Inexpensive or homemade gift ideas for kids

**steelergal** · 09-28-2011, 08:38 AM

With the way the economy is, and how Christmas always pops up quickly for some people. I thought it would be nice to have a thread for those of us who pinch our pennies (out of habit or necessity), to help give the kids a wonderful Christmas.

- find leftover or broken crayons (anyone with a child would have these!) and melt them in shaped muffin tins. Makes fun multicolored shaped crayons!

- for the little baker, you can pick up an easy bake oven virtually anywhere (yardsales, craigslist, ebay, thrift stores, or even new!). Instead of buying those overpriced mixes, you can google recipes and make the child a recipe book, you can prepare some of the dry mixes and package them decently for them to use right away! In example I read that you can half a box of Jiffy mix and use 1/2 the ingredients to make some food for the easy bake oven.

**McD** · 09-28-2011, 10:32 AM

I like the idea of the melted down crayons. On Pinterest, I saw where someone had melted them down in silicone molds. I thought that was fun.

**Momto5RN** · 09-28-2011, 11:00 AM

save any thin cardboard you find ( link inserts in shirts other packaging- poke holes in designs and use some scrap yard to make sewing boards ( i think thats what they are called )

theres a ton of homemade recipes for playdough etc .

on a non home made end always look thru the clearance areas at target walmart cvs and walgreens craft stores sewing stores etc - you can find little things to add to a gift bag or things that can be used in crafts or an actual gift for up to 90% off

**mauimagic** · 10-01-2011, 03:17 AM

Need to bump this thread up so more can read and share.

Bean bags are easy to make with scrap fabric and dried beans.

**valerian** · 10-01-2011, 10:56 AM

I did the melted crayons for youngest ds one year and they turned out so cute!

**ncarr** · 10-01-2011, 01:06 PM

Definitely check out CVS-- you can get all sorts of stuff free or nearly free.

Also, I love edible playdough

Google a recipe!

**goldeneyez** · 10-02-2011, 02:40 PM

I have a boy on my list that loves any type of crafty thing so each year I make up a craft bucket with different things in it. I found perler bead type kits at Michael's last week for under $1.00 so I got a couple of those. Michael's always has interesting things in there clearance and $1.50 aisles.

Other things I've done is recovered a dollar store composition book for my daughter who loves to write. Added a pen that went with the paper and tada.

**Momto5RN** · 10-02-2011, 02:50 PM

right now cvs has a bunch of stuff that was for back to school or summer area that was 1-3$ at 75% off in my area . could make up a nice basket of stuff for 5$ or less they also have sunglasses from summer stock for 75% off - cute stocking stuffer or even save for an easter basket .

ECB for the 3rd quarter just came out so use that money to shop clearance -

tweens / teens etc dont forget that bed bath and beyond puts out 5$ off 15$ coupons - watch the clearance areas for some fun stuff . they have from cute pillow to health and beauty to electronics etc

bath and body works always has coupons out and free pirntables too if you google them - you can buy one one thing and get somthing else free - i love to use them with the buy 3 get free and then i get a 4th free item - because of allergies they have one of the few scents i can use . they have very lught scents and in the past carried american girl brand lotiions etc around the holidays . so if you pick out a 10$ item -buy 3 = 30 get 3 free and then use the coupon for a free item - you end up with 70$ worth of items for 30$ and 7 gifts for 30 so less then 5$ a gift .

target t this week had back to school stuff cheap they had dry erase boars in about a 10x 10 square with a pen for just 2.50 i know my 14 yo loves hers she has one that says the dates of the week and she fills it in to remind herself of her schedule of activities n and a plain one her friends write funny quotes on and sign when they are over .

**Momto5RN** · 10-02-2011, 02:57 PM

save cereal boxes pasta boxes etc for play kitchens

you can make play foods with felt i have seen some knit or crocheted too

pick up an old hard sided suitcase at a yard sale - what is your chid into - what will be stored in it ?

decoupoage pictures on the side of it to personalize and theme it - i did this for oldest dd for american girl doll things took pic from catalog and website - doll clothes for younger dd - decoupaged precious moments dolls on it and for rmy youngest son - thomas the tank engine - one could do it for legos - just about anything - even for craft or scrapbook supplies esp if you find an older suitcase that has the little pockets in the side

i once made my dd's american girl dolls clothes that matched a dress or PJ i had for them - i made matching hair items scrunchies etc bracelets etc for the doll and dd's

i made them 10x 10 sized rice bags in a lightwt denim 11 years ago put their name on it with fabric paint - they still have them and use them as heating pads for stomache aches earaches etc .

**sunshine** · 10-02-2011, 03:22 PM

Handmade puppets - I generally sew these from clothing that I get for free at yard sales. . . this year I got a velvet jacket that had a small stain, and an outdated satin bride's maid dress. . . they made great king/queen's clothing though.

soft jewelry (sewn , crocheted, knitted) for the girls. Soft tools for boys . . . thrift store clothes for dress up boxes.

**steelergal** · 10-02-2011, 06:49 PM

At Walgreens I noticed that they have back their buy two toys for $13.98 and get one free! They were just starting to put these out so the selection was not huge but that can be decently priced filler gifts (that are larger in size!).

At the dollar store they have calendars for next year (I noticed some cheap ones are starting to be put out at Michaels as well), you can give your child a calendar with coupons to use throughout the year for a special meal request, movie night, etc.

There is a store in our area called "Five Below" (not sure if this store is nationwide), I think it's mainly geared towards teenagers but there is a ton of potential gifts for $5 or less, decent sized makeup sets, electronics (from DVD's, games for Wii and etc.), clothing and a lot more.

**Momto5RN** · 10-02-2011, 06:52 PM

our 5 below has accessories for video games- wii - nintendo ds - also sports team themes items for our areas sport teams-
ours has alot for younger kids not so much for under 5 but 5 and up to adults theres alot .. i think i can do better on the nail polish and such at CVS waiting for ECB deals though

**Momto5RN** · 10-02-2011, 06:55 PM

recycle ink cartridges at a office store make sure you sign uo for their free rewards program - i know staples gives the rewards 1x a month - you can use the rewards for buying some electronics stuff for teens - they sometimes have some awesome stuff on clearance end caps .