| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Carolinagirl |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 5:33:54 PM
I'm trying to head towards a low-key Christmas here, mostly because the amount of unwanted toys has taken over my house and I'm trying to get it back. The girls get something from for separate grandparent families (both sets of our parents are divorced). These are the only two grandkids for three of the four grandparents, which lends to spoiling. Anyway, after dd#1 REALLY wanted Baby Alive last year, and only played with her for two weeks, I decided that the end of the commercial toy sprees would come this year. Now I have to shape her "wants" into things that she can have as presents. They don't really want for much- it's more that no one knows what to get them, so they get them the junk on the toyshelves.
This year I've already asked that the girls get year passes into the local kids' museums. That's always good. Both love gift certificates to the fast food places so they can choose to have a treat. Books and certificates to the bookstore work wonders too.
DD#1 (almost 8) really likes this one doll pattern I bought (www.dinkybaby.com)- it's a sculptured doll like the Cabbage Patch ones, so I'll probably make one for her.
DD#2 likes anything (she's 2 1/2, so the fun is opening things). I'll finish up a Waldorf doll for her, and maybe a dinky baby like Sister's for her Feb. birthday.
I thought about putting together a "kit" with a shadow box, papers and some simple dollhouse things for the older one, as well as an older girl friend.
What have y'all made for kids, boys and girls? Any other suggestions?
Thanks-
Kim in NC |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Carolinagirl |
Posted - Oct 18 2007 : 05:27:54 AM
Check out this forum list from motheringdotcom...
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=583443
Eight pages of ideas of toys to make for kids... lots of good stuff. I got several ideas for Christmas presents for this year here.
Kim in NC |
| sgrbear724 |
Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 09:53:25 AM
For boys:
One year I made a racetrack out of the thick, sturdy felt that folded and tied into a box...made some accessories and then bought three $1.00 a piece wooden cars and painted them. When they were done playing with it, all the pieces went inside the 'box' form. (HARD TO EXPLAIN! )
Bug catchers (made from screen)
Costumes-( a favorite of my children) cowboy, pirate-use your imagination and you'll be surprised at how easy it all comes.
For Girls:
Tutu's (again-dress up!)
Doll clothes
Mama and Me matching aprons
Little House on the prairie bonnets-with matching one for dolly.
Fleece Shawl and Beret
For Both:
blankets
slippers
hats
hooded animal towels
Those are all the things I have made in the past. I never really used a pattern-I would see things in stores and then try and fudge my way through making them myself. It is the worst when you work so hard on something and are so excited-just to have the recipient toss it aside for the next thing. I am more selective about my handmade gifts now-I keep them for MY children and those whom I know will appreciate it.
Here is a suggestion for your 8 yr old...why not put together a sewing basket? I received one about that age and my goodness-that was very favorite present and the one that stays in my mind. I am STILL using it today! What better way to encourage our children to share our joys and hobbies, then to enable them to work right along side you!
And a ???-Are there Waldorf doll instructions and patterns on the web somewhere? I would REALLY like them for free  but just FINDING some would be nice....
http:www.zeahrenaissance.blogspot.com |
| mommatracy |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 1:30:25 PM
What great ideas! We have been discussing this very subject recently and are making some changes. Our DD's are 29 & 27 and have enough stuff. My DH and I have enough as well. We all decided to cut back on Christmas shopping this year and believe me everyone is so relieved. I am going to purchase one nice gift for each daughter and make the rest. So far I have been working on embroidered pillowcases, made them crocheted scarves,sewing them a monogrammed garment bag. They gave me these ideas. I am making my sister a special clothespin apron and her DH cookout apron(manly of coarse!) I bake nutbreads and pies for gifts as well. MIL loves my handmade things-she is getting a scarf and pillowcases. Making my DH an oak chopping block with 2"edges on three sides to chop barbequed pig on It is like a big cutting board with three sides. He has wanted one for years. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 09:31:25 AM
Oh..thought of another one..a couple years ago..when my granddaughter was 3..she loved to play waitress. she would pretend to have an order pad and take orders (and tell you what she was out of!!) and then cook it and deliver it. For Christmas that year I made her an apron and got her a couple real order pads, pens little pots and pans and dishes..she was overjoyed..her own little restaurant. That was a fun one.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Aug 31 2007 : 05:58:22 AM
i love this topic and all the wonderful ideas that yall came up with.
