Homemade gifts for 5 year old boy???

[MamaWolfe]

Dh is out of work and I only work part-time, so money is pretty much nonexistant. We usually go overboard for Christmas and buy him a ton of stuff. I always make him things, but the only thing that he cared about last year was the play yard I made (it's huge and came out very well, if I do say so myself ;-). I have no choice but to make him most of his gifts this year, but i really want him to actually like them. Any suggestions? He's into planes, trains, and automobiles. He also really likes to play with his batcave and the little people that go with them. He also loves dinosaurs, dragons, and Godzilla. So far I've made him a watch, dragon, hat, and slippers, but now I'm stumped.

Thanks!!!

[rere]

How about making a set clothes pin characters.You can get a bag of clothes pins at the Dollar store.You could paint them up like knights(for the dragon?)or any sort of characters that he likes.Maybe you could make a little carrying case for them to go in?Like one of those crayon roll but for the little people instead?

[HollyBearsMom]

Can you get your hands on some cheap fabric?  My aunt made my son an amazing cape- black satin on one side, red satin on the other.  My then 5 year old LOVED it.  Great for pretending to be a super hero, a bat, so many things! 

Do you own a printer?  Make him a personalized book.  You can even take a well known story (Puff the Magic Dragon, Good Night Moon, etc) and use your sons name in the text and photo's for the illustrations.  The covers can be made form old cardboard boxes and bind them with colorful ribbons/string.

A coupon book could be fun. coupons for staying up late, an extra book at bedtime, skip the bath night, family movie night-he picks the movie, dessert for dinner, breakfast in bed, etc

[MamaWolfe]

Those are all such good ideas! Thanks so much!!! Both my boys love to play with little people, I never thought of making some. I have a TON of fabric, I'm certain to be able to make a cape or two. Love the personalized book idea. Yay!!!

[sapphire_chan]

Plushies? It's surprisingly simple to make a stuffed toy from pictures.

Bean bag game would be pretty easy.

Also juggling balls.

You could make some pictures for his room/play area. Embroidery, applique. Since he's 5, he probably draws proper pictures now instead of scribbles? There's a number of places that talk about how to duplicate a child's drawing in fabric.

[MamaWolfe]

Sapphire Chan- Those are great ideas! I made him some plushies already. Turned out very cute. I've never heard of hte bean bag game, just looked it up and it looks like fun! Adding that one to the list. My husband juggles, hadn't thought about making balls for my son. Maybe dh can give them to him and teach him how to use them. I have been kind of mulling around hte idea of turning one of his pictures of Godzilla into a quilt. I'll have to do more research on that one, I guess. Thanks so much!!! I knew you all would have some great ideas!!!

[littlemizflava]

here is some ideas that i have made...

a i spy bag you can use beans as filler and put in all his favorte things.

a hooded cape

dress up clothes

if you have a printer. print out color pictures on to iron on tshirt paper, or print out a coloring page and you can color on them gently with crayons they turn out great.

fishing game felt fish with metal washer mouth or inside and a magnet on end of pole. i went nuts and made seaweed and put washers in side lol

puppets and puppet theater

treasure map

crown, cape, wand

[LaughingHyena]

Last year I made aprons and wrapped them with a pack of cake sprinkles. Both kids (3 & 5) loved them, though they did want to bake on Christmas afternoon :lol

I've also done eye spy bags which are popular. The doorway puppet theatre has not seen much use though.

Dressing up stuff is good, we have a couple of tabard tops with tails that both kids love. Ears are another hit http://sewing.about.com/od/hallowee1/ss/catmouseears.htm

[MamaWolfe]

Wow! My holiday "to do" list just keeps on growing! Thanks!!!