Every year, the girls and I make some homemade Christmas gifts for close relatives. Grandmoms, grandpops, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love this tradition because it helps the girls to display their love and affection for family! It is also a wonderful opportunity for them to acquire new skills and ideas. We talk about who-would-like-which-gift the most; we package the gifts just-so; and we look forward to giving them out on Christmas day!
1. When Vivienne was one-year-old, I sat by her side and helped her thread tiny glass beads onto straight pins and stick them into Styrofoam balls until the entire ball was covered in beautiful, shiny colors. I was crazy! (Who was that lady?!) Bless her heart, Vivienne went right along with my typical “My-one-year-old-is-really-23” mentality. Grandmothers have the finished products if you need proof. (I’ve already written apologies to Vivienne in her journal.)
2. I eased up on things the following year when we made the cutest assortment of refrigerator magnets. I love, love, loved this idea. Use your 40% off Michael’s coupon to buy a package of tiny magnets and a set of tiny ornaments (try the miniature nativity scenes!). Plug in your glue gun and go to town. You’ll realize that anything – anything – can be turned into a magnet with a little melted glue. (We made one set with little plastic bows and bazooka chewing gum; another with colorful buttons! So cute.)
3. The year after that, we made cookies-in-a-jar, which I did *not* love. They are more difficult to make than they look and everyone reported that, although the cookies were delicious, they had to pry the brown sugar out with a pitch fork and a blow torch. (Not the Holly Jolly we were going for.) They sure looked cute, though, didn’t they? (Sigh.)
4. Last year, we made Candle Votives, which was an awesome project for the girls. A box of assorted glass globes from the thrift store, some glue + water, old paintbrushes, colorful tissue paper, and a ribbon for flair! Very do-able. Very pretty. Find more detailed instructions here.
5. And this year – well, this year – we’ve got a great idea up our sleeves. You’ll just have to tune in tomorrow for our 2010 homemade Christmas gift! (Unless you are a close relative; in that case, you get one day off from reading my blog!)
Subscribe and follow along…
Comments
4 responses to “Child-Made Christmas Gifts”
I agree, cookies in a jar are way to much work! Hoping to get calendars done for the grandparents next week. They are blank scrapbook calendars and the kids will decorate the top picture part then I’ll glue photos of them on the artwork, so the artwork is the background.
I love your ideas Laura!!
We have Ruthie in an art class and last week she came home with two beautiful ornaments that she made. We went right out to Michaels and purchased some more paint and plastic balls so that we could give them out to her grandparents and aunts and uncles!!
I can’t wait as she gets older to continue this tradition.
I loved every single gift that the girls have made.
The cookie jar was a precious gift…I used it for a decoration through the holidays…then made the cookies and gobbled them down! Yum!
The candle is still on my counter…I found little electric votives that I can use so that I don’t ruin the precious holder!
Welcome to our store. We provide fashionable http://www.okmonclerjacketssale.com – Moncler Jackets, gorgeous moncler coats, and perfect moncler sweater. Among them, moncler down jackets are the most wonderful. Shopping on our store can save you a lot of money, and we will offer you the great discount and best service.