edeemarie Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 It looks like a lovely layoff notice may be coming our way next week so I really want to be responsible with our money spending. I am looking for some ideas of things I can make for the kids instead of having to buy them (ages 2 up to 9). I can sew a little and can usually manage crafts if they are not too invovled. So if you are making gifts for your kids, what are you making them? Do you know of any type of gifts the kids could make for each other? The only idea I have right now is to make the coupon books with things the kids would enjoy but wouldn't cost money (ex. You pick a movie for a family movie night, You pick a board game to play, that type of thing). I am hoping to get a headstart on presents since making things will take some extra time. Thanks for any suggestions (links are much appreciated!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 (edited) I will have to put some more thought into this but first thing that comes to mind is not exciting but my kids loved it: I have made them special pillowcases in the past. One year was a Christmas themed one, another year i just picked out either their favorite color fabric or character. This year I am going to give them a plain white one with fabric crayons so that they can decorate their own. Last year I also made soap with a small toy in it. I think I put squinkies for my daughter and Lego figures for my boys. I have also made colored, scented playdough sets for each. Real easy and inexpensive. I am finishing lunch right now and need to herd the kids out the door so i can run errands but I will add more later. Edited November 14, 2012 by OK Family Yup spell check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 For the 3 youngers- Felt boards : http://pinterest.com/andiejaye/felt-and-flannel-fun/ puppets; rag dolls and clothes; Inexpensive ideas: Sketch paper and markers, colored pencils, and watercolor trays; playdough, (you can even make homemade playdough and add scents and glitter to it); Duct tape for the 9 yo, ( to make a wallet or something else-see youtube); puzzles; I'll probably think of more later.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 For the 9 year old could you maybe print off a cheapass game. (It's just the company name) They use to sell lots of card and board games. But recently started offering PDF files of all the games for free. http://www.cheapass.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I will have to put some more thought into this but first thing that comes to mind is not exciting but my kids loved it: I have made them special pillowcases in the past. One year was a Christmas themed one, another year i just picked out either their favorite color fabric or character. This year I am going to give them a plain white one with fabric crayons so that they can decorate their own. Last year I also made soup with a small toy in it. I think I put squinkies for my daughter and Lego figures for my boys. I have also made colored, scented playdough sets for each. Real easy and inexpensive. I am finishing lunch right now and need to herd the kids out the door so i can run errands but I will add more later. Would that be soap? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Pinterest has a lot of good ideas, and there is a budget Christmas thread and a Handmade thread on here from recently. I will try to link you to it later when I can get back on. What about fort kits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Perhaps, if you haven't already read them, these threads might be helpful. Christmas on a budget? http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=428329&highlight=Christmas No Spend Christmas Gifts. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=438561 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 re the pillowcase idea. one year, one of our dds made two identical pillowcases, one for her and one for her grandma, so they could go to sleep on the same pillowcase each night. it brought tears to my mom's eyes. a friend used her embroidery sewing machine to embroider "grandma" on the one, and our dds name on the other, but it would have been just as nice without. we have bought silicon shaped cupcake holders and used them to make themed glycerin soaps. eg. snowmen or christmas trees or hearts. christmas pajamas from mom to the family are a tradition in our house. (however these days its often cheaper to buy them than make them). recipes in jars, where you put all the dry ingredients needed for a recipe in a mason jar, and attach the recipe are very fun gifts. i gave our younger two blank recipe books and we spent many delightful hours copying their favourite recipes. hmmmm... will keep thinking. so sorry about the layoff : (. there is rarely a good time for it, but this is one of the hard times... ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 an idea i thought would be fun if you have a harry potter fun is a make your own wand kit. some things you could put in it: thicker sticks sandpaper spray paint or other paint (from around the house) various other decorations: marbles, crystals, sequins, glitter, leather, ribbon...anything really that you have lying around the house.. my boys have enjoyed this..we did as part of our harry potter club, but i've always thought it would be a fun gift idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Maybe you could find some inspiration here: http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/08/101-simple-handmade-gifts-for-kids/ or here: http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-gifts-for-kids/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 This might help http://money.msn.com/family-money/christmas-for-less-than-100-dollars-freedman.aspx For holidays, we've given one family gift (like a new/used Wii game) or some sort of family experience. Honestly, kids seem to like those just as much as individual gifts. I read this book years ago... maybe your library has it? http://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Dollar-Holiday-Joyful-Christmas/dp/068485595X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352923667&sr=1-3&keywords=100+christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 One of the blogs I read has a link to a free Kindle book (For the rest of today) with Homemade Christmas Gifts. http://www.smockityfrocks.com/2012/11/free-homemade-christmas-gifts-ebook-on-kindle.