For most families, the lists seem to be getting longer and more expensive while wallets often are not as fat as we wish they would be. While many of us would like to shout, “Bah, Humbug!” and totally forget about gift exchanges with family, friends and teachers, there is an easy alternative that will not only keep your budget in the green, but also will be greener for our planet.
- First of all, mark cutting lines on the shirt with chalk or washable fabric pen. In order to decide the size you need, find the dimensions of the pillow and about 1/2″ on each side for seam allowance, plus about 1/2″ ease. (1-1.5 inches) Cut lines square with the design.
- Make sure the shirt is laying completely flat (iron if you need to!) and pin the back and front together, so you only have to cut once.
- Stitch along the edge about ½ in in for each piece. Place the two pieces, print face in, and pin together. Stitch three and a half sides together. Place pillow form inside and hand stitch together. Now you have a great pillow
Picture frames (and magnets?) from CD boxes
- Take out paper inserts from old CD boxes.
- Measure cardboard, gift wrap, color paper or foam to fit inside box.
- Glue or double stick tape pictures or artwork on to the backing you made from paper, etc.
- Double stick tape the edge facing in the box and stick in. (The box will open for the frame to stand!)
- Now use glue or hot glue to attach picture frame decorations such as:
- Old pictures
- Pictures from magazines the recipient might like
- Old artwork the child has done.
Cut a piece of foam or colored paper to fit can.
- An animal face, such as a penguin or lion.
- Attach pieces with glue or a hot glue gun.
- Dress up can with sequins, fabric pieces, etc!
Use your imaginations!
Piece of black paper
Pencil
Lamp or flashlight
Scissors
Double stick tape
Tape the piece of white paper to the wall. Place your child standing sideways in front of the paper. Have someone hold the lamp or flashlight in front of the child where there is a clear shadow, tracing around the shadow. Cut out the silhouette and then trace it on the black paper and cut out. For best effect, mount the black silhouette on the full sheet of white paper.
Biography
Michelle Donaghey is a freelance writer and mother of two boys, Chris and Patrick, who are her inspiration. She lives in Bremen, Indiana just south of South Bend, home of Notre Dame. When she isn’t writing, Michelle can be found in her perennial flower garden or working on small home improvement projects. Michelle has written for parenting publications including Metro Kids, Atlanta Parent,Dallas Child, Great Lakes Family, Family Times and Space Coast Parent and websites including iparenting.com.
What are easy homemade gift ideas for kids to make?
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Kids can make pillows from old sentimental shirts by cutting and sewing a simple pocket around a pillow form; picture frames from clear CD cases with photos or artwork inside; decorated pencil holders from cleaned soup cans; silhouettes traced from a child’s shadow on the wall; and hand-made memory books filled with stories and photos from the past year. These gifts cost very little but carry real personal meaning.
How do you make a pillow from an old shirt as a gift?
Choose a shirt with sentimental value, like a camp shirt or one from a family trip. Mark your cutting lines on the shirt using chalk or a washable pen, accounting for pillow size plus about an inch of seam allowance. Pin the front and back together and cut both layers at once. Stitch three and a half sides, stuff with a pillow form, and hand-stitch the opening closed. The result is a keepsake pillow the recipient will treasure.
How can I make a picture frame from an old CD case?
Remove the paper insert from a clear CD jewel case. Cut a piece of colored paper, gift wrap, or foam to fit inside as a backing. Glue or double-stick tape a photo or your child’s artwork onto that backing, then tape the backing into the case. The hinged case opens so the frame can stand on its own. Decorate the outside with glitter, sequins, ribbon, or small ornaments using craft glue or a hot glue gun.
How can families give inexpensive holiday gifts without it feeling cheap?
The key is personal effort and creativity rather than spending. Shirts that carry memories become pillows. Old CD cases become custom photo frames. A soup can decorated by a child becomes a pencil holder the recipient uses daily. A hand-made book of your child’s stories or a video of them singing and playing gives grandparents something they truly cannot buy. The time and thought put in is what makes low-cost gifts feel genuinely meaningful.
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