The best gifts come from the heart. Learn how to make creative homemade gifts with your child great for any birthday or special occasion. Making these crafts not only saves money of shopping for a conventional gift, but is a great way to have fun with your kids!
Here are two great homemade presents you can create at home with your child from 101 Great Gifts Kids Can Make, a wonderful book by Stephanie Mueller and Ann Wheeler.
Family Story Notebook
Encourage time together with a homemade storybook.
Materials
- Three-hole punch
- White copier paper
- Clear contact paper; if desired
- Three-ring binder
- Markers or crayons
- Nontoxic black permanent marker
Before Beginning
Use the three-hole punch to make holes along one side of the white paper.
Make Your Great Gift
- Think of a story, and draw pictures to make into a book using the white paper with the holes in the sides.
- Dictate a statement or story about the pictures. Write the story along the top or bottom of the pictures using the black permanent marker.
- Place the pages into the three-ring binder, along with 10 (or more) blank pages.
- Decorate a white piece of paper without holes, using the markers. Write “Family Story Notebook.” Many binders have a clear cover pocket in which a cover page can be inserted. If this is not the case, use clear contact paper to adhere this cover page to the front of the notebook.
- Include a not in the front of the binder explaining that you wrote this story and that the blank paper is included so that others in the family can write a story together, or continue the one that you began. Consider placing a divider between your story and the blank pages.
Seasonal Suggestion: Write a story about a holiday or important family event. Then decorate the notebook cover page with markers and stickers.
Layer Jar Paperweight
Produce an elaborate paperweight and boredom buster
Materials
- Honey
- Corn syrup
- Cooking oil
- Water (add food coloring if desired)
- Clear jar with lid
- Funnel
- Small items and glitter
- Glue gun (adult only)
Make Your Great Gift
- Using the funnel, carefully pour the four liquids into the jar, one at a time. Use an equal amount of each liquid, and leave some empty space at the top of the jar. The exact quantities will depend on the size of the jar you are using. Wipe up any spills.
- Drop a small handful of small items, such as marbles, buttons, sequins, and tiny plastic toys, into the jar. Watch what happens. Some of them will sink, some will float, and some will stop midway in the jar. Add a spoonful of glitter.
- Secure the lid with the glue gun (adult only).
- Tilt the jar back and forth, watching as the items float, sink and rearrange themselves.
Helpful Hint: If you are concerned about using a glass jar, substitute a clear 8 oz. water bottle with label removed.
Seasonal Suggestion: It is easy to adapt this project to any holiday or occasion by your choice of objects and colors.
READ MORE: More thoughtful gift giving tips
Material from 101 Great Gifts Kids Can Make by Stephanie R. Mueller and Ann E. Wheeler, is reprinted with permission from Gryphon House, Inc., P.O. Box 10 Lewisville, NC 27023 (800) 638-0928.