Great Gifts Kids Can Make and Give

Homemade Gifts for Mother's Day, Birthdays and Special Occasions

© Theresa Bledsoe

Mar 24, 2009

Looking for different gifts that kids can make and give? These are all simple to construct and use items commonly found around the house. Please note that all of the following gifts should be made with adult supervision.

Spicy Air Freshener

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of flour
• 1/4 Cup of salt
• 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1 Teaspoon of allspice
• 1 Cup of water

Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together by hand in a mixing bowl. If the mixture is too moist, add additional flour.
2. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes.
3. Make a hole about 1/4 inch in diameter in the top of the shape. (This will be used to thread a string or ribbon through. To make the hole, coat a pencil or similar object with vegetable oil and pierce the cut-out.)
4. Place the cut-outs on a baking sheet and bake on a low setting, or allow to air dry.
5. When the air fresheners are completely dried and cool, they may be decorated lightly with acrylic paint or markers.
6. String a pretty ribbon through the cut-out and give as a gift.

Seedling in an Eggshell PotMost people eat boiled eggs occasionally either for breakfast, or added to salads. This activity uses eggshells that might otherwise just be thrown away or used in compost.

Directions:

1. Hard boil eggs.
2. Dye or decorate eggshells.
3. Carefully cut the eggs in half by slicing through the shell.
4. Use a spoon to scoop out the egg.
5. Add potting soil to the egg half.
6. Carefully plant a vegetable or flower plant inside the eggshell.
7. Give as a gift. To transport, place the plants and their eggshell pots in the bottom half of an egg carton.

The plant and its "pot" can be dropped into the ground together. The eggshell will disintegrate and give the plant a nice calcium boost.

Make a Mini Terrarium

Materials:

• Two 2-liter plastic soft-drink bottles (One must be clear uncolored plastic. Both need to have removable plastic bottoms.)
• A knife
• Potting soil
• Mosses, ferns, violets, or other tiny plants that grow in damp wooded areas
• A pretty rock, marbles or twigs if desired

Directions:

1. Cut the bottoms off the plastic bottles at the edge of the colored bottoms.
2. Remove the clear plastic rounded piece from inside one of the colored ends.
3. Add potting soil and arrange the mosses and other plants inside the other colored bottom. (Leave the clear plastic inside this end to give the terrarium extra strength.)
4. Add rocks marbles or twigs, if desired to make a pretty arrangement.
5. Water the plants well.
6. Use the clear plastic rounded piece from step two to make a dome for your terrarium.

These inexpensive crafts make memorable gifts and give children the opportunity to say, "I made it myself!"

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