Gifts Kids Can Make

 


There is nothing nicer than a homemade gift from a special child in your life, and if you can encourage the kids to make presents for their grandparents and other family they will be treasured forever. But it is hard to think of something that will be useful as well as "handmade". We've collected some ideas together below, but there are many other crafts on the website which can be adapted into gifts so have a good look around!

 Pipe Cleaner Lavender Card

Pipe Cleaner Lavender Card

Pipe cleaners in green and purple are used to make a bunch of lavender. We've glued ours to a card for Mothers’ Day, but you could also tie a bunch together with a pretty ribbon.

Bath Salts

Bath Salts

These bath salts are a fun crafty gift which kids can make to give to mother on Mother's Day, a grandmother on Grandparents' Day or other favorite adult any time of year!

Boot Tidy

Boot Tidy

Here is an original way to keep your pens and pencils organised - and it makes a great keepsake gift too!

You will need:

Cameo Brooches

Cameo Brooches

Here is a really inspirational and unusual gift idea which kids can make - perfect for Mother's Day or a favourite grandmother! You could also make a key ring or perhaps even a small pair of cufflinks so that Dads and grandfathers could be the lucky recipients, too!

Clay Bird Craft

Clay Bird Craft

Kids can make some really beautiful clay birds with this simply clay bird craft for children. It's a good craft for groups of children and parties, too.

Clay Photo Frames

Clay Photo Frames

These clay photo frames make a great gift for Grandparent's Day but you could make them for any occasion, or even use them to decorate your locker or desk at school! We have added magnets to ours but you could add a stand and use them for table-top display instead.

Coloured Sugar

Coloured Sugar

Kids will enjoy making this colourful sugar which can be given as a "foodie" gift in a jar, used to decorate cookies and doughnuts (see our Olympic doughnuts) or just displayed.

Decorated Slippers

Decorated Slippers

This is an easy gift idea for kids to make, and they can really go to town personalising their slippers for the recipient!

Decoupage Tray

Decoupage Tray

This decoupage tray is a super gift which kids can make for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day or any other special occasion! And how about serving a surprise breakfast in bed on it!

Dolphin Necklace

Dolphin Necklace

Kids will enjoy making this pretty dolphin pendant necklace, and will be proud to show it off!

This necklace would make a wonderful gift for a friend or relation, too.

Drinking Straw Picture Frame

Drinking Straw Picture Frame

We don't encourage you to go out and buy plastic drinking straws to make this picture frame, but if you have any lying around you might want to use them up in the craft and save them from ening up in landfill - or our oceans.

Fabric Flower Craft

Fabric Flower Craft

Here's a fabric flower craft for kids which will use up your scraps, provide practice for kids learning to sew, and create a really pretty display!

Family Bulletin Board

Family Bulletin Board

Our family bulletin board is a simple craft but it makes a cute gift that the kids can make themselves - perhaps for Grandparent's Day? And it is a super "Back to School" craft too, providing a special place for children to show off their best work.

Felt Dolphin Bookmark

Felt Dolphin Bookmark

This adorable felt dolphin bookmark will make reading a joy for anyone who uses it. Children could make one as a gift for grandparents, parents, aunties, teachers...

Felt Needle Case

Felt Needle Case

The needle case in the photo has been created for Valentine's Day, but you could obviously adapt this craft for other times of the year.

You will need:

Felt Owl Bookmark

Felt Owl Bookmark

Reading will be so much more fun when you are marking your place with this gorgeous little owl bookmark! It makes a super beginner sewing project and also an excellent gift for children to make for friends, parents and grandparents. Instructions and template below.

Felt Scottie Dog Softie

Felt Scottie Dog Softie

This softie sewing project is a lovely one for a beginner. You can vary the size of your Scotties. Blow up our template and cut out a really large one to make a cushion, use a tiny Scottie to hang on a keychain, or something in between!

Glittery Play Dough

Glittery Play Dough

Here's a fun twist on playdough which makes it perfect for some Christmas "cooking" and modelling fun. If you've never made home-made playdough before please give it a go ... there is something wonderful about it!

