Men Don’t Want Ribbon Gifts

Here’s an excellent idea list of gifts for the men in your life –

http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2008/11/great-budget-friendly-gifts-for-men.htm

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I’m making crocheted cotton (Peaches n’ Cream and Sugar n’ Cream yarn) “bath puffs,” similar to the plasticky ones that are commonly sold. So far I’ve only made a couple for women. If done in “masculine” colors does Doug think these would be a suitable accompaniment to the soap for men?

Last year I made caramel corn, some with peanuts and/or almonds added. That was popular as a small or add-on gift. My sister-in-law made wreaths from tied fabric scraps, and we liked ours so much that we asked her for another one in a different color scheme this year.

Last year, I made my husband a no-sew fleece blanket. One side was camoflauge pattern and the other side was dark brown. He’s a very practical person (as many men are) and he uses it all the time!

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My sister made scarves and hats out of fleece for the guys one year and my husband loves them. He wears them every time he has to go out to shovel snow.

What about sewing a pocket for tv guide and remotes that fit over the arm of a recliner?

If they like to cook, you could always print off custom labels for them if they make BBQ sauce or hot sauces or even if they have a wine or microbrewing hobby.

Isn’t it funny how all the men want food!

Here’s an idea for your spouse - a coupon book - full of fun coupons he can redeem for married couples.

gift cards for detailed car wash

a collectors edition of his favorite book

arrange a man’s night party for him in January. like a poker night.

a journal

I bought my Dad one year the first ever program to his favorite baseball team - Toronto Blue Jays - it was from April 1977 It cost me $3 on ebay…. and he loved it!

Scarves and hats. I’m not a knitter, but every man can appreciate a warm, manly scarf and hat combo. Useful for raking leaves or taking the kids to the park. Especially cute when a matching set is made for the toddler son!

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I second the vote for scarves and hats, and would add slippers as well. There’s a great knitted then fulled vest for men in the book Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas. I’d love to make that for my guy sometime before we retire. . .

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My husband loves to get spice blends. There are many recipes out there for different blends that can be used in grilling or all kinds of cooking. He especially likes the “manly” spicy ones.

This isn’t a quick gift to make but my husband loved it and looks at it regularly. I picked up a daytimer at the begininng of 2007 and throughout the year I took pictures and recorded his golf scores and wrote down ‘thank you’s and activities we/he did and anything else that happened to us that year. It didn’t cost a lot of money to make but it did take some time to record and put it all together. My husband loves it and because I was actively aware of creating the album I remember a lot more of the day-to-day things that happened to us that year. It’s something that I will definately do again. Here’s a link to my post about it. http://fortuosityklp.blogspot.com/2008/04/year-in-making.html

Things I’ve gotten a good response from guys on:

Brownies in a jar–layered dry ingredients, wet ones have to be added in and then baked. (though their wife or other will usually have to actually mix and bake them!)

For my husband one year: Dessert of the month club (I printed out a ‘coupon’ for him to redeem each month for his choice of a dessert for me to make.) It was fun to see what he was craving, and gave me an excuse to try new things!

I just found a recipe for lemon peper rosemary salt blend and the possibilities are endless also homemade vodka is a good one can be flavored with many things….

I love your ribbon belt and your grocery shopping story! My husband loves food, socks and gifts related to his hobbies. His birthday is Dec 13, which is a challenge.

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I agree with Gay - a BBQ rub or spice blend is great, and you could pair it with a homemade BBQ handmitt.

I’ve also thought of a fabric or wood (decopaged with “manly” scrapbook paper) valet tray.

We use placemats a lot in our house and for my husbands birthday my older daughter and I made a placemat with photos, handprints and notes (scribbles) from my daughter. Then we had it laminated. He liked it.
I also gave him the decorate your own insulated travel coffee mug for his first father’s day. Useful.

