Any good sites for home-made gifts?

Question

Im looking for ideas of home-made gifts, that kids (age range 11-16) will enjoy making. Something simple and cute.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

ornaments, placemats with pictures from that year, stockings, picture frames, wreaths, decorations, cookies, photo calendar, scrapbooks, holiday recipes, photo cards, pillow cases, other paper greeting cards, gingerbread house, candles, banners, gift baskets [jars/backpack/stockings] - see ideas below, magnets, bookmarks, beading, IOU certificates (giving the gift of your time - day at museum, show, movie, game day, etc.), coloring book from Internet holiday printables, holiday craft kits, pottery, mug painting, sewing, create a Christmas game, holiday/party foods, window decorating, burn a CD with music, etc. Below are several good links.

Answer 2

hand-crafted Mounds Bars 5 ozsweetened condensed milk a million tsp vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar 14 ozflaked coconut a million (24 oz..) bag of semisweet chocolate chips blend the milk and the vanilla. upload the sugar somewhat at a time till smooth. Stir in the coconut. The blend must be company. Pat firmly precise right into a 9x13 pan and sit back till company. cut back into bars and dip into melted chocolate and allow cool on waxed paper for distinct hours

Answer 3

marthastewart.com is good site to find home-made gift ideas.

Answer 4

Here's 2 examples of ones that I have done in the past w/my daughter.
*~DECO EGGS~*
VERY inexpensive to do...who can't afford a dozen eggs? AND you can use either white or brown eggs.
You can turn them into ornaments for your tree or just decorate them and use as decorations for centerpieces, wreaths...etc..
here's how:
1-wash eggs gently
2-using a straight pin, carefully poke a hole into both ends of the egg
3-empty out the egg: blow out the insides...this may take some huffing and puffing, but this is the only way to do it!
4-decorate the hollow shell by either painting or gluing on gems, beads, pearls, ribbon...whatever you'd like to use.(Be sure not to cover the holes)
5-to make the "hanger", use a standard (larger size)wire ornament hanger and straighten it out. You could also just use floral/craft wire. Insert it into the egg from the top and (you may have to "poke around" a little) pull it through the other end just enough to bend it up along the bottom of the shell to secure it.
6-Depending on how much of the hook or wire is still remaining at the top of the egg, you can either use that for the hook by re-bending it....or bend it into a loop and tie a thin ribbon around it for hanging.
7-glaze the egg w/a clear finish (shellac or even mod podge) to give the shell some endurance/strength and to keep you embellishments on.

This is an old cultural custom done in many countries (like Germany) for Christmas and Easter. Depending on how "artsy" you are, they can even make great gifts due to their uniqueness


*~DRUMMER BOY DRUMS~*
These are way cute when done and fun to have kids help with!
1- using empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls, cut them into 1 1/2 - 2" sections.
2- using felt (or even construction paper or other fabric) in your color choice, cut these into strips that are 1" wider than your tube sections...and long enough to wrap around w/an overlap for gluing.
3- place fabric around tube leaving enough overhang on the sides to fold over inside the tube and glue with either elmers or hot glue.
4-cut a section of string/yarn/ribbon long enough to make a loop for the hanger. Slip one end into the "seam" of the overlapping fabric going down the side of the drum, making sure that it is more toward what the top of your drum will be. Glue the overlap to fasten and secure.
5-cut pieces of either index cards or some other stiff white "cardboard" material in a circular shape, sized to fit just inside the tube as the drum head.(It helps to trace these out by tracing from the INSIDE of the tube BEFORE putting on the felt.)
6-use gold trim fabric/yarn/ribbon or even glitter glue and trim in way to look like the rims and zig-zag cross beams on the outside of a drum.
7-take 2 toothpicks and you can either leave them as they are or color/paint them black or brown. I used matchsticks one year, but to eliminate the possibility of flammability, I rubbed baby oil into the match tips.
Glue these in a criss-cross fashion across the drum head as the drumsticks.
WHA-LAH!

I also make custom wood-burnt ornaments in a variety of shapes and designs..which I actually sell at craft shows, personalized with names/dates/greetings of choice

Answer 5

http://www.marthastewart.com/

Answer 6

try this http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/cheapgifts

Answer 7

UNCOOKED PLAY DOH:
3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup salt
3/4 to 1 cup water with preferred color food coloring
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Mix all ingredients. Knead until smooth consistency. Keep it covered and in refrigerator when not using it.

