MyBaby - Gifts to D.I.Y or B.U.Y

Gifts to D.I.Y or B.U.Y

Posted December 13, 2007 at 4:50PM in Activities, Arts & Crafts by kittenmama | Back

Everyone has that hard to buy for person on their list - what if you made their gift instead? Below are some great gift ideas that are inexpensive and easy to make. And for those of you that are looking for something different this year, I've also found some really neat websites too! Happy Holidays!

If You Prefer to D.I.Y:

Wrap up Recipes

Foolproof recipes are always welcome gifts. If you had time, you would make a little notebook and handwrite 20 of your favorites. Here's a speedier version:

Pick one recipe, have your child write it on an index card, and package it with some of the ingredients.
Give a play-clay recipe, for example, with a cookie cutter and balls of starter clay wrapped in plastic.
Give a bubble recipe with glycerin and a wand, or pancake mix with the dry ingredients sifted into jars.

Any recipe that starts with the words "Never-Fail Party _________" would be well-received in my house. I don't mean to hint.

Beetle Tie Tack
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

Materials:

Red and black Sculpey III clay
Tie tack backing (sold at most craft stores)

1. To make a tack, roll a lima bean-size piece of red Sculpey III clay into a round ladybug body and press it securely onto the flat surface of the tie tack backing.

2. From a lentil-size piece of black Sculpey III clay, shape a head and press it onto the body. Use a thin log of black clay to create a centerline on the bug's body and rounded bits of black clay to make spots.

3. Bake the decorated tack (a parent's job) according to the directions on the clay package, let cool, and the tack is ready to wear.

Postcard Packs
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

If museums can make art postcards, why can't you? Transform kids' designs into a pack of picture postcards that make a great gift.

Materials:

Children's artwork
Card stock
Ziplock bag
Ribbon

1. Select four designs your children have drawn over the year (or ask them to draw new designs). Simple black-and-white drawings will copy and reduce best (have younger children use large black felt pens).

2. Then, take the artwork to a photocopy shop and reduce it to a 4 1/4- by 5 1/2-inch size. The four postcards can be pasted on a standard 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of paper. Ask for the designs to be photocopied on card stock and cut by the store staff (to copy and cut about 100 postcards runs approximately $12).

3. Postcard packets can be grouped by child, by theme or by assorted designs. Insert a slip of paper with a gift message, then seal the whole lot in ziplock plastic bags. Finish off with a bow.

Tips: Black and white designs are the least expensive, but you can also try two-color cards at your copy shop; 100 cards run approximately $25.

Hand painted Mugs
Time needed: Afternoon or Evening

Get a handle on holiday gift-giving by turning plain mugs into personalized masterpieces.

Materials:

Pencil and paper
Pebeo Porcelaine 150 glaze (sold at many art supply stores)
Watercolor brush or cotton swabs
Ceramic mugs

1. Try out a few designs on paper before decorating a mug. When ready, lay the mug on its side and apply the glaze, which is a little thicker than India ink, with the brush or a cotton swab.

2. Let the painted mug air-dry for at least 24 hours.

3. Set the glaze by baking the mug in a preheated 325 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Tips:
To keep the project cost efficient, pick up only primary colors (red, yellow and blue) and mix them to create a variety of hues.

Variations:
For a special touch, fill the mug with assorted tea bags or a package of hot chocolate mix.

Coffee Lover’s Basket

Have a coffee lover on your list? Who doesn’t! Here are a few ideas to include in a gift basket for any java junkie:

Chocolate-dipped plastic spoons with sprinkles and a bow for decoration
A box of chocolate-dipped cookies or home made biscotti
Home made dessert coffee mixes, such as:

Dessert Coffee (Mocha)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. sugar

Dessert Coffee (Café au Lait)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. dry milk
1/2 c. sugar

Dessert Coffee (Spice)
1/4 c. instant coffee
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Allspice

(For all the mixes above, combine all ingredients well. Store in a tightly covered jar up to 6 months. For each serving, place 2 teaspoons mix in cup. Fill with boiling water.)

From: mommysavers.com

Dog Bone Wreath

We can't forget the furry family members!
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

Materials:

12-inch cardboard circle, or a 12-inch Styrofoam wreath (available at craft supply stores)
Scissors
5 yards of ribbon and matching bow
Large dog bones
Dog toys
Tape
Evergreens, optional

1. If using the cardboard round, trace an 8-inch circle in the middle of it (a small mixing bowl or plate will be approximately the right size). With the scissors, cut out the inner circle, leaving a ring or wreath shape.

