Plateau Mama Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I'm looking for fun ideas that my 4.5 yo can make grandparents & great grandparents for Christmas. Most of them will need to be shipped so cookies etc are out. My 10 yo is making beeswax candles. No idea what my 12 yo can do either. She's not really crafty, but loves to make a mess. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 If your preschooler likes to draw or do art, you could make prints of one of those art pieces and frame them. Or, go really elaborate and do a whole 2013 "make your own" calendar with preschooler art pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 The preschooler could make the cards - dip hand in white paint and 'stamp' on a card (fingers down, and together). Stick a red triangle on the top (palm), googly eyes in the middle and a thumb print on the top of the triangle - voila, santa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 You can buy foam picture frames and have the preschooler decorate them with foam and/or markers. Put a picture of the kid in it. We also used to do cookies and have kid sprinkle jimmies or sprinkles on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I did felted wool stuff with my child one year. A preschooler can felt a cookie-cutter shaped bit of wool in a soapy waterpot. The 12yo could embroider the recipient's name on it afterwards. It could be an ornament, or as I did, a fridge magnet (with some of those stick-on magnets). Little ones can also decorate beeswax candles. My kids did with that decorators wax - it's very thin, colored sheets. I'm pretty sure pinterest would be the perfect place for you to get inspired ideas. probably preschool christmas craft (or something similar) as a topic. GL - lots of fun stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 mixes in mason jars...bean soup, brownie mix etc. might have been mentioned before: have a drawing made into a magnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Ninja Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 My dd was 3 yo when she made some adorable decorated paper mache boxes and a rabbit. These are the brown shapes and boxes from Michael's, and they are inexpensive. She picked out a rabbit and a few boxes. I gave her some pretty floral napkins that we pulled apart. These had two layers, one white and one with the print. Just use the print part. Then she tore them into pieces - super easy. She used a large sponge brush and a cup of Mod Podge. Paint the Mod Podge on the paper mache shape (rabbit or box), then put on a piece of the torn napkin, then paint more Mod Podge on top. Overlap the pieces of napkin, and it doesn't matter if it wrinkles a bit because of the pattern. Continue until the object is fully covered and let it dry. That's it! The Mod Podge dries clear with a bit of a sheen, and my dd did it all by herself. We tied a ribbon bow around the rabbits neck with some dried flowers I had, but the boxes were enough by themselves. They turned out really cute, and my dd was proud that she did it all by herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Little ones can also decorate beeswax candles. My kids did with that decorators wax - it's very thin, colored sheets. Yes! In fact, the candles being decorated need not be beeswax at all. My daughter started decorating candles at about age three. At that age, I cut out shapes for her to affix to the candles. She has continued candle decorating over the years and now (college age) makes wonderful designs of her own creation. Here is a link to the candle decorating wax that we use: Stockmar Decorating Wax Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) White plastic plates with the child's art imbedded into it. We've been doing these every-other year for Christmas gifts (and for each child)--a fun archive of their creativity over the years. http://www.makit.com/ Child can do a pre-drawing, and/or trace an outline and then color it in. Edited September 24, 2012 by Beth S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'm going to have ds3.5 make bookmarks and I will laminate them with contact paper. I'm having ds5.5 make bookmarks with those plastic grid things that you "embroider" with yarn. I thought I'd let ds3 try it, too. (I just won't expect it to be all filled in.) Ds5.5 really likes lacing cards, so I think he will enjoy making them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 One year we made painted tote bags. I think I got the idea from Family Fun magazine. You start with plain undecorated tote bags (available from Michael's, Joann, etc). You get the fabric paint colors that you like. For each bag, you need to put a big border of masking tape around a rectangle in the middle of the side of the bag. Then they paint. You peel off the tape when the paint is dry. That way you have a neat painted rectangle shape--looks almost professional! Or you could not bother with the tape/rectangle and just let them paint the bag. My in-laws still use theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 My 4 and 5yos did these for DH and the grandpas for Father's Day, and they're the most well-loved homemade gift we've ever given. http://lookwhaterinmade.blogspot.com/2012/06/fathers-day-2012.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 My 4 and 5yos did these for DH and the grandpas for Father's Day, and they're the most well-loved homemade gift we've ever given. http://lookwhaterinmade.blogspot.com/2012/06/fathers-day-2012.html Grandude! I love love love that! He must be one very cool Dude :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 One year my kids decorated potholders for the grandparents and that was a big hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 We did the concrete stepping stones with hand prints and tiles and stones and names and they were a great big hit last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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