COOKED PLAY DOH:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water with preferred color food coloring
1 tablespoon oil
Mix all ingredients. Cook over medium hear until forms into a ball and becomes "translucent", not "milky". Knead dough. Store in plastic covered bowl in refrigerator when not using it.

SNOWMAN PLAY DOH:
1 1/3 cups salt
1 1/3 cups flour
1 tablespoon oil
water
Mix the salt, flour and oil together. Add a small amount of water at a time until you have a big ball of dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface until very smooth and elastic. If too dry, add water; if too moist, add flour to the surface. On a floured surface sculpt the dough into a snowman... to join 2 pieces of dough together, moisten both edges of dough with water and press together.
Hardening the dough:
let them air dry for at least 48 hours
OR, bake them in the oven at 325- 350 degrees on foil lined sheet, allow a 1/2 hour for each 1/2 each thickness or until surfaces turn golden brown. If the dough puffs up, turn your oven down and poke a hole in them to let the air out.
After drying, they can be painted with water colors, acrylics, enamels, or spray paints.

SAND PLAY DOH: (textured play doh!)
1 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup water
Mix ingredients in saucepan and cook until thick. Allow to cool, knead and allow to harden enough for use.

SAND MODELING DOUGH: (textured play doh!)
1 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon Alum
3/4 cup hot water
food coloring if desired
Mix sand, cornstarch and Alum in bowl. Add hot water and stir vigorously. Add food coloring if desired. Cook over medium heat until thick. Let dough cool. Mold into desired shapes and let dry in the sun for several days. Store any leftover dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

OAT PLAY DOH: (textured!)
Note: This play doh is for tactile stimulation. Young children love it. It has a rough texture and is great for exercising hand muscles. You should use this dough the same day you make it, as it will get moldy within a day or two.
2 cups water
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup flour
cinnamon (optional)
Heat water until boiling. Combine boiling water and oatmeal in mixing bowl. Add enough flour to make it dough. Add cinnamon for smell if desired.

EASY SALT DOUGH:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup salt
3/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, add more water if needed. Knead into soft ball of dough. Have fun playing with it.

FUN CLAY:
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups salt
1 1/3 cups cold water
paint
Put salt and 2/3 cup water in a pot and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch and remaining 2/3 cup water in separate bowl and stir well. Add salt mixture to cornstarch mixture in bowl. Knead dough. Model or mold dough and let it dry for several hours. Paint when dry if desired. Keep unused clay in airtight container or ziploc in refrigerator.

BASIC ART DOUGH:
4 cups flour
1 cup iodized salt
1 3/4 cups warm water
Mix all ingredients in bowl. Knead dough for 10 minutes. Model as with any clay. Bake sculptures at 300 degrees until hard. Let air dry for a few days.

MODELING CLAY:
1 box baking soda (16 oz.)
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
food coloring, if desired
microwave
In a large mixing bowl, combine baking soda and cornstarch. In a two cup measuring cup, combine water and food coloring. Pour colored water over baking soda mixture. Stir until smooth. Microwave on high for 4 to 8 minutes, stirring after every minute until mixture is firm. Cover with a damp towel until cool. Knead until smooth. Store in airtight containers or ziploc bags.

SHAMPOO DOUGH:
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup white glue
1/4 cup thick shampoo
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Knead dough. Add more flour as needed for right consistency. Model or roll and cut as desired. Let air dry. Paint as desired.

PLAY CLAY:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2/3 cup warm water
food coloring or poster paints
shellac or clear nail polish
Mix baking soda and cornstarch in saucepan. Add water and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, boil and stir until "mashed potato consistency". Pour onto board to cool. Knead when cool. For color, knead food coloring into clay (after cooled) until blended, or paint after finished molding. When your shapes are dry, you can brush with shellac or clear nail polish.
Notes:
hardens quickly
will store in airtight container for several weeks

PLAY CLAY (WITHOUT FLOUR):
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2/3 cup warm water
food coloring or poster paints
shellac or clear nail polish
Mix baking soda and cornstarch in pot. Add water and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, boil and stir until "mashed potato consistency". Pour onto board to cool. Knead when cool. For color, knead food coloring into clay (after cooled) until blended, or paint after finished molding. When your shapes are dry, you can brush with shellac or clear nail polish.
Notes:
hardens quickly
will store in airtight container for several weeks

CORNSTARCH DOUGH:
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup cornstarch
Mix salt and hot water and boil in pot. Stir cold water and cornstarch in a separate bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling water and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until "pie dough consistency". Remove from heat and place dough on board. When cool, knead dough until smooth. Have fun playing!
Notes:
texture is grainy
hardens in 1-2 days
dough will be white
to speed dry, put in 200 degree oven for 1 hour
will keep for a long time if stored in a container

SNOW PLAY DOH:
1 cup Ivory Snow laundry detergent
2 cups warm water
food coloring
electric hand mixer or egg beater
Add food coloring to warm water, then add to laundry detergent. Mix well with beater until fluffy. Use just like regular play doh.