the store bought toys with all the little parts just drive me crazy ....and im just the omie.
when i was a little tyke, back in the very dark ages, my parents made all our christmas presents. it was very hard for me, cause i LOVED hangin out in my dad's workshop and we were not allowed for a period of time before christmas to do so.
the signal that it was off limits was when the big tarps went up. he made us doll furniture and little tables for our rooms, and as we grew "vanities" and book cases that sat on our desk.
mom would make doll clothes for our dolls.
with all this activity i still managed to believe that the toys were coming from the north pole. go figure.
anyway, thanks girls for letting me remember this special memory. both of my parents have passed away and i still miss them so much and enjoy thinking about the childhood my sister and i had.
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
| janetinva123 |
Posted - Aug 30 2007 : 10:46:31 PM
One year I made all my children and grandchildren hand embroidered pillowcases. It just about wore my fingers out. I have made "butt bags" totes bags from jeans, and this year everyone is getting something made with yo-yo. Except I have a 13 year old grandson and I just can't figure out what to make him from yo-yo's.
Jc
http://beloved-creations.blogspot.com
http://beloved-creations.com |
| createmyworld |
Posted - Aug 30 2007 : 9:18:12 PM
Wow, such great ideas! I don't have any kids of my own, but I have made some things for my nieces and nephew: Pj's, slippers and backpacks made with "theme fabrics" according to their hobbies (soccer balls, horses, crayons, etc.), a big fabric soccer ball for my nephew (made with denim and bali fabrics), home made lip balms, a Raggedy Ann doll which I modeled after my own Raggedy Ann from when I was little (my niece loves her doll as much as I did/do mine!), pins made from poly clay, bracelets, earrings, hooded towels, knitted teddy bears... that's about all I can remember making for kids...
"He who works with his hands is a laborer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, head and heart is an artist." -St. Francis of Asisi |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 12:07:57 PM
When my son was young, I would make him "superhero" costumes that were a simple frontpiece, cape and tie at the waist. That way he could costume himself! They have survived use by many kids and have put into the "keep for future grandkids" pile!
Another great gift we received once was a shoe box full of office supply bits and pieces. The ends of label pages, date stampers, etc. That box found so many uses and to think they'd have been tossed as "unuseable" in an office!
I am also a big fan of museum passes and even movie passes as "big" gifts for the kids/whole family.
Have fun!
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 10:04:54 PM
One year I looked online and found some really fun kids craft ideas...I printed them out and created a notebook binder that I painted my daughters name on.Then I bought the supplies to make the crafts, and a low temp glue gun and glue sticks..everything she needed to make the crafts in the notebook. Then I put it all in a box and wrapped it up real pretty. She loved it.
This year I will probably do something similar with my son.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 7:31:55 PM
What great ideas ladies! Nora will not even be a year old come Christmas so I think she will have lots of fun presents and clothes to play with :)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| wallflower |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 7:15:37 PM
One year I got my girls a pair of binoculars and a bird field guide. They loved watching for birds and trying to find them in the book (so did their mom :))!
Holly
visit my blog at handittoholly@blogspot.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 6:44:42 PM
My kids loved getting fleece "throws" that I made one year for using while they watch tv, and they love hand knit things..hats and scarves in bright colors for winter. And they ALL love books. I make dolls for the girls (and the boys each have a boy doll too) and when the girls were smaller they loved getting a dress up box with fun silly stuff to dress up in..that was cheap and fun..made the box look like a treasure box. The boys loved homemade hot wheels car mats...just appliqued roads and buildings on a big mat (I used cordoroy) that they can roll up when done. We had a racetrack looking one and a town looking one for years. They love special homemade pillow cases I have made, and pajamas (my kids all get matching homemade jammies for Christmas each year..on Christmas eve) They love to get houseplants all their own and kits for learning a new craft...learn to crochet kit (not a commercial one, just one I made up) and learn to sew kit (the boys learned by making marble bags) and the boys loved kits to make bug barns and tool totes too. My kids get way too much from other relatives too..we usually do one biggish gift for each of them (we are for sure on a budget..no ipods or stuff like that here..just something that that they really really want and then the rest is homemade. This year they are talking about neat stuff like microscopes and metal detectors...I like that!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