Guest Post - Butterfly Jars

Guest Post - Butterfly Jars

Shelly and her children make some pretty butterfly jars using printables from Activity Village in this lovely guest post. This is a really easy but fun activity to enjoy with the kids, so why not try making your own?

Handprint Magnets

Handprint Magnets

Here is a fun way for children to display artwork on the fridge - and it makes a nice little present for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparent's Day too.

Lacy Ring Binder

Lacy Ring Binder

Transform an old or inexpensive ring binder to make a very special gift - or as a place for your daughter to keep her best work and other precious memories.

You will need:

Leaf Plate

Leaf Plate

Stencil this pretty leaf plate to use (or display) during autumn - or give as a gift. Of course you could adapt the idea for all sorts of occasions.

Loose Change Tray

Loose Change Tray

Is Dad forever losing his keys? Why not make him a tray to put on the hall table so that he can empty his pockets when he arrives home? Dad will always be able to find his keys and his loose change, and Mum will have fewer grey hairs!

Lotus Flower Bowl

Lotus Flower Bowl

This clay modelling craft uses a kitchen bowl as a base to create a lovely lotus flower bowl. It would make a super trinket bowl, and a perfect gift for the kids to give to friends or family - perhaps for Mother's Day?

Make A Christmas Bookmark

Make A Christmas Bookmark

Here's an idea for children to make a personalized Christmas bookmark as a little Christmas gift - great for grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles and godparents, or even "best friends". We've got ideas for making even quicker bookmarks below, too.

Make A Garden Plaque

Make A Garden Plaque

Here is a clever craft idea for summer. Kids can make this garden plaque extra special with all their treasures and display it in the garden to admire - or give it as a very special gift!

Make A Glasses Case

Make A Glasses Case

Here is a simple craft idea that kids can make for parents, teachers, grandparents - perfect for a pair of beside reading spectacles!

Make A Key Ring Purse

Make A Key Ring Purse

Here is a very useful gift: a handy little purse in which to keep change for the car park! Perfect for every busy (and forgetful) adult. You could make one that holds coins for the shopping trolley too.

Marbled Heart Plate

Marbled Heart Plate

We've tried an unusual technique for this plate which made the design rather exciting! Of course you could adapt this for all sorts of events and use different shapes and pictures. A butterfly would look pretty! Remember, this plate is FOR DISPLAY only.

Marbled Holi Plate

Marbled Holi Plate

Children enjoy watching the different colours used on the plate merge into one another and create an unexpected design - although they can end up a bit murky! This plate is for display purposes only.

Mosaic Plant Pot Stand

Mosaic Plant Pot Stand

Fun foam and an unwanted CD are transformed into a colourful plant pot stand - a fun and easy craft for kids!

Name Magnets

Name Magnets

Kids love to see their own name, and with this craft they can make some really effective magnets to display their own artwork on the fridge - or to give as a gift to siblings or for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparent's Day.

Origami Photo Frame

Origami Photo Frame

This little photo frame folds up in a flash and is a cute way to display a small photo (or give one as a gift).

Origami Wallet / Folder

Origami Wallet

This origami wallet or folder is easy to fold and very versatile. Made with a traditional size of origami 6x6 inch paper the wallet comes out quite small: you can see ours below, filled with little "promise notes" to make a special gift for Dad

Owl Bird Scarer Craft

Owl Bird Scarer Craft

Imagine this lovely, colourful owl bird scarer reflecting the light and scaring the birds away from your seed beds! Of course it would look fabulous hanging in the home or classroom too, and kids can really go to town on decorating it. Instructions below.

Owl Phone Case Craft

Owl Phone Case Craft

Please somebody make me one of these! What better way for the children to practise their stitching than on one of these adorable owl phone case holders, made with felt, buttons and a little love. Perfect as a gift for mother or granny or a favourite auntie, perhaps?

Pair of Hand Warmers

Pair of Hand Warmers

Let children practice their sewing skills to produce this practical gift! While this craft will require some adult supervision, all that is needed is a simple blanket stitch that even the young children can try (ours was done by Jack age 5).

Paper Mache Bowl

Paper Mache Bowl

The paper mache bowl is a classic craft for kids for good reason! It takes a little patience to build it up and wait for it to dry, but there is something very satisfying about creating something out of scraps of paper and glue, and of course you can really go to town decorating it.

