tricky hm gift question - teens

**perSue** · 10-01-2008, 09:06 AM

ok, so now that i've got enough to keep me busy for a while (still lotsa questions tho!)...

kiddo is 15. he is at the age where he enjoys saving money, watching me buy something on sale w/a coupon... he even encourages ME and goes w/me to stores looking for bargains!

now, he knows this year is a little tight for the holidays.
soon enough his interest in making homemade gifts will definitely be there.

WHAT ideas do you have for a teen boy making gifts?
(he's not crafty by nature - ie, no woodwork or metalwork)
he enjoys being in the kitchen, so the obvious one is cookies.

but what other things can he do so he feels like he can participate?
useful, nice things, that he can be proud of.

thankies!

**Moor** · 10-01-2008, 09:16 AM

Sue,
How about making him an apron, getting him a cookbook that is for easy to make things and then give him his own mixing bowl and a couple of spatula's, some baking pans, muffin pans, cake pans.

**sunshine** · 10-01-2008, 09:34 AM

You are asking for gifts HE can make, correct?

Do you have a digital camera? Have him take pictures. . . scenery, people in the family, etc. or scan older pictures if he'd rather -- then make coloring books for the little ones on his list, or print out on transparencies and put in clear acrylic frames and put a tea light behind them (really pretty done in sepia tones)

Is he giving gifts to friends? The French memory boards are easy and frugal to do, and done in denim with red or bandanna print ribbon makes it good for guys too. Or one of the gifts I like to make for teens -- take a new tube sock -- sew or crochet a clear lid to the top of the sock (I use Pringle's lids -punch holes in the side of the lid for sewing/crocheting and cut a slot for coins before you sew it to the sock) Then use fabric paint to put $ $ $ on it and write on the saying "Sock it Away"

**pip** · 10-01-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by sunshine

You are asking for gifts HE can make, correct?

Do you have a digital camera? Have him take pictures. . . scenery, people in the family, etc. or scan older pictures if he'd rather -- then make coloring books for the little ones on his list, or print out on transparencies and put in clear acrylic frames and put a tea light behind them (really pretty done in sepia tones)

Is he giving gifts to friends? The French memory boards are easy and frugal to do, and done in denim with red or bandanna print ribbon makes it good for guys too. Or one of the gifts I like to make for teens -- take a new tube sock -- sew or crochet a clear lid to the top of the sock (I use Pringle's lids -punch holes in the side of the lid for sewing/crocheting and cut a slot for coins before you sew it to the sock) Then use fabric paint to put $ $ $ on it and write on the saying "Sock it Away"

Where do you get all of your cool ideas?

**perSue** · 10-01-2008, 09:47 AM

Where do you get all of your cool ideas?

I second this... mine is usually do to necessity/desire and imagination.

Just keep 'em comin!!

I like the idea of taking pics and making a book of some kind.

He will want to make gifts FOR ppl.... us (parents), his friends, extended family, and such.

So anything you got is great... I'll pass 'em by him and see what he likes.

**sunshine** · 10-01-2008, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by pip

Where do you get all of your cool ideas?

Most have evolved over the years, out of necessity. I also surf the net a lot, so I glean ideas here and there, adapt to my situation and take it from there.

**Laura2** · 10-02-2008, 01:17 AM

He could buy plain wood picture frames and plain wood boxes from the craft store. Then buy wood letters that they sell too and make personalized frames and boxes. All you have to do is paint and glue. Super-simple.

Or there is always the gifts in a jar idea, such as soup mixes or cookie mixes in a jar. Those are always pretty and fun. Or maybe he could infuse olive oil with other ingredients and bottle it for presents.

**Maine Girl** · 10-02-2008, 08:15 AM

He could make a rubberband ball. You need a marble or to crumple a piece of Aluminum foil. Then you wrap rubberbands around until you get a ball. I am doing this for my a pre-teen on my list. What about making stationary or a calendar. For stationary take an 8.5x11 and fold in half. Pick a picture or whatever for tape or glue on the top then make copies of it. You can even make a notepad by gathering the paper one on top of the other then glue one end. Let me know if you need more info.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-02-2008, 08:32 AM

I saw this one done as it is so neat.

Give him the camera and send him out to look for letters of the Alphabet in nature.
A tree branch shaped like a Y , A letter from a stop sign ect. And then spell out the names of the people he wants to give a gift too and frame it.

**perSue** · 10-02-2008, 10:01 AM

Maine Girl - I'd love more info plz on how to make a notepad... (ie, glue at the top part)

Ann K - that's a beautiful idea...
at first when you said it I thought "little kid"... but then we're all nature lovers in this house... and it'd be such a beautiful gift to have... put in a frame and a personalized gift!

Keep 'em coming... loving the ideas!!!

**Maine Girl** · 10-03-2008, 08:16 AM

Per Sue - On the glue part pile up your paper like a note pad then paint on the glue height wise at the top i would do more then one coat and let dry in between coats. I used Mod Podge but i am sure just plain white glue will do. Basically the same stuff i think. Good luck Let me know if you make some.

**zakity** · 10-03-2008, 12:08 PM

What about coupons for "services", like yardwork, snow shoveling, pet care during a vacation? If it is for his siblings, he could give them coupons for once a month for him to do one of their chores (just once though, not the whole month long).

A "cookie of the month" coupon thing. Have him make up coupon books for a "cookie of the month". He could select some recipes and then bake up a bunch of cookies and deliver them once a month.

What about coupons for babysitting? I know it would have been fabulous sometimes to have free babysitting when the boys were little.

**Jskell911** · 10-04-2008, 10:13 AM

My son enjoyed making these last year:

Bath Salts

Cappucino

Hand Dipped Spoons

Hot Cocoa

**mcphlips** · 10-11-2008, 07:36 PM

Can he sew a straight line? What about having him make the tshirt grocery bags? They don't see too difficult. I am a beginner sewer and they are on my prioect list this year.