I sewed a pair of lounge pants for my hubby out of a soft jersey-knit material and he bragged to everyone about them. Now my dad and brother both want a pair! They were really inexpensive and easy to make (I’m not a great seamstress). I also knitted my hubby a scarf once and he has all but worn it out.

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There are several things you can make for the men in your life.

For the BBQ’er in the family-homemade sauces and rubs would work well. A “manly” apron with something classic like “Kiss the Cook” or a picture of a man grilling would be appropriate. Make something to hold all his grilling gear-something made from leather or heavy canvas made a lot like a crayon roll only with more durable material or repurpose a metal coffee tin with some manly colored heavy duty paint, a few holes cut in the plastic lid to insert the tongs, flippers, forks, etc.

A shave kit-homemade shave cream and after shave coupled with a straight razor & a how to shave guide

Print some creative sayings or pictures on a plain Tshirt or sweatshirt. Man it up with some clever sayings=Cowboy up! (with a boot print), “Team ____” insert your last name and a large number on the back of a tee, etc.

Some silver wire & earth tone beads can make a nice manly bracelet. A silver chain with a stamped leather square can make a great looking necklace.

Those are just a few off the top of my head but you’ve definitely given me food for thought!

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I have framed some of my daughter’s art, which was a big hit.

And I agree that food is always good! I’ve been making and giving different kinds of spiced nuts for the last couple of years and they’ve been very popular - you can get my recipes on December 9 when the Holidays by Hand theme is food and I’ll be hosting!

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Handmade coupons for things like: cleaning out his car, one day devoted only to “him”, a back rub, etc.

My hubs will be getting some homemade fudge, since everytime we see fudge, he ends up buying some.

I’ve knitted him a neckwarmer, which he loves & uses all the time.
What about some beanbag pocket warmers for the fellas that work outside?

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shhh! I’m making ties and fleece sweats for Arthur for Christmas. Fleece scarves are good too.

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I’ve threatened to make my husband a patchwork belt; he blanched at the thought. There are a lot of good suggestions so far! I’ve given patchwork wool scarves and dopp kits over the past few years, and both were well-received. And, there’s always the good old-fashioned mix cd, which is always a fun gift in my book.

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Great ideas!
I knit wool socks for my husband and father-in-law… they loved them!
On the food front. I have not seen anyone mention Granola. It has been a great gift over the years. The kids help make it. We put it into mason jars with holiday material over the top. The guys love it and have to stop themselves from eating it all up Christmas morning!
Photos of family in a frame for the office was a favorite for my husband. He brings it home for me to update each year.
These guys take a little more thought but well worth the effort!

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This is not really a viable suggestion, but it is a sweet memory. When I was attempting to learn to knit, I made a little patch, maybe 3 inches square, just as a practice. Then I put loops on it and called it a nose-warmer and gave it to my husband. He still has it.

Dawn’s idea of granola is *great*! Anyone (Dawn?) got a good granola recipe? I can never get mine to clump nicely. Tastes great but the texture never quite works. Help!

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My husband loves the things I’ve knitted for him. His arms are really long and a custom knit sweater can have extra long sleeves!

He’s definitely in there with the food crowd; he once received a soup in a jar kit thing that he enjoyed making.

I also noticed that he loves plants. There are low light plants that can be easily propagated making inexpensive but welcome gifts for cubicle dwellers.

If words are important to your guy, consider making him a small scrapbook with photos and words that would mean a lot to him.

One last suggestion for a personal gift for a guy is to make him a CD featuring a great mix of songs that means something either just to him or to both of you. You can make or decorate a CD cover easily - there are plenty of instructions on the Internet. I played some of our grandson’s favorite songs for my husband recently and it put the silliest grin on his face — you can’t be depressed and think of goofy little kids at the same time!!

My husband recently made his own aftershave. He’s getting into straight razor shaving and wanted something refreshing for his face after a shave.
http://www.adventureinprogress.com/node/26

Since I make all our own soaps and lotions he thought he’d try his hand at it too. The aftershave turned out really well but I haven’t had a chance to post about it yet. He’s planning on giving it to the “men in our life” for Christmas.

