Gifts from Kids to Relatives
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Gifts from Kids to Relatives
Nov 2002
I am looking for creative ideas for something fun my 21 month
old can give to grandparents, aunts and uncles at the holidays.
I am open to a crafts project we could work on together or
something we could have made cheaply that is personalized. As
an example, last year, I ordered mugs with his photo on them
from a catalog. I was really happy with the quality of the
product and the grandparents loved them (for about $11 each).
We've done hand and footprints already. He's a bit young yet for
most crafts, but we could try! I am sure there are some
creative minds out there. Thanks!
Whitney
I remember last year someone had posted about MakeIt Plate
Productions or something like that. They are the company that
makes personalized plates and cups. We made some of their
products last year and they were greatly loved by our relatives.
Their website is www.makit.com Good luck!
anon
I'm thinking along the same lines, and also trying not to give the
relatives more ''STUFF.'' In our family, we've shifted away from
gift-giving to consumables (candy, books, CDs, etc).
My solution for the grandmas (whom we'll see at Christmas--this is
not mailable!) is to do a pot of paperwhites or narcissus. Buy the
bulbs now, and start them around Thanksgiving. The kid picks out
the bulbs and a pretty pot (can wrap it with paper or cloth of his
choosing?) and some pretty rocks. Put the bulbs and rocks in the
pot and water once a week. Keep 'em outside, in our climate. The
green shoots will come up (exciting to check on progress!) and by
Christmas they should be in glorious, fragrant bloom.
virginia
Try Makit Products 1-800-248-9443. For around $5 or $6 they'll
send you a kit with special pens and paper. You draw a picture,
or you can use a photo (I think), mail it in and you get a plate
back with your drawing on it. They also have other products
based on the same principle.
R. Low
Maybe you and your toddler could make X-Mas tree ornaments.
Glitter, glue, cotton balls, little photos, and you've got...?
Suzy
i see that you have done handprints and footprints, but have you
thought of paintings by your toddler on ceramic christmas
ornaments? there are many ceramic craft shops where you can
choose from a variety of pieces to decorate. your pieces are
fired by the shop in usually less than a week and the prices are
very reasonable ($5-$20/piece). you can choose from serveware
pieces, ceramic animals, picture frames, tiles, vases, etc. a
very nice personalized gift that is fun to make! even more fun
when done with other toddler friends and their families.
jennifer
If your child's grandparents have computers, one idea might be
to make a cd with video and pictures of your child. There is
software that allows you to do so easily and even add titles
captions, and background music that could be either your
child's favorite music or the grandparents', etc. You can
print a label for the cd that features a picture of your child
with a title. You could also email them periodic film clips,
personalized just for them. Then they could forward/email their
friends the clip and brag about their grandchild. Another
suggestion is to make an old-fashioned scrapbook with pictures
of your child, your child with the grandparents, pictures of
the grandparents and other family members at the same ages of
the pictures of your child. You could write captions that
are ''from'' your child to them. Another idea is a letter to
them ''from'' your child reminding them of specific events, big
and small, from their lives with your child's comments about
them. Another idea is a personalized book starring your child
or a homemade lift-the-flap book where Grandma and Grandpa try
to find your child who is playing hide-n-seek with them.
Perhaps a laminated finger painting and a photo magnet of the
artist.
hcolgin
Try Aran's Studio Glaze in Castro Valley. They have a huge
selection of pre-made ceramics (dishware, figurines, all sorts)
and then you or your kids can select from a large variety of
paints, decorations, designs, glazes, etc, to put on yourself.
Her prices are very reasonable. Example: to paint a coffee cup
with all materials, paints, glazes, and firing included, is
about $12. A great homemade gift for those hard to buy for
relatives. I had my sons make cups for all their uncles for
Christmas. The studio is a lovely artistic place, and fun for
the kids to hang out and do projects. She does birthday parties
too. Sorry, I don't have their phone number, but they're on
Castro Valley Boulevard, in Castro Valley, at the Castro Village
Shopping Center. (The crosstreet is Redwood Road.) About 15-20
minutes drive on the 580east from Oakland or Berkeley. Worth the
drive!
Good luck! -Islena.
I had fun making magnets out of extra photos. I would cut and
glue photos onto advertising magnets that we had received.
jen
Creative gifts from a toddler:
1. Ritz Photo (at least in SF) will take a photo, mount it on
lucite, lazer cut around the subject person/people, and
either make a magnet or a little stand-up item. I think they
make other stuff, too, but this is what we've given to
grandparents.
2. Get white pillowcases and decorate them with fabric
markers. Maybe you'd even want to make matching sheets?
3. Cut 60 inch wide polar fleece into 9 inch wide strips
(easiest if you use a geometric pattern), fringe each end,
and you've got a great winter scarf (this would be too hard
for real young kids).
4. My son and his dad once made me a ''love box'' filled with
my son's drawings of his favorite food, favorite book, favorite
food, etc. Very touching, and let's distant relatives learn a
little more about your child
5. And a family favorite of ours: Have your child dictate a
story, type it out in big font with 1 or 2 sentences on each
page, have your child draw pictures, and you have a
home-made book! We've also written songs and poems.
wbrownsf
Check out Oriental Trading Company at Oriental.com for craft
ideas or go to a paint your own pottery place and let him go to
town on a plate, mug, frame, etc. Use a plastic ''Memory Plate''
or simply let him paint a plain block and glue a cute picture
of him on the front - they did that at my son's preschool and
it's adorable. Have fun!
Julie K.
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