I really want DS to participate in our holiday gifts. We make/buy mostly handmade stuff, and I know he'd love to help. Right now that consists of him pussing the pedal on the sewing machine and us using his paintings as wrapping paper.

I need some ideas for fun things that he can help me make. Any thoughts?

You can have him help with things like making sugar scrubs (this one is nice (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=270092.0)) and melt and pour soaps.

Make bookmarks from his paintings - especially nice if you do a crayon resister first and then watercolours. Or frame them, make greeting cards or calendars with them.

Have him put hand prints on canvas bags, tshirts or aprons. I made really nice bags with my young kids once. I cut a square out of a plastic grocery bag and taped it securely to what we were making. Then I let them paint the square with acrylics. When I pealed off the plastic when we were done, there was this groovey abstract picture. I outlined it in black and wrote their names and the dates on it. They really look great.

Make stuffed shapes out of cotton or muslin and have him decorate them with fabric markers as gifts for his friends. You can help him add felt eyes for animals after the decorating.

Make beanbags. He can help sew them and stuff them.

Make contact paper and tissue paper stained glass. You can cut them into pretty shapes for Christmas trees or windows.

Make birdseed hangers - have him help mix birdseed and lard and then shape.

hth
Karen

I think this is pretty cool for a craft. http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/snow-globes

We made "jar gifts" for ds's teacher last year. Those jars of soup or cookie mix ingrediants in layers. Ds measured the things and used a funnel to pour them into the jars. He decorated the labels and he enjoyed it when people shared their treats with him. I had picked up a book at the grocery store with jar recipes, but I'm sure there are many online.

Great ideas, mamas!:thumb

This year, we're doing these -

http://mycraftymama.blogspot.com/2007/11/snowmen-handprint-ornaments.html

http://www.handmadecountry.com/ezine/cinnamon.html

I'm still doing a lot of of, obviously, but so far those are two we're working on (hope it's ok to link to someone else's super cool idea in the top blog). We're also going to make candy but um...so far she's a better eater than cook :eat:

Oh my gosh, I love that snowman ornament! So many idea. I've also been checking out Crafty Crow (http://www.belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/) for some great ideas. :thumb

When we were kids, my mom had us make cookies for each of our siblings if we were under four years old. We helped make the dough and got to choose our cookie cutters and then decorate them and box them up and wrap them. I always liked that idea, but I like some others on this thread even more. :lol

I knew a mom who bought the pre-stretched canvas at the craft/art store and had her dd paint on them. Her dad and grandpa loved decorating the office with them. Clients totally thought they were high-priced modern art!

We made a lot of ornaments when my oldest was little.
Dipping things is usually a hit too. If you melt some chocolate, LO can dip cookies, spoons, large pretzle sticks, biscotti. Or make a bark of some sort and let them help mix, spread, and the best part-breaking into chunks!
Oh, we also made crayon crafts. Put the bits of crayon that are broken or missing the wrapper or just mostly used up in a zip-loc bag. Let the kids bang on it for awhile with a small mallet or hammer. NOT on your new oak table (ahem:o). Put the bits in lined muffin tins to melt into new crayons or spread between sheets contact paper and iron into sun catchers. I'm sure you can do a search for a ton of other crayon crafts. But my kids love a chance to break/hammer on things!