Homemade presents for kids

[Lisoula]

I would like to make my kids something special and homemade for Christmas for my tow older kids. I was thinking about making soap crayons, but all the recipes I've seen use food coloring. (Doesn't that stain their skin, instead of wash off??? : ) Anyway - any ideas out there for something I could make for not a lot of money??? My boys are 5 and 3.

[momma,mia]

I don't know if this would interest you , but i have a 2 and a half year old that i was thinking of making a gift for. I am not sure what they are called but they are cardboard type cards with pictures on the front. You punch holes around the edge of the picture and they use yarn to weave in and out through the holes.

Yarn tracing? Not sure, but they would be good for the younger one. I know my son would like to try it. I have seen them in schools and in educational stores, but they could be made pretty easy

[Lisoula]

Ooohh - that's a good idea. Thanks! I bought some of those a couple years ago for Halloween, but some "wintery" ones would be nice.

[PajamaMama]

You could buy some fleece and make them blankets...two layers of fleece, cut the same size, cut a fringe through both layers, tie the fringe together...This project would require no sewing if that's not your thing but I bet your kids would still love it. Fleece is inexpensive by the yard and there are hundreds of cute prints to choose from.

[swampwitch]

I'm crocheting balls in various sizes for my 4 yo nephew. I did a busy book - a fabric book w/ games and puzzles - for another nephew a couple of years ago. Last year I made a Robin Hood costume for one of them. It was easy and very little sewing. The 2nd pic is the fairy costume his sister got and the cowboy costume my brother gave him.

[GoddessKristie]

I have two nieces close to those ages and I'm making finger paints for them along with a personalized fingerpainting book. I havent used it yet, but here's the recipe I am going to try.

With a batch of this quick and easy finger paint (which keeps for at least a week in airtight containers), your child can finger paint to her heart's content for just pennies. It's perfect for using on paper or in the bathtub.
• Mix together 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/3 cup of cornstarch in a small pan, then slowly add 2 cups of cold water.
• Cook over low heat, stirring until the mixture becomes a smooth, almost clear gel (about 5 minutes).
• When it's cool, stir in 1/4 cup clear dishwashing liquid.
• Scoop equal amounts of the mixture into containers and stir in food coloring (or, for even more vibrant colors, use food coloring paste).

[PiePie]

puppets??

[kathirynne]

What about

Homemade play-dough? (I have a recipe that uses Kool-Aide for the colouring, which makes the play-dough smell really nice, too! )

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by PiePie

puppets??

You could use mittens and sew on buttons, felt cut-outs and/or yarn.

[nitemarehippygirl]

my little boy is 19 months old. i have made him several things this year that would be apprpriate for kiddos in the 3 to 5 range also.
i crocheted him a scarf.
i sewed him some felt finger puppets.
i sewed him some felt food.
i made him a nativity felt board

(notice a theme? lol felt is cheap...)

i crocheted him a mesh bag to hold his pretend food that i sewed.
i tye dyed some cotton play cloths (sort of like playsilks, but 100% cotton. they were actually flour sack towels from the dollar store. they were like 28 by 29 inches, i think.)
total cost for all this: probably $5 to $10 dollars, and many MANY hours of work. lol.

[Redifer]

I make blankies. Because most of the kids I'm around are "trendy" kids... I make bandana blankets (sew bandanas together, add a plain backing and tada... cool gift) or band tee blankets (parents drop off their ratty tshirts no longer fit for wearing, I sew them onto dyed black denim, add a flannel backing and tada, cool gift).

Cheap and easy, different blankets.

Something else I like to make for the toddler girls, is dishtowel nightgowns. I get those thick fluffy dishtowels in a seasonal pattern (this year it's candy canes), if neccessary sew two together for length, wrap around front and sew (looks like a wrap dress) and sew on two straps of dishtowels fastened with buttons in front... looks really neat if you can picture it, and parents love em!