We've made the decision with my side of the family to not exchange gifts this year. I still wanted to do a little something for our nieces and nephew though and decided I wouldn't be stretching the rules too much if I made them gifts.
~First up was a gift for my niece. She's at the age where I believe she's considered a "tween" which translates that I had NO CLUE what she would like for Christmas! She does love art though, so I'm running with that and made her this colored pencil holder.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR16fWCDLcJRbHURIkXQp0iCS4LVxsu7LzoTa8EFr7mbvZ1nHBDen2XqN2IPo7Xcoy538RK6PqNeoXeTCzDXk3IKQEYe4EljYNJneOXeHfq_2KOBKt0JOxmGgI-oSinZij7Bs48JK-XYYa/s400/Olivia's+Gift+1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR16fWCDLcJRbHURIkXQp0iCS4LVxsu7LzoTa8EFr7mbvZ1nHBDen2XqN2IPo7Xcoy538RK6PqNeoXeTCzDXk3IKQEYe4EljYNJneOXeHfq_2KOBKt0JOxmGgI-oSinZij7Bs48JK-XYYa/s400/Olivia's+Gift+1.jpg)
I used lots of Paula Prass Summer Soiree fabrics which hopefully will be cool enough for a girl her age.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xg1S1PkthR5zAWjTXoBqY75XzMrkwezt9Lnbc-rtgXs2eyFdUTD3Xv4DoN4CQXnDC9UBqUQdBe1uyaHBZigTOjfZAgBPHcLCETyLjZiMeS4F_Nu1aUFHlzcdUAZKsLMjagLN8LRr6ax2/s400/Olivia's+Gift+2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Xg1S1PkthR5zAWjTXoBqY75XzMrkwezt9Lnbc-rtgXs2eyFdUTD3Xv4DoN4CQXnDC9UBqUQdBe1uyaHBZigTOjfZAgBPHcLCETyLjZiMeS4F_Nu1aUFHlzcdUAZKsLMjagLN8LRr6ax2/s400/Olivia's+Gift+2.jpg)
I also added a layer of fleece to the inside to make it a little more sturdy.
One gift down, four more to go!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKunMY39-TBCEL8VCBrmaxOcInR5VsC-SJD5uNUAzAd49-hDk7nUBFEesfJYyBkuebUCVjlGN46PeG6NN0M2ZSp0jAcBorwX1OIL32U-jOD_mO_wdIHJCpRUZV5yevDmMkEOsiDWnnO2JZ/s400/Olivia's+Gift+3.jpg)