I want to share with you this wonderful idea of keeping a gift cupboard. One of my blog friends, Jane, shared with me her gift cupboard.
A gift cupboard is a place to keep homemade gifts or items on sale that we purchase so we don't have to run out to purchase a gift when the time comes for the need of one. An example she gave me is her daughter needed a gift to take with her on Christmas day. She went to the gift cupboard and picked a knitted facecloth and some homemade soap. These went into a small chiffon drawstring bag. She had a gift that was pretty and useful very quickly.
She also keeps extra items such as bags and boxes and items on sale.
I have only just begun my gift cupboard. I have a crochet apron, a knitted dishcloth, a fabric clothespin apron that I made from leftover fabric and some homemade soaps. I did not make these soaps but it is extra that I had I added to my gift cupboard.
My wheels have been turning since Jane told me about this lovely idea and I have been looking through my books. Since we are living like 1942 my gifts will be dated a bit but very useful :)
I have decided to take my old Roy Rogers Dale Evans paper dolls to make paper dolls for the gift cupboard for Children's gifts.
I can trace around them on thick paper and draw them in so the children can color them and decorate them like they want to. I can take a picture and so they can see the colors.
I did enjoy playing with paper dolls.
I think I will add bags of marbles, some jacks and pick up sticks. I will have to bump up my knitting dishcloths and facecloths. I will probably make some more clothes pin aprons because they have the large deep pocket are also good to wear in the garden to poke garden gloves and snips in the pocket.
My husband is going to use his old shop books and make some very nice gifts for the gift cupboard. This will include some children's toys.... Shhhhhh, don't tell. :)
Jane said her friend over at bluebirds are nesting blog posted about keeping a gift cupboard or something like this a couple of years ago and that inspired her to do this. I looked on her blog but could not find it but I think this might be the post I am including in a link below. Either way, I really enjoy myself while I was there looking for that post and I will certainly go back. I did not know about her blog until now and I have found that she has a wonderful blog! I think you will enjoy this too.
Jane says that the gift cupboard is part of being prepared and saves a lot of frustration when you need a gift in a hurry, she just shops her cupboard. Thank you Jane for sharing this wonderful idea and bluebirds are nesting blog.
Let me know how you all do with your gift cupboards if you decide to do this. :)
