Gifts children can make

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Gifts children can make
7
Thu, 12-02-2004 - 7:05am

Gomom's post below made me think you guys can help me (and each other, perhaps) come up with ideas for my son to make for grandparents and aunts and uncles, etc.

What are some projects you've done or seen done with small children that would be easy to make and appreciated by relatives? Please include simple instructions in your post. :) This is a great way to get children involved in the holiday and for them to see that giving truly is more blessed than receiving.

My niece and nephew made little votive candle holders last year, by gluing fake gem pieces onto glass holders, and they were the hit of the party. The children enjoyed giving them at least as much as they enjoyed getting gifts--they were so proud! And we brought ours out again this year and my three-year-old is enjoying having it in his room for a Christmas decoration. We would have placed it in a more prominent position in the family room, but ds was so excited and wanted it for himself!

Another idea is bookmarks, which can be made for the cost of paper (or you can recycle things that have been scribbled on on one side already by your children, and have them decorate the other side in Christmas colors) and clear contact paper. You can add glitter, pressed flowers, magazine cut-outs, or whatever else you have on hand.

Bring on those ideas!

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-02-2004 - 8:19am

I love crafts and try to find things my DD can do all the time.

Have you ever heard of foamies? They are fairly cheap and fun. They are little foam shapes that you stick to things. They sell kits to make frames you can stick on the refrigerator.

How about a calendar? The kids can choose the photos, you can mark in special days.

This year we are making a book. One of my DD's favorite stories is "When Jessica Margaret was born." She has developed a sequel of sorts "Now Jessica is a big girl" and she tells of all the things she likes, special event and things she can do. Well, my co woker suggested writing the original story down for her as a keepsake. I thought it might be cool to make a 2004 book for grandparents and relatives. We are going through all our pictures form 2004 to select events to put in the book. My DD is choosing pictures and will dicatate the text. I will play editor. I haven't decided if we will make this a "scrapbook" publication, or I will use the computer to lay everything out and print at Kikos.

Most craft shopes have projects online that can give you great ideas. Here are a couple of links for the kids section at Michaels and Ragshop. The instructions are free and may give you some ideas.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=kids (projects are on teh right side of the page in a pull down menu)

http://www.ragshop.com/crafts/childrens/

Good luck.
Sandra

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Thu, 12-02-2004 - 8:30am

My two year old loooooves to paint so we are framing some of her paintings this year! I bought the plain frames at the dollar store! one really cute frame decorating idea I found was in Womans Day this month. Take the frames(preferably wooden) and paint them a solid color, like red, then take puzzle pieces from a an old puzzle that may be missing a few, and paint them other colors. you then paint constrating polka dots on those, or other designs or just leave them as they are.. and then glue them to the frame in a haphazard way.. it's really cute! and a great way to recycle. I think it goes really with childrens drawings, so bright and colorful and it teaches the children how to recycle!

kel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 12-02-2004 - 10:04am
Framed artwork--it's priceless, goes with any decor, and very special!!




iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 10:10am

Ok - this isn't real crafty lol - but here's something we did a few years ago....I think when ds was 4?


We bought those kits at the Walmart

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2004
Fri, 12-03-2004 - 1:52pm

Sorry I didn't read this thread when I posted my gift ideas post. It pertains to more than just kid gifts, so hopefully it will help everyone out too. You guys have had some really good ideas here. You can also make beaded necklaces with kids that are old enough. Just get some string and beads. Thread them and tie at the back. Make sure they are big enough to fit over someones head though lol.

Jessi

Jessi

Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-1999
Sat, 12-04-2004 - 2:15pm
I always felt that it was important for kids to make gifts that were practical as well as cute so that the recipient really valued and used the gift. One thing that my kids made that was quite popular was some small fleece lambs. The legs were made of spray painted clothes pins and the body out of some fleece. I think the head and ears were black felt. Once a child was old enough to make stitches in fabric with a big needle they were old enough to do this project ( about four or five). To simplify the instructions... You cut one oval out of fleece, one smaller oval out of black felt and the ears out of black felt. The four clothespins were previously glued together and painted black by DH or myself). The kids would sew around the edge of each of the ovals with a double strand of thread or even string. Once that was done I helped them pull the strings tight so that the fabric was gathered at the bottom. I think I used to tie it off. The kids then stuffed each of the "ovals" with fiberfill. Once they were stuffed I used glue (or a glue gun) to stick the ears on the sides of the head, the fleece topknot on the top of the head, and the head to the body. All that was left to do at that point was stick the legs into the body. The little critters were really cute. Could either stand on a shelf all year or become part of someone's Christmas decorations. I used to line the entire neighborhood up at my kitchen table to make them. Kids thought they were very clever and they had something they were really peoud of. I think I used the same yard of fleece fabric for about three years. Some kids gave them every year for a few years so that relatives had their own little flock of sheep. I know I have the pattern and instructions around here. If anyone is interested I could see if I could scan it and perhaps work out a way to email it or something.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-1999
Tue, 12-07-2004 - 7:13pm
If you have friends or relatives with china... there is an easy gift for kids to make. All you do is find or buy some felt (on sale or at a yard sale) and trace the plates (all sizes) on the felt. The kids can cut them out, stack them, tie a ribbon around them, What are they used for you say.... They can be placed between plates when stored to prevent scratching good china. Many people no longer bother with china but for those who do... it is an simple gift.