HELP!!!!!

Apparently two of my close friends and I decided earlier in the year that, as we now have 12 kids between us, we were going to do home made christmas presents this year. I must have missed this conversation somehow (breastfeeding brain, pregnancy brain, was screaming at toddler at the time?????) so now have to come up with something cool and quick!

The other mums are quite crafty and are doing crocheted presents and decorated clothes.
I am not that crafty or talented really!
Has anyone got any reasonable, simple ideas that I might be able to throw together in the next three weeks......along with the other few hundred things I have to do!

The kids range in age from 14 months to 6 years, boys and girls.

Thanks

One thing I did today actually( for a group swap) was to print these paper doll pages out.

Then I cut them out and put them in an envelope with ' Paper Dolls' stamped on the outside of an envelope. I used photo paper to make them a bit stronger, or normal card would be fine. You could even search the web for more, and put together a box of different ones.

Also printing beautiful or cute images onto some card and then making puzzles?

ETA Images courtesy of The Graphics Fairy She also has some lovely images available you could simpy print out and frame for the child's room.

Make playdough - its pretty easy and quick

This is pretty much teh same as the one I used to make as a kid

Ingredients:
2 cups of plain flour
1 Tbsp. of cooking oil
1 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups of coloured water
1 cup of salt

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium size or large pan. Cook slowly on medium-high and stir it until the playdough thickens. Keeps best in the fridge in plastic containers.

Takes less than 10 minutes.

I used powder paint to make the coloured water - but you could use food colouring instead.

this is relatively easy and is great for little misses

http://thinkingmama.wordpress.com/2009/04/...slingin-a-baby/

and i've made DS a cloak/cape, just a basic half circle skirt pattern for the cloak then made a basic shaped hood to go on the top. a bit like the house cloaks here


http://hearwritenow.com/articles/creativit...er-accessories/

which also has heaps of harry themed things to make. other costumes

http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/character_costumes.htm

or make some little bags for ipods/ds's/other portable devices, which can be either male or female.

A junior masterchef package with Apron, teetowel, recipe, chefs hat etc
Personalised towel
Personalised pillow case
A container/jar (decorated) of assorted homemade sweets
A decorated container to hold bits and pieces in perhaps personalised
A set of items for craft .....

FTR I would be stumped for homemade gifts as I am totally useless at sewing and craft..I would be more inclined to make homemade sweets.

Another one is to make octopie (octopusses damn it!!!!!) for the younger ones - get piece of material, stuff it and tie it off to make a head, drape wool over it to cover and tie that off, the divide into legs and plait each leg and make pretty bows at the bottom. Paste a face on it, make a hat for it etc etc.

We just had a birhday party to attend for one of the kids from school and her mum had requested no bought toys, just home made stuff. We went to Riot Art & Craft and they had these little wooden wiggle toys for $5 or $6 and we painted them for the little boy. They also had bracelets that we painted for the little girl.

This link isnt from Riot but its the same alligator. They also had sharks and snakes to paint. The little boy loved them.

How about some felt finger puppets? Grab a bunch of felt from spotlight, have some thread and some glue and go for your life.

I can't sew to save my life but it doesn't involve too much sewing...

My sister did pillowcases for my kids last year, and bowls with their names on. She used special crayons/pastels for the pillow cases and did funky lettering, and for the bowls some other special paints, they were great and my kids love them... (aged 4 and 2 at the time)

If financially viable, I would pay someone to make my handmade gifts (etsy.. although you might be a bit late for postage if coming from overseas).

I am not crafty.....

Paint a carvas a colour or patterns. Wrap pretty ribbon around it so that you can slip photos in to be displayed on the wall. Maybe get the letters of the kids names to put on it too. iykwim

oh and I so want to make that baby sling. Thanks PP. I think my DD will love it

I am not crafty at all but we did this at playgroup and it was very easy and took about 10 mins. Get some plain calico bags and markers that aren't washable. Draw on the bag or write the name of the child as fancily as you can manage. Voila, a personal bag (library bag or shopping bag or bag for special toys).

Another idea is to get a canvas from a discount store and those little pegs from Spotlight. Make a little washing line on the canvas, write the name of the child at the top and it's a special art board for putting up photos, schoolwork etc.

As pp said I did a cooking set up....handmade apron, spoons, cookie cutters, tonges, whisk etc
And for my niece a box full of costumes/dress ups.

My 4 year old is getting a tub with a lid, a measuring tape, a small hammer, a packet of nails, and a stack of wood offcuts for him to build things. This is his 'santa' present, and I know he is going to love it. It won't cost much, was simple to put together. (Tho I do think it might just drive me batty,,,,,,)

You could make a set of bean bags for each child. you could glue on the letter of their first name to make them more individual. Easy sewing task too. Add some chalk to the gift and you have hopscotch or target practice.

Could you cheat a bit and buy little pots, a small bag of potting mix and some flower seeds??

I have given a box of wooden offcuts, a hammer, tape measure, nails, bottle caps etc as a present it was very well received. Cherish I was too slow to post!!

I am just about finished this for a gift for DD's friends bday tomorrow
http://fromanigloo.blogspot.com/2010/02/ar...g-tutorial.html

Other suggestions
http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fab...e-tutorial.html


http://fromanigloo.blogspot.com/2010/04/going-fishin.html
http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2...n-tutorial.html
http://www.pukingpastilles.com/?p=57


My kids are getting aprons and roll up blackboards made with chalk cloth for christmas also.

HTH

Lisa

I was planning on making playdough...in rainbow colours and and throwing in a few cookie cutters etc..and wrapping it up nicely.

You guys rock! Thanks for all the excellent replies. I am inspired and excited now rather than scared!

Thanks heaps!

the only thing i've done differently is to add elastic to the sides so it isn't quite as easy for dolly to fall out