Four Creative Gifts Kids Can Make Themselves

Looking for creative gifts your kids can make themselves? There’s no need to dip into the piggy bank or resort to lumpy ceramic ashtrays. These gifts are as fun to make as they are to receive.

For Mom: Non-Slip Socks

What You Need:

• Clean cotton socks, adult size
• Fabric paint in assorted colors
• Newspaper

What You Do:

1. Wash and dry the socks.
2. Line your workspace with newspaper.
3. Arrange the socks, bottoms up, on the paper.
4. Paint the bottoms with fabric paint, either with a design or in a random pattern.
5. Let dry thoroughly, at least overnight.

For Dad: Barbeque Spice Rub

What You Need:

• ¼ cup white sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 1 Tablespoon onion powder
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• optional: dash of cayenne pepper
• a clean, dry jar
• a self-adhesive label and magic markers

What You Do:

1. Stir ingredients together in large bowl and adjust seasonings to taste. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients – for example, maple sugar instead of brown, garlic powder instead of onion, etc.
2. Place in a clean, dry jar. Covered tightly, it will last indefinitely.
3. Tell Dad to sprinkle liberally over meat and let sit for an hour before grilling.

For the Grandparents: Handprint Sweatshirts

What You Need:

• two new, plain sweatshirts
• fabric paints in assorted colors
• wide disposable containers, such as plastic produce trays
• newspaper
• a rag

What You Do:

1. Wash and dry the sweatshirts.
2. Line your workspace with newspaper.
3. Pour enough fabric paint to cover the bottoms into each tray.
4. Lay the sweatshirts flat on the newspaper.
5. Have your child press a hand flat into a container of paint and then onto the sweatshirt, making a print.
6. Repeat, wiping hand with a rag before switching colors, until the shirt is covered with festive prints. You can do this in a pattern (for example, making a circle of green handprints with a red handprint at the bottom to form a wreath) or in a random design.
7. Let dry thoroughly before wrapping.

For the Best Friend: Collage Jar

What You Need:

• a large, clear plastic or glass jar with a lid
• child-safe scissors (one new pair for gift, and one to use)
• old magazines and art supplies
• a new glue stick and one to use
• magic markers
• ribbon

What You Do:

1. Ask your child to cut interesting pictures out of the magazines and put them into the jar. This is particularly fun if he and his friend share a common interest – trucks, princesses, etc.
2. Look for odd art supplies and leftover craft scraps around your house – clean cotton balls, extra popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, q-tips, pieces of ribbon, straws – you name it. Add them to the jar and shake to mix contents.
3. Lay the glue stick on top. Close jar.
4. Make a label: “Jane’s Collage Jar, From Jeffrey.” Glue it to the side of the jar.
5. Tie a pretty ribbon around the jar and tie the scissors to the other end.

Happy gifting!