Every year I have my daycare kids make presents for their parents for Christmas, Mother/Fathers Day, etc. This year I need some new ideas. Last year we made those ornament bears I posted in another thread. I don't like it to be too extravagant, but I like it to be something nice and useful. I was thinking about having them make pot holders. You can buy blank canvas ones at some craft stores and I was thinking about having them make a handprint Christmas tree on them with fabric paint. What do you think? Any other ideas?
That sounds cute. (if they are useable, some times a pot holder like that is too thin to use on a hot pan, and if the parent can't use them, it may hurt the kids feelings) You could get that kind of clay that gets hard in the oven and let them make spoon rests?? Or if they all believe in Santa they could make a cookie plate, get clear plates and let them paint on the back with glass paint (the kind that cures in the oven). Make sure you seal it so they can hand wash them. Also a picture frame is easy to do, Check out Oriental T. CO. and get some ideas. You could let them decorate an oatmeal box and then bake some simple cookies.--Hope any thing you do turns out good. Share your results.
I like jigsaw puzzle picture frames. You could even take a picture of each child to put in the frame. We made those one year when I was teaching. If you want, you could spray paint them gold or red or something. I like the snack for Santa idea! Good thought, Aball!
One year my grandma had all her great-grandkids trace their hand on a paper bag (bag was torn so it laid flat). Then you fold it over to cut out a duplicate with the original. They used a hole punch around the edges and then laced it up with yarn. Leave the wrist area open to stuff some cotton balls in to give it a 3D effect. Then lace the rest up. Makes a really neat ornament or keepsake. We have also purchased the small round candle holders from Wal-Mart (usually around 50 cents each) and let the kids paint the outside any way they like. My son's class did that one year for Mother's Day gifts...I cried...my son painted a cross on his for me .
JenPooh... I like your idea. I was thinking of doing potholder thing with my own kids. I love things with the kids' handprints. We also buy lots of wood things to paint. This year we have a growing list of Christmas crafts.. Small wood Christmas stool that you paint (has a Christmas pic on top) Fabric door knob hanger (Santa, Gingerbread boy) this is a craft kit Paint wooden ornaments (wreath, etc) Paint and decorate a wooden snowman (could be turned into an ornament) Felt lace and decorate ornaments Fuzzy Holiday Magnets (gifts) Small wooden baskets decorated with gingerbread men and filled with candies (gifts) Soap making for gifts Probably a bunch more since we're just getting started (haven't been to Michael's craft store yet, lol)
I have never done, but have seen it on some program like on HGTV or DIY network, both have websites you could check, OR go to a craft store and tell them about the poject and ask what kind of sealer they recamend. I am sure that they will know because I also saw them at a craft fair the other day.
I know this isn't a present, but does anyone besides me do gingerbread houses? They have the kits already in Meijer's...the kids pointed them out to me today.
I haven't figured out what to do with Ls yet. He's very interested in cooking right now. He thinks brownie mix is too easy, he says, "oh, all you do is add water?" I laughed. Anyhow, I think we'll make some homemade ketchup, relish, mustard or cookies and cakes to package up and give out to his family and mine in some attractive little glass jars all done up for the holidays.
My mother in law does this just about every year with my kids. They love it and she does buy the kit. They always turn out great. I have bought a kit a few times but never get enough ambition to actually do it.
Jen, when I was a Children's Ministries director we made a layered bean soup mix in a jar . You just layer the ingredients and add a bow. A card is attached that has the recipe. We also mixed Dippity-Doo hair gel with metallic confetti in a baby food jar. Make sure the lid is on tightly, add a bow, then flip over to present it upside down. I once ordered a paper towel holder kit from Oriental Trading. It was a snowman, you craft glued everything, and I provided a roll of Christmas paper towels for each child. One year we decorated pillow cases and tote bags with glow in the dark fabric paint.
What about a magnet for the fridge with their picture on it - ask Mom and Dad to bring a picture (or you could take them to keep Mom and Dad completely out of it)... Noah's class did this for Mother's day (I think it was then). They glued it to Mason jar cap and then used tissue paper to decorate the outside of it (little flower type of things) and then a magnet was glued to the back of it... those are the gifts that mean the world to me because it was something the child put a lot of time and effort into - any gift like that is far better than anything you could buy in a store anyday.
Or put felt on the back of the Mason Jar lid with the date, tie a ribbon on it, and it can be a tree ornament.
