Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make

Three years ago I tried to realign my kids' view of Christmas from receiving to giving by encouraging them to make gifts. After they made a list of recipients I helped them come up with ideas and gave them five dollars for supplies. It was successful enough to have become tradition. Here are some of our favorites:

13. Covers and cases. Almost everyone has collections, toys or gadgets that they use regularly that can benefit from a case or cover. The kids have sewn felt squares together to make a cases for digital cameras, laptops, Lillian's Fashion Pollys, or the boys' laser tags equipment. I think Martha copied her idea here from me. It's a good thing for them to make because 1. it gets them thinking about the other person's likes/hobbies and 2. sewing is a good skill to practice.

12. Flower pots. Paint terra cotta pots or cover them with tiny pieces of tiles, buttons and pieces of glass to make a mosaic. Beautiful and useful.

11. Books on tape. For a good gift for siblings, have older children tape record themselves reading a picture book. They can also make up a book, draw their own illustrations and have it spiral bound if they're feeling ambitious.

10. Coloring/activity/puzzle books. Download coloring pages, puzzles and activities off of the Internet, have children make a cover and have it bound for a sweet gift for younger children.

9. Beaded bracelets/ear rings. Wire, clasps, needle-nose pliers and beads are all that's needed to make beautiful homemade jewelry. Grace and I made a bunch during a girls' night while Andrew was gone on business. Children could also make their own beads using Sculpey polymer clay, poking through with a needle and then baking according to directions.

8. Felt Slippers. Another great idea from Queen Martha, the link with the directions is here.

7. Fleece hat/scarf. Requiring only a small amount of fleece and a minimal amount of sewing, it's a practical gift that doesn't gather dust in the back of the closet. Here's the link for the directions.

6. Painted T-shirts or book bags. Decorate a plain T-shirt with puffy fabric paints for the cool aunts and uncles on the shopping lists. Book bags, though expensive to buy at craft stores, can be made inexpensively and decorated as well.

5. Chess set. Using Sculpey clay (or alternately and more cheaply, salt dough) to make the pieces. See my instructions for making a chess board here.

4. Christmas pin. Once again, Sculpey clay to the rescue with a simple holiday candy cane pin. If kids can make a playdough snake, they can make this. And it's something you could actually wear.

3. Soaps. Glycerin soaps are elegant and easy for children to make with a little guidance. See Martha's link here.

2. Lip balm. Empty pill bottles purchased from Wal-Mart in the travel-sized toiletries section can be filled with home made lip balm from this recipe:

2 T grated beeswax
1 1/2 t coconut oil (add 1 more teaspoon if the solution is too stiff for your liking)
Contents of one vitamin E capsule
3-4 drops of coconut, peppermint, or pineapple extract

Melt together beeswax and coconut oil gently over low heat. Stir well. Add vitamin E. Add flavoring. Pour into container, makes 1 1/2 ounces.

Notice to my Mom and Melanie: Stop reading at this point! Spoiler ahead! Do not click on the next link!

1. This is the greatest, most useful gift we've done yet. I can't show you a picture or tell you what it is because it's on the gift list this year and family might be reading (but you'd better not be Mom). Anyone besides my Mom and Melanie have permission to click on the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see it.

See Family Fun Magazine and Kidley for more craft ideas for kids.

More about the Thursday Thirteen meme.

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