DIY Holiday Gift Kids Can Make
Parenting Tips crafts, diy, gifts, holidays, parenting
There’s no better gift from a kid than a homemade one. Here are some super-easy, crafty gift ideas that are perfect for teachers, family, and friends!
1. Lunch Bag Scrap Book
Store holiday cards and photos in the pockets of a book crafted from folded brown paper bags.
What you’ll need: Three brown lunch bags, scissors, hole punch, pencil, thin ribbon, glue, assorted embellishments (we used patterned papers, gift wrap scraps, buttons, stickers, rickrack, and photos)
Make it: Cut off the bottom of the lunch bags, stack them, and fold in half. (If necessary, trim edges to make pages even.) Remove the outermost bag and punch three to four holes along the folded edge. Using this bag as a guide, punch corresponding holes in the other two folded bags, one at a time. Restack folded bags and thread ribbon through the holes to bind the book. Embellish the cover as desired using gift-wrap scraps, buttons, photos, and more.
2. Ink Blot Prints
A series of simple folded Rorschach paintings are festive and fun for little ones to make.
What you’ll need: Medium-weight art paper, small paintbrushes (optional), tempera paints, colored cardstock for backing, picture frame
Make it: Fold paper in half and generously drizzle or dab paint onto one side of the paper fold. Fold the other side of the paper onto the painted side and press down. Open to reveal design and let dry flat. Mount print onto colored cardstock and frame.
3. Button Jewelry
String buttons and felt and paper flowers onto yarn and chenille stems to make adorable necklaces and rings.
What you’ll need: Narrow chenille stems, mini hole punch, felt and paper flower embellishments, scissors, assorted buttons, yarn or thin cord
Make it: To make rings, cut a short length of chenille stem and bring ends together to form a loop. Punch two holes in the center of felt and paper flowers and stack them onto the chenille stem-loop (keeping the ends together): Thread one end of the chenille stem through one hole in the flowers and button; repeat with the other end of the pipe cleaner on the second hole. Twist the ends together, trim excess if needed, and make sure there are no sharp ends sticking up. To make necklaces, thread yarn through stacked flowers and buttons.
4. Lacey Candles
These candleholders are so lovely, people will never believe that they’re handmade — and by a kid, no less!
What you’ll need: Food coloring, water, paper doilies, kitchen tongs, paper towels, scissors, colored tissue paper, straight-sided glass votive holders, paintbrush, craft glue
Make it:
Doilies: In a large glass pie plate or pot, mix a dye bath using approximately 20 drops of food coloring (more for deeper colors) and 2 cups of water. Slide a doily into the dye bath and push it down with the tongs so it’s covered completely; let it sit for five seconds to two minutes, depending on the desired shade. Remove doily with tongs and place it flat on a stack of paper towels. Immediately blot it dry with another paper towel, then set it aside to dry on a clean paper towel.
Votives: Cut a rectangle of tissue paper that is 1″ longer and ?” taller than the votive holder. Cut a piece of doily the same size or smaller. Use a paintbrush and coat the entire votive holder with a thin layer of watered-down glue. Adhere tissue to votive and use your fingers to smooth the bottom edge underneath; turn upside down to dry. When dry, trim the excess tissue paper so that it’s flush with the top edge. Apply glue mixture to the entire surface of the tissue-covered votive and adhere doily strip. Press down lightly with fingers and set it aside to dry. Trim the excess doily pieces from the votives, then brush a thin coat of glue on top to seal it; let dry completely.
5. Mini Clay Bowls
Press small rubber stamps or chipboard letters into air-dry clay to make this cute little catchall.
What you’ll need: White air-dry clay, wax paper, small rolling pin, water, cooking oil, non-washable ink pad, rubber letter stamps or chipboard letters, cotton swab
Make it: Knead a piece of clay for a few seconds, then flatten it on wax paper and roll it out so it’s ⅛” to ?” thick. To smooth the surface of the clay, wipe a little water on top and let it sit for about ten minutes. Use your finger to apply a thin film of cooking oil to the surface that you’re going to stamp. Ink your stamp and press it into the wet clay. Use a cotton swab to clean up any undesired impressions or excess oil. Mold the edges up to create a bowl or dish and let it dry for two to three days on wax paper.
6. Jolly Java Jackets
Kids can fashion a striped or solid sock into a reusable sleeve for coffee or hot cocoa to go.
What you’ll need: Old socks, fabric scissors, buttons, felt, felt stickers, fabric glue
Make it: Cut 4 inches from leg of sock to form a cup cozy. Add embellishments using fabric glue.
7. Bottle Cap Magnets
Fill a bottle cap with mini-fingerprint artwork or wrapping paper scraps to make these adorable magnets.
What you’ll need: Inkpad, markers, clear Con-Tact paper, 1-inch circle punch, glue, small magnets, assorted metal bottle caps, scraps of gift wrap or photos, white cardstock
Make it: For fingerprint art, have children make designs using inkpads, their fingers, and markers. Set aside to dry for a few minutes. When ink is dry, cover the fingerprint design with a small square of clear Con-Tact paper, then punch out using a 1-inch circle punch. Glue the small paper punch to the inside of the bottle cap. Glue a magnet onto the top of the bottle cap. If using gift wrap scraps or photos, glue the gift wrap (or photo) to white cardstock, cover with a square of clear Con-Tact paper, then punch out and attach to bottle caps.
8. Tin Treasure Boxes
Don’t throw away those Altoids tins! They make a perfect little gift box for tiny toys and candy. Just add a little decoration to make them festive.
What you’ll need: Empty mint tins; embellishments such as stickers, felt scraps, ribbon, gift wrap, colored tape, patterned papers; glue, scissors
Make it: Decorate the top of the tin by gluing on strips of ribbon, wrapping paper, or colored tape. Embellish as desired. Glue strips of ribbon or gift wrap around the bottom of the tin or wrap with colored tape. Fill the tin with small toys or candies.
Source: Parents