SCENTED PLAY DOH: (smells awesome and the kids LOVE IT!)
1 package of sugar free gelatin; .3 oz size
(use any flavor you want, as the dough will have that scent when done; I believe you can replace the gelatin with a Kool-Aid packet instead for even more scented varieties!)
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons cooking oil
Mix dry ingredients together in pot, add the boiling water and cooking oil. Stir over medium heat until it forms a ball. Let it cool. Keep in air tight container in refrigerator when not playing with it.

CHOCOLATE SCENTED PLAYDOH:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
1/2 tablespoon cooking oil
1 cup boiling water.
Mix flour, cocoa powder, salt, and cream of tartar together. Add cooking oil and boiling water to mixture. Stir quickly and mix well. Cook over low heat until dough forms a ball. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in airtight container.
Note:
it smells good enough to eat, but tastes awful! Is NOT EDIBLE.

MICROWAVE PLAYDOH: (scented, if use Kool Aid)
6 tablespoons cream of tartar
3 cups plain flour
4 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 cup salt
3 cups water
food coloring/powder paint/or Kool Aid packet
Combine all ingredients in microwave proof dish and beat until smooth. Cover with cling wrap and microwave on high for 7 minutes, stirring half way through cooking. If the mixture is still gooey, microwave for another minute. (Since all microwaves are different, be sure to watch the dough while cooking). Cool and store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

GINGERBREAD PLAY DOH: (scented!)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
lots of cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg!
Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together. Play with the spices until you get the scent and color you want, and add to dry ingredients. Mix water and oil together FIRST, then add them to the dry ingredients and stir. In a pot, cook the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently. The dough will start to pull away from the sides of the pot and clump together. Take the dough out of the pot and knead it until soft and smooth. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

"NUTTY PUTTY": (EDIBLE!!)
3 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups corn syrup or honey
4 cups powdered milk
chocolate chips (optional)
Mix the ingredients. Divide into 15 to 20 portions and refrigerate in plastic bags. After washing their hands, have children mold and shape the dough on waxed paper. Provide chocolate chips to be used as decorations if desired. Play with it and let them eat it!

FUN AND INEXPENSIVE FINGERPAINTS:
1. Flavored pudding
2. Liquid starch and tempera paint. (if necessary, thicken with cornstarch)
3. Ivory Snow flakes and enough water to make it "gloppy"
4. Corn starch and water until a "glue consistency". Cook until clear gel consistency
5. Mix 1 quart boiling water, food coloring, 1 cup cornstarch, and 1/2 cup Ivory Snow. Cook briefly.

SOAP FLAKE FINGERPAINTS:
1 cup Ivory Snow flakes
enough water to give a "whipped cream consistency"
food coloring
Mix the water and soap flakes. Beat with a rotary beater until creamy. Add food coloring for different colors.

COOKED FINGERPAINTS:
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups cold water
3 cups boiling water
food coloring
Mix the flour and salt in an electric skillet. Add the cold water and stir until smooth. Add the hot water and stir until boiling. Boil until clear. Then add desired food coloring. Mix until smooth.

UNCOOKED FINGERPAINTS: (textured!)
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup water
food coloring
Mix flour and salt, add water. Mixture will be "grainy".

CORNSTARCH FINGERPAINTS:
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
food coloring
soap flakes or liquid dishwashing detergent
Mix sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Turn heat on low, add cold water and stir until mixture is thick. Remove from heat. Divide mixture into 4 or 5 portions, spooning into muffin tin sections or small cups. Add a few drops of food coloring and a pinch of soap flakes, or a drop of dishwashing liquid to each cup. Stir and cool before use. Store covered.

WASHABLE FINGERPAINTS:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cold water
3 cups cold water
food coloring
In large saucepan, mix the flour with 1 cup cold water. Stir until smooth. Then add the 3 cups cold water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture thickens and bubbles. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Divide into 3 heat-resistant bowls. Tint with food coloring. Cover and cool.