Patchwork Ring Binder

Patchwork Ring Binder

Give your children some scrap fabrics from your stash and let them decorate an old or inexpensive ring binder to make a super gift - or a special file in which to keep their certificates, awards etc.

Personalised Origami Picture

Personalised Origami Picture

Here is a super little gift idea for older children to make for younger siblings, cousins or friends.

You will need:

Photo Coaster

Photo Coaster

A fun craft which makes use of unwanted CDs, these photo coasters are a brilliant gift idea for all occasions! Perfect for Father's Day, Mother's Day, grandparents or even teachers. Perhaps you could make one for each member of the family?

Photo Frames from CD Boxes

Photo Frames from CD Boxes

Grandparents, aunties and uncles and godparents always love to get photos of their favourite children. Nice frames can be expensive to buy and impersonal too. Why not get your children to help you create some frames with bits and pieces you have lying around your house?

Pipe Cleaner and Bead Bag Tags

Pipe Cleaner and Bead Bag Tags

Decorate your bags and satchels with these super easy pipe cleaner and bead bag tags - perfect for kids to make for school, or as gifts for friends and family.

Pipe Cleaner Daffodil Card

Pipe Cleaner Daffodil Card

These pipe cleaner daffodils are really fun to make. Twirling the pipe cleaners was a good exercise for little fingers, but some adult help was needed with younger children when it came to putting the daffodils together.

Pipe Cleaner Flower Card

Pipe Cleaner Flower Card

The photo doesn't really do this pretty pipe cleaner flower card justice I'm afraid! Playing with pipe cleaners is a lovely activity for little hands but younger children may need some help putting the petals together.

Plaster Handprint Picture

Plaster Handprint Picture

This plaster handprint picture captures your child's hand forever and makes a unique gift for Father's Day, Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day or any special occasions.

Polymer Clay Owl

Polymer Clay Owl

Sam made this little polymer clay owl with four different colours of clay and some simple clay techniques. Very cute!

You will need:

Rainbow Bookmark Craft

Rainbow Bookmark Craft

Cheer up your reading book with all the colours of the rainbow. Who could resist a bookmark made from so many pretty ribbons? Our rainbow bookmark craft would make a good gift for the kids to make for mums and grannies, too.

Recycled Glass Jar Vase

Recycled Glass Jar Vase

With just a few bits and pieces, children can recycle a glass jar into a pretty vase with this easy craft idea.

Rubber Stamped Photo Frame

Rubber Stamped Photo Frame

This quick and easy clay photo frame is incredibly effective, and children will enjoy experimenting with the patterns they can make. Of course, if you don't like your design you can just roll up the clay and start again.

Rugby Ball Mouse Pad Craft

Rugby Ball Mouse Pad Craft

Kids can make this rugby ball mouse pad for themselves, for Dad on Father's Day, or for any rugby-mad friends or family.

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

These are a really super keepsake gift kids can make for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day - or any time, just for fun!

Sock Owl Craft

Sock Owl Craft

This sock owl manages to be oh so cute and cuddly at the same time - and any child who makes this is sure to be thrilled with the result. Why not encourage the kids to make a whole parliament of owls and give some away to friends and family?

Souvenir Plates

Souvenir Plates

We did this craft as a way of commemorating the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton - but of course you can use it for any special occasion (perhaps the birth of a new prince or princess?) All you need are some simple supplies, an event to commemorate, and your imagination...

Strawberry Pincushion

Strawberry Pincushion

Our strawberry pincushion a very simple first sewing project, the stitches can not be seen on the finished item.  Makes a lovely gift for summer.

Valentine Bag

Valentine Bag

Here's a really special recycling and sewing craft that results in a really special gift. We've themed ours for Valentine's Day but of course you could adapt this in many ways. Obviously much care and supervision is needed as this craft uses bleach.

Willow Pattern Plate Craft

Willow Pattern Plate Craft

Willow pattern is actually English in origin, designed by a man called Thomas Minton in the late 18th Century, although it was based on traditional Chinese one colour pottery.

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