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I have tried at least 5 different Granola recipes and have had the same “clumping” problem - or should I say lack of clumping…
My current favorite granola recipe does clump more than the others but not like you get from the stores. It is super yummy- I will post it on my blog this week - I was planning to do a recipe ideas for Christmas post anyway - this line has given me even more ideas!
I will let you know when I get it posted!

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this year, for my dad, my husband plans to make a lure box for his fishing lures. we made coasters for him mom from wood scraps, but those would be good for a guy too. pair it with a cold weather drinks book or cocoa mix and a mug?

for my husband this year, i am making a scrapbook of our home. we bought it 4 years ago and have spent most free moments fixing it up ourselves, so i have a before/after album to remind him how much we have done.

i love the ribbon belt idea!

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Like Christina, I also made my husband a no-sew fleece blanket for Christmas last year and he LOVES it. He always uses it while he’s playing video games or watching TV in our family room. If I try to use it, he gets mad that I’m using HIS blanket!

His is striped primary colors. Very manly.
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Seriously, this is the bane of my existance! Maybe I just don’t understand men! I have done the scarf thing for my husband, and he liked it ok. One thing though….the yarn MUST be soft with not one speck of itchiness. One idea I would like to try sometime is making a phone/portable music player case.

Kate´s last blog post..Holidays by Hand - Ribbons and Thread

After reading all these ideas I am seriously considering soup in a jar and a manly spice rub. I also thinking about fire-starter basket for some of the guys on my list. In the past I’ve made a slideshow (with music) of family pictures for my husband. That was a big hit!

I am making men and women cosmetic baskets, catering for each gender. Women are getting face cream that smells girly - men get masculine smelling foot lotion. Ladies get homemade perfume - men get homemade bay rum aftershave. The ladies get foaming hot chocolate bath mix - men get homemade shaving cream. Lip balm for both. Etcetera.
All inexpensive and fairly easy to make. (I have most of the recipes on my blog, if anyone’s interested… - Sharing Week: My Body Care Recipes. http://dancingamonginfiniteloveyahwehs.blogspot.com/2008/04/sharing-week-my-body-care-recipes.html )

I just found your blog (and linked to you today from mine!) and I totally love all these great gift ideas for men!! I’ve been enjoying the Holidays By Hand series and you are right…most of the ideas are for women or children.

I echo the food idea! My former college roommate gave her boyfriend a ‘base’ recipe of the dry ingredients for cornbread (his favorite) so all he had to do was add an egg, oil, and milk. He barely cooked, so it was perfect for him. Other ideas for guys I’ve used in the past include photo gifts where I made a collage of a special event or memory. Even guys can get sentimental sometimes.
Sarah H.´s last blog post..I’ll Be Homemade for Christmas: Gifts Using Arts and Crafts

My husband is a napper. So, two years ago I made him a “napping blanket”. The kids like to steal it and lay on the sofa, but it is Dad’s blanket. When it was time for Christmas idea’s last year, he asked me for a second one to take to work (he’s a firefighter and spends the night a the station). I made it out of 2 layers of flannel, with no batting in between the flannel. It’s lightweight enough, but is still really cozy. One of the posters toward the top made her husband a blanket out of fleece, which is an excellent idea as well–considering last year I found fleece on sale at the fabric store for about $2.00 a yard. I think I used about 4 yards of flannel for the blanket, it looks like it would fit nicely on a twin bed.

I think the bottom line here is that men want gifts that are for THEM, and reflect the things that they like…which usually isn’t the same stuff women like or like to make. Think about what your guy does or likes to do and see if you can find something to make that reflects those interests.

I used artists canvas stretchers to frame two tin ceiling tiles from the 200 year old church we were married in. My husband really liked the gift because he’s family’s been going to that church since it was founded. Awww.

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Is it okay to give a very good male friend a couple Air Force fleece blankets for christmas?