WASHABLE WINDOW PAINT:
Tempera paints (powdered or pre-mixed)
clear dishwashing liquid
Mix powdered paint with dish soap until it resembles "house paint",OR, mix just a little dish soap into premixed paints. Line the window sash with masking tape and be sure to spread newspaper around to protect the area. To erase paint, or touch up mistakes, just wipe paint away with a dry paper towel.

"FLUBBER":
4 teaspoons Borax (find in cleaning supplies or laundry isle of grocery store)
1 cup warm water
lots of food coloring
2 cups white glue (craft stores sell it by the gallon)
1 1/2 cups VERY hot water
In a small bowl, mix the Borax with the warm water. Stir with fingers to dissolve. Add lots of food coloring as it seems to absorb it.
In a large bowl, pour the glue into the hot water (as hot as you can get it without burning yourself). Stir with your fingers as you add the glue.
Slowly add contents of the Borax bowl to the glue bowl, mixing with your fingers constantly. There will be a cool chemical reaction as the Flubber solidifies. Keep stirring and mixing until it no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Pour off excess liquid (there usually is).
Begin playing! Store Flubber in an airtight container. It will keep for about 2 weeks. Note:
it may stain fabrics and clothes when fresh, so keep it away from carpeted areas and wear smocks or old shirt.

"GAK" (HOMEMADE SILLY PUTTY):
1 cup white glue (Elmer's)
1 cup liquid starch
food coloring
Put glue and food coloring into plastic container. Add starch a little at a time, stirring constantly. Keep stirring until mixture holds together like putty. Test with your fingers, if too sticky, add more starch in small amounts until mass is smooth and rubbery. Now, have fun playing with it...stretching, pulling, bouncing, making transfers of the Sunday comics. Store in airtight container.

"****" (SIMILAR TO "GAK"):
liquid corn starch
white glue (Elmer's)
food coloring if desired
Mix the two items together until it has a thick, slippery feeling.
To play: Moosh and squeeze, see how funny it feels!

CORNSTARCH AND WATER: (NOW THIS ONE IS FUN!!)
Mix cornstarch and water until it has a thick, watery feeling.
To play:
It will feel dry when you pick it up, but turns "goopy and watery" as you squeeze it and let it drip through your fingers. It is pretty wild! Store in covered container. If it dries out over time, you can revive it by adding a small amount of water.

BEAD CLAY:
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
warm water
toothpicks
string
paint
sealant (optional)
Mix flour, salt and cornstarch in a bowl. Add warm water gradually until mixture forms a shape. Knead. Form into beads and pierce with toothpicks. Allow to dry. Paint and string the beads. Seal if desired.

PAPIER-MACHE:
4 large newspaper sheets
2 quarts of water
2 tablespoons Elmer's glue
2 tablespoons wall paper paste
clear vinyl sealer or sealer (optional, for waterproofing)
sodium phosphate (optional, for fireproofing)
Tear four large newspaper sheets into small pieces. Place pieces in container with 2 quarts of water and let soak overnight.
The next morning, place mixture in a cooking pan and boil for 20 minutes. Using a whisk, whip the paper mixture until it is soft and pulpy. Place the mixture in a strainer, tapping several times to shake outthe water. Squeeze gently until the mixture is a soft, pulpy, moist lump. Place pulp into a bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons of liquid Elmer's glue, then 2 tablespoons of wall paper paste. Stir until the mixture is smooth. This makes one quart of paiper-mache mash.
Notes:
Sanded or not, papier-mache objects may be painted with any water-based paint. To waterproof surfaces of paiper-mache bjects and make them more durable, spray the finished object with a clear vinyl sealer or give it at least 3 coats of laquer. To fireproof an object stir in one teaspoon of sodium phosphate to each cup of paste for strips, or to each cup of water when making the mash.

BALLOON BLOB:
Regular balloons
All-purpose flour
1. Blow up a balloon and keep it inflated for at least 1 minute. Do NOT tie a knot in the end. After 1 minute, let all the air out.
2. Fit a funnel into the open end of the balloon. Carefully spoon flour into the funnel, tapping and shaking the funnel to get the flour into the balloon. Put as much flour into the balloon as you can.
3. Remove the funnel. Tie a knot in the end of the balloon.
4. Wash and dry the balloon blob
5. Draw a face or design on the blob if you like. Push, pull, and stretch it into different shapes.