apartment. And now they sit just at the top of our stairs, here at Thomas Run. (While taking this picture I realized that Elizabeth's silhouette desperately needs to be updated--her baby picture is quite boy-ish.)

And this year, I wanted to do something similar--something to mark this year, these ages of our girls.

When I was little I remember my handprints, made in paint, hanging on the family wall in our kitchen. And with that idea in mind, I decided to create a fabric version for Dan.

I traced each of the girls hands and then machine-appliqued the handprint onto some linen fabric. With Mary and Emma, I had them write their own names inside of the handprint and I wrote Elizabeth's. Then I simply embroidered over their names with a split stitch and added the year in which the handprints were created.

I was pleasantly surprised to find these frames at the dollar store which fit perfectly. They are not a standard size, but are the type of frame where you'd add multiple photographs of different sizes into a matte board. I removed the matte and slid in the fabric handprints.

All in all, the stitching and sewing could easily be completed in a day and the whole project cost me $3, since I only used fabrics and embroidery thread in my stash.

And I think they'll be a pretty nice addition to our growing family wall.

In other shopping news a few things catching my eye, that I wanted to share while there's still time:

Stonz booties : Elizabeth received a pair of these last spring. And I can't tell you how wonderful they are. She is still wearing the same pair she received last year--they are warm, (especially with the sherpa liner), durable, easy to wash (even after an episode in the mud), they stay on, and they are so cute.

Olive Juice : We've talked on here before about finding (or not finding, actually) classic, age-appropriate clothing for children. And I am completely smitten with this company. Their clothes are classic and well-made and have a touch of vintage charm that I really love. For some of us, the prices may be a little intimidating, but it is well worth your two seconds to sign up for their email list. They have frequent and wonderful sales. I've scored many good deals when they discount all items in their "outlet" to $10. Mary has this shirt. Emma has a dress from them, that I can't find online at the moment. And I absolutely love this, this, and this. Oh! And this, and these!

RosieHippo: I'm also excited about this gift that will be making it's way under our tree for Elizabeth. She'll also get a little set of these.

A few other handmades catching my eye : with our history, of course I kind of dig these fox pillows--is that strange? I secretly wish I could get one for each of the girls. I love the 2010 Tea Towel Calendar from Cicada Studio. And there is a lot of potential with these blank, unfinished wood cutouts....

Phew! That's enough links for one post....happy handmade, happy crafting, happy shopping.