The past two years I have tried to steer my Christmas present purchases away from traditional gifts and more towards hand-made gifts. I'm lucky enough to be (semi) creative and personally prefer giving someone a gift I made rather than one I bought. Luckily, my family actually likes getting homemade gifts! (because there are definitely people who do not!) We're finally all old enough to ask for single, meaningful/useful gifts instead of huge amounts of presents on Christmas. I still think we could away with gifts all together, but some of my family might have a freak attack if we do that! Haha :) Giving people things is just what they do!
Anyway, I made a gift for my sister, and her (now) husband! last Christmas and I thought I would share the tutorial with you today! This gift was an idea she had pinned on Pinterest as a decoration for the wine country wedding. I loved it as soon as I saw it, and thought...well I can make that! There is a similar tutorial for the original post here. The best part about this project is that you don't have to be super crafty to make it! It's more like tracing letters the computer printed, it does take a bit of time, but it looks awesome! I wanted to share a few things I learned along the way that might be helpful!
Supplies:
Picture Frame
Wooden Board
300-500 pins
String or yarn in whichever colors you choose
1. Pick a frame that has a removable back and glass. I found this frame at Michael's. Then I just took the back board off as well as the glass. I knew the frame would be on their cake table so I chose one with a sturdy stand, but it also can hang on the wall for after the wedding! 
2. The frame was 11x14 inches. So I knew the largest the letters could be was 11 inches. I played with a few different fonts until I found the look I was aiming for then just printed out their names horizontally. Next, cut out each of the names or letters separately.
3. Use the back of the picture frame to trace the board you're using to push the pins into. I used foam board for this and it was a pain in the arse. Mostly because when I got to the string weaving step the pins just kept pulling up and falling out of the foam board. I think this project would be easier in a very thin wooden board. Michael's also sells basswood boards that I think would be easier to work with. But you have to be careful because the board (and fabric covering) has to be thin enough to fit in the frame and held in with the tabs.
4. Measure and cut the fabric so it is big enough to wrap around the board. I just stapled the fabric to the foam board, but gluing it might also work.
5. Tape the letters to the front and outline the completely with pins. Pin from top to bottom and left to right so your hand doesn't keep knocking the pins out every five seconds. 
6. Randomly loop and swoop string in different patterns around the pins. Make sure you make complete circles around pins every so often so that all of the string doesn't unravel.
7. When you're finished, or want to switch colors just knot the string around the pin you finished on. 
8. Place it in the frame! (without the glass..duh). Place the backboard back on and push the tabs down over your newly pinned board!
If you gift it before the wedding make sure it makes it to the big day! My sister is super organized! I don't know if I would have remembered to pack this for the wedding. Woo party!
Look how cute this entire cake table was! She handmade the penguin cake topper! I absolutely loved their whimsical theme!
Just a thought
Burlap= super cute background, perfect for decoration at a whimsical wedding, also impossible to cut straight and constantly frays...
If you want to use burlap, use the very tightly knit burlap. Muslin cloth, and other brown fabrics look very similar with less of a headache.
Have you ever hand-made a wedding or Christmas gift? What was it!