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 Thank you ALL for the great ideas and links- there are some fantastic ones! I truly appreciate the help and hopefully I will have some free time tonight to pick out some possibilities. We are really going to try to make this a great Christmas regardless of how much money we spend:) I have plans for what we are calling "the 12 Days of Christmas treats" where we will make different cookies the first 12 days of December to eat throughout the season. And we have some great crafts to do together too. But your suggestions will really help me figure out the present situation- thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starwarsmomma Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have plans for what we are calling "the 12 Days of Christmas treats" where we will make different cookies the first 12 days of December to eat throughout the season. I hope you don't mind, but I'm SOOO going to steal that idea and do that with my kids! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 I hope you don't mind, but I'm SOOO going to steal that idea and do that with my kids! LOL I don't mind at all- trust me, I have stolen my fare share of ideas from other people;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OK Family Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Would that be soap? :lol: Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFamily Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Some ideas off the top of my head: 1. rice bag hand warmers for each child in his/her favorite fabric 2. craft half-aprons (or "tool" half-aprons for your boys, if they're not into crafts) - You could expand on the theme and purchase some craft or tool supplies to go with them. 3. homemade treats for stocking stuffers - I rarely make homemade marshmallows or fudge, so I might make them and wrap them nicely to place in their stockings. 4. school or chore pass coupon books - You could offer a day off for each school subject that they can redeem whenever they want, or you could offer a week off of a various chores. 5. Not free, but cheap $5-10 gift cards to McDonald's or somewhere similar for each child - We keep these in the car, and if we're out, and they want a special treat, they can use their gift card to get a snack or drink that I might otherwise not stop to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAIMOM Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 re the pillowcase idea. i gave our younger two blank recipe books and we spent many delightful hours copying their favourite recipes. so sorry about the layoff : (. there is rarely a good time for it, but this is one of the hard times... ann I have made them special pillowcases in the past. One year was a Christmas themed one, another year i just picked out either their favorite color fabric or character. I have also made colored, scented playdough sets for each. Real easy and inexpensive. r. I just made some pillow cases for my kids I looked on Youtube and found directions for making them in a tube. I was excited by how easy they were to make. My kids were excited by them (my MIL sent fabric last year for me to do this...a little procrastinating on my part) Here is the link We also started a recipe collection for my DD. She loves writing them down for when she has her own kitchen. The last time I bought some recipe cards from Michaels from the $1 bins. They were cute. My kids loved home made play dough when they were little. LOVED It. There were some awesome ideas on the Christmas on a budget thread. Made me wish my DC were little again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 For the kids, I made (and am still making) pillowcases, lip gloss (vaseline, honey, kool-aid), bags for piano books, and bookmarks. Next year, I plan on doing the little dishrags/travel kit where you sew up a small towel or dish rag to hold toothbrush, toothpaste, travel stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturally Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Baby is "making" forts for older brothers. We will be getting the big cardboard science fair tri-fold boards and a sheet. A friend of ours had one set up for her grandson and our boys *loved* it. She taped the boards together and then covered with a fitted sheet and then a long sheet. She said the fitted sheet helped keep it together. It's nice because they can be folded up and put away or even put together for a bigger fort. I'm hoping to paint them so they aren't plain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) DS (four) really loves Doctor Who I am thinking of making a Tardis for him. My sister has a fancy Tardis that lights up, makes Tardis noises, he loves it (it is actually a cookie jar but he wouldn't leave it alone) Something like this but not a tissue box :lol: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tardis-charts I think I could make a Tardis out of that plastic cross stitch canvas. There are also gift boxes that have lids that could be painted into a Tardis. Edited November 15, 2012 by Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.