It’s that time of year. Christmas is zooming up on us, which often leaves us in a quandry. How can we involve our family in creating gifts with meaning? How can we get gifts that will be treasured without breaking the bank? And how on earth can we get something for those who already have everything they need and most of what they want?
One of the things I love to do with my kids (though I’m a little short on inspiration this year is create gifts that are meaningful. Something that captures where we are at this moment in time. That means lots of handprints and footprints. Lots of paint and glue and fun.
Whether you have lots of money or a little to spend, people love receiving home-made gifts. It can be daunting to get started, but here are a few ideas to help.
These are some of my favorites…and they were easy to make when we kept it assembly line.
My son painted this several years ago when he was about eight.
1) Get your children involved by using hand prints or foot prints to make a calendar. We’ve done this a couple times. For example, January can be a snowman made from a small foot. February is hearts crafted by painting the fisted hand by the pinky. November is a hand-print turkey. October is a ghost. Do the prints on colored construction paper, then go online and print off the next year’s month-by-month calendar. You paste the calendar to the back of the next month’s artwork. Then take it to a copy shop to be spiral bound. Don’t forget to have the child sign and date their artwork. Grandmas and aunts love these.
2) Bake plates of cookies for neighbors and coworkers. I’ve developed about six recipes that I’ll make double or triple batches of starting Thanksgiving weekend. Most cookies freeze well, and then put an assortment on a Christmas plate, add a card and deliver.
3) If you don’t want to bake a variety, host a Christmas cookie exchange. Then each attendee bakes 8 or so dozen of the same cookie and all participant swap. You can also have people bring 3×5 cards with the recipes on them.
4) Buy plain hot-pads and have the kids use a handprint on one side to make a turkey. On the other side, use fingerprints to create a Christmas tree. Now you have a great seasonal gift.
My oldest keeps asking when I’m going to finish this one. We made two — one that we gave to grandparents. That one has ornaments, a star, etc. so I guess it’s more finished.
5) At a family gathering have everybody add their handprints to a canvas. You want to layer the handprints so that they overlap in the shape of a Christmas tree. Then decorate it with paint. This makes a great way to freeze everyone in time and a nice decoration for future Christmases.
Your turn: What are some Christmas gifts that you’re family has made?
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Great ideas, Cara. It makes me wish my kids were still little!
Thanks, Lynn. I’ve actively scouring Pinterest for new ideas for this year. 🙂
Make “God’s Eye” Christmas ornaments with cotton swabs (q-tips) yarn, glue, & glitter. Hold the 2 q-tips to make an “X”, take the yarn of alternate over & under around the qTip. Stopping close to the cotton swab. Tie yarn to secure to end or glu the end. Dip cotton swabs in glue & then in glitter. Add some glue & glitter to the center to complete the “God’s Eye”. Very pretty using multi-colored yarn.
Make sheep by cutting out a shape of a sheep. Cover the body only with snipped qTips all facing away from the face. Complete by adding a face, & coloring the hooves
Just a few Christmas ornament ideas you can make with kids & share as gifts.
Those are great ideas! Thanks so much, Betty!