Kids Christmas gifts...

**Izzy0906** · 08-12-2008, 03:29 PM

Ok I have one child of my own plus 6 others I need to make christmas gifts for. They range from 6 months to 5 years. any ideas? something VERY inexpensive and that I can learn pretty quick.

Thanks!

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-12-2008, 03:34 PM

What can you do? Sew, quilt, knit, crochet, draw, etc?

**imagine** · 08-12-2008, 03:35 PM

Do they have to be handmade or can they be store bought things to make a kit? Like school supplies and paper to make a drawing kit or art kit.

I love to make younger kids playdough.

have a favorite homemade one from when I taught pre-school also have a scented one made with kool-aid.

Let me know if you want the recipie

**lwlynch** · 08-12-2008, 03:48 PM

My favs to give when they were that little was little art boxes. Find some cheap shoe boxes (plastic) label each with their own names. Find school stuff, glue stick, crayons, and all the little art stuff you can accumulate at a bargain. You could even cut paper to make your own pads to color in. I found that they all loved it. Even when you got to the under 1 And younger you can get them a box and make a playset of some sort.
Good luck....

**angelbumpkin** · 08-12-2008, 04:06 PM

I have stapled paper togther for doodle pads, homemade playdoh, box with crayons,makers, sticker..etc as wellas printing off color sheets and making coloring books.

**stinkbug** · 08-12-2008, 04:08 PM

Our local upscale game store is selling those *I Spy* tubes for 20.00. The are so cool and would be so easy to make!!! They were basically a clear tube filled with plastic beads (?) with all kids of little objects tumbling within that you have to try and identify.

**Izzy0906** · 08-12-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

Do they have to be handmade or can they be store bought things to make a kit? Like school supplies and paper to make a drawing kit or art kit.

I love to make younger kids playdough.

have a favorite homemade one from when I taught pre-school also have a scented one made with kool-aid.

Let me know if you want the recipie

How long does the playdough last? I'm looking for homemade so I can get enough gifts for all for barely no $. Trying to avoid store buying anything but ingredients or supplies to make them something...

**Izzy0906** · 08-12-2008, 04:11 PM

I can maybe to an art supply box (well for the older ones, not the 2 under a year). I would like to get all supplies for 4 boxes for $10 or under. That possible if I go to a dollar store?

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-12-2008, 04:16 PM

Right now, Staples has elmer's glue for FREE (limit 2 per cust) and crayola markers for 79cents. I would check there and office depot. They have all kinds of crazy deals each week.

**imagine** · 08-12-2008, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Izzy0906

How long does the playdough last? I'm looking for homemade so I can get enough gifts for all for barely no $. Trying to avoid store buying anything but ingredients or supplies to make them something...

The recipie I used when I taught pre-school we used daily, stored in a Zip lock type bag with the air squezzed out. We made a new batch about every month.

At home with my kids (less playdough use) I have found some in the ziploc bag that I made several month ago.

I have found that the scented Kool aid playdough doesn't last as long as the pre-school one.

My kids and I like the feel of the homemade playdough better than the store bought.

I posted the recipie in the FV cookbook under kids and babies

**kaurand554** · 08-12-2008, 05:59 PM

If you live close to a Walmart they have notebooks for 5 cents. (one subject). unless it changed since Saturday, colored pencils and crayons were on special too.... The Crayola brand :-) stocked up for my daughter.

Hmm might have to put some away now for a art box refill at christmas time. One present done Yipee

**heartofmine** · 08-12-2008, 10:18 PM

Right now would be a great time to put together an art box for them. School supplies are dirt cheap at Wal-mart. Crayons 22 cents for 24 count, notebook paper 5 cents. Also at Walgreens this week they have those little notebooks of paper cheap with a coupon.

Check around for coupons for candy, gum, mints. Lots of times you can get individual bags for free.

I've also heard of people making marshmallow guns. They shoot marshmallows and the kids love them. I use to have a pattern but lost it on the old computer. I bet someone could find one by googling.

For the baby look for coupons on baby shampoo and other items that you can get for free or nearly free. If you know what kind of diapers they use collect diaper coupons. If you sew make a little blanket or a baby pillow. How about making a little throw that can be hung up with pockets to put stuffed animals, books or other things in. Also maybe you could make a little mobile using dental floss, fishing line or something like that. Something bright and pretty.

Also if you have a Craig's list look for toys or other things that are being given away that can be cleaned up with a little tlc.

**pollypurebred39** · 08-13-2008, 04:27 AM

I posted this on another thread but thought I'd repost it here.

My sister found a way to make Christmas special for her young children. She makes a lot of her kids gifts. Here's some of the things she did.

*She bought a dollar store plastic shoe box and filled it with a set of cookie cutters and 4 small containers of homemade playdough. You could even use ziplock bags. Her kids loved it and played with the playdough all afternoon on Christmas Day.

*She made Snowman soup. She got the idea from a website called CraftSayings. I dont know if you are allowed to put the dot com on a post so I didn't.

*She filled bottles {squirt and spray} with colored water. She glued decorated labels on each bottle and packed them in a homemade red cloth bag with a drawstring. Wala, a snow decorating kit. Her kids couldn't wait until the first snow storm.

*She bought a hat, gloves and scarf a the dollar store and got 2 long sticks from her yard, and stones from her driveway. She got a heavy duty box from a store. Call stores and ask what days they stock shelves and ask if you can get a box. She then painted the box and labeled it "Instant Snowman" Her kids built a great snowman and the neighbors kids begged their mother for a snowman kit.

* She made each one of her kids their favorite candy or cookie and packed it in a decorative tin.

And I made her daughter a dress up box. I scoured yard sales and thrift stores for fancy dresses{big enough to slip right over her clothes} hats, ladies shoes, hair clips, etc. She was thrilled and still talks about it to this day. She said it was her favorite gift ever and that she played with it for years.

You could also hit school sales right now and pick up crayons and markers cheap and then get her some coloring books and stckers at the dollar store for her stocking. I don't know if you sew but my Grandmother always made us kids a flannel night gown and crocheted us slippers. I loved that gift. I opened it on Christmas night and wore them to bed. I always felt so special on Christmas morning wearing my new PJ'S and slippers.

I hope this helps,
Polly

Oh, and I used to go to yard sales and buy games and toys for my kids. I always purchase new or like new. It's amazing what people buy that they never even open and then sell for $.50.

**dortrust** · 08-13-2008, 06:27 AM

right now all the stores are having great sales on basic school supplies. It is not too soon to start buying for Christmas. My grandaughters love anything to do with art.

**Maine Girl** · 08-13-2008, 08:35 AM

You could make a Matching game putting stickers on decorated cardboard square or juice lids. Small Homemade bean bags even a gift in a jar of there favorite cookie is exciting to little ones.