2. Tape the ribbon onto the back of the cardboard wreath or tie it to the Styrofoam wreath and start winding it around the circle on a slight diagonal. Once you have come full circle, cut the ribbon and tape it down.

3. Next, cut ten or so 9-inch lengths of ribbon for attaching the dog bones and toys. Attach eat treat separately by first placing the dog bone or toy on the wreath and securing it by placing a length of ribbon across it. Flip the wreath over and tie the ribbon securely in a knot, making sure there is no slack in the loop around the bone or toy. (This tying method allows the items to be removed one at a time without displacing the others.) Continue tying on the bones and toys in this fashion, leavi

4. For a fuller look, tape greens onto the cardboard round or push the ends into the Styrofoam wreath. With the remaining length of ribbon, tie a loop on the back of the wreath at the top so that it can be easily hung for all to see -- especially the puppy dog.

Catnip Mouse
Give your cats a gift from the garden with this homemade pet toy.
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

Materials:

Scissors
Child's sock
Felt scraps
Plastic from milk jug
Cotton yarn
Darning needle
Black embroidery floss
Fresh or dried catnip

1. Using scissors, cut off the toe section of the child's sock at the heel, as shown. Also, cut two mouse ear shapes from the felt scraps, and cut a teardrop shape from the plastic stock.

2. Insert the plastic teardrop into the sock (it serves to hold the mouse's shape), and fill the sock with the dry, crumbled catnip leaf. Turn back the sock's edge and, with the cotton yarn and darning needle, lay a running stitch around the opening, as shown. Draw the yarn tight to close the opening.

3. Tie off the cotton yarn, leaving the extra for the tail. Sew on the felt ears, and create embroidery floss whiskers.

If You Prefer to B.U.Y:

New For Baby:
the hip baby’s first wardrobe $5 - $185

New For Baby was born out of our frustration with newborn baby clothes that didn't fit newborns correctly, didn't have the newborn details we wanted, and certainly weren't hip! So we set out to create the ultimate layette... one without 'typical' baby colors, or the standard ducks, teddy bears and cars. We chose rich, fresh colors and modern yet sweet mix & match designs on high-quality, super soft fabrics.

Our Favorite Things:

Bringing Home Baby Bundle $50
We’ve Got You Covered (2 burp cloths, 2 Bibs)$ 20
Baby Yoga Pants $16

The Tessy and Tab Reading Club
$48 for 24 issues a year

Based on the Six Skills for Early Literacy, The Tessy & Tab Reading Club is the first kids magazine subscription that promotes early independent reading for preschool children. The colorful, ad-free magazines arrive in the mail twice a month with useful parent tools and fun learning activities. Subscribe today and start your child on the path to love words early.

For Kids: 24 advertising-free magazines addressed just to them! Plus, educational games and printable coloring pages available online.

For Parents: Comprehensive guide to building early reading skills at every age, useful tips with each issue and craft ideas & printable literacy activity sheets to do with your child.

For Gift-Givers: With a special message on every label and an email about each issue, it's a unique way to stay connected and make a difference in a child's life.

Violet: Cool gifts. Brilliant Consequences
$10 - $$$

Our Holy Grail is THE GREAT GIFT, and we are constantly on the lookout for that which is Fresh, Foremost, and Quintessential. Conscious that time is the real luxury, Violet is designed so you can quickly find gifts with special meaning. Gifts are organized into traditional categories and in ways that reflect a person’s tastes, traits, and emotions. Shop for a Birthday or Thank You gift—or shop for someone that likes Catnaps, someone who’s Rugged, or someone that’s been Dumped. Most of all, Violet is about finding gifts that truly convey your feelings. We want the farthest-flung lives to feel your affection when they open their carefully-wrapped packages from Violet.

Our Favorite things:

Tea Stick $20
American Honey Flight $72
A-Z of Powder/Golf/Cool $65

Flying Peas

FlyingPeas – a place where fashion meets function and hip meets high quality. i know, i know, it sounds so cliché, but i swear, this stuff can be hard to find! our hope is that FlyingPeas will make it easier for you to shop, find and buy new (and sassy!) parent/baby products.

Our Favorite Things:

Rockabye Lullabies $17
New Parent Apology cards $10
Diaper Clutch $38

d.i.y. ideas from http://www.mommysavers.com and http://www.familyfun.com

Tags: gifts, arts and crafts, holiday ideas