Hand made Christmas presents for 2.5 year old.

purplegirluk1

Hi all,

I have had a lot of free time the last few days due to a bit of a flu bug. It's given me time to think about Christmas (I think the terrible weather has helped!!) I have decided that I am going to try and make my son as many presents as possible this year, he will get other shop bought gifts but not too many, possiblly a stocking and a main present then the rest home made. I am not a knitter or a seamstress I am afraid so I am looking for idea that involve crafting. Ideas I have so far are -

Fishing game (similar to this) http://www.littlebundles.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=731 - I will cut the fish shapes from sturdy card and paint them myself, attach a craft magnet to their mouths. I was thinking of making the pond from card board too and covering it with marbled paper. Then make a few rods from dowling rod and cord. I'll probably add more decorations too it as well, as I go.

Weather chart - Not too sure what I will do with this idea yet, was thinking along the lines of using a magnet board and making weather symbols with fimo.

A mobile/sun catcher to put up in his window with painted accetate animals.

Just thought I would start a thread then if anyone has any suggestions perhaps we could share ideas for presents for toddlers? I will update with any other ideas and progress of items I am making.

mary-op

Purplegirl -you've got some good ideas already -well done :T

I've a 3 yr old grandson and have the same problem as to what I'm capable of making him that he'll find fun as well.
He's had a sock monkey (kindly made by a lady on the Sock Monkey thread)-yr.before last that was.

You could do him a Christmas Eve box and fill it with things he has to use on Christmas Eve (or santa won't come) I did this for my grandson
Flannel reindeer (flannel cake thread has piccies and instructions)
Flannel snowman.....bar of soap with flannel wrapped round it and a baby sock for a hat -cut off at the heel and tied with ribbon like a ski hat
Bottle of usual bubble bath with christmas label stuck on it
Little flannel with reindeer or xmas motif stitched on
Tub of reindeer food -I covered a gravy tub and put porridge oats in it
Door hanger with 'santa stop here' on it

My son just tops it up every year and I added last year a little plant pot (seedling size) wrapped bird seed in clingfilm and wedged it in and stuck a little robin on the top -that was robin redbreasts xmas breakfast for Christmas day.

The other year someone did a felt book using felt letters to spell out Christmas and she cut out something for each one on each page (C -candle)
I was always going to do that and never got round to it.

Hope that helps.........can't think of anything else at the minute:)
Have a look on the Crafts for Christmas thread......Im sure there's loads on there

Oh just thought of something else..........last year I covered a gravy tub with snowman paper and did one covered with white felt, goggle eyes and a sock for a hat......filled it with bon bons or some white sweets for children -that was the snowman full of snowballs.

purplegirluk1

Thank you for your reply Mary-op. I have just looked through the flannel thread, the reindeer are so cute, I think I will make him one and possibly for a new nephews and neices too!

I will probably make him a christmas eve hamper too, I like the door hanger idea.

Oh lots to think about, I know it seems a bit early but I always think things get more expensive nearer Christmas, or is that just me?

mary-op

I always start making things almost as soon as xmas has gone............might sound silly but whatever it costs I don't notice it as much and I've been really lucky with our charity shops and the 'unwanted gifts' in Jan and Feb.

dazzle21

Oh there are some lovely ideas, my ds is 2.5 at Christmas and we're expecting no2 in Jan so I want to save some pennies and make Christmas a little bit more personal! Definetly going to do a Christmas Eve Hamper! And have a go at making the magnetic fish game! (i think OH may steal it before DS gets to it!) If I think of any ideas I shall add them!

purplegirluk1

I just want Christmas to be more than just money, money and more money for him I think! I loved the fishing game when I was little, I bet me will love it too. Just got to find somewhere to buy the magnetic disks from now.

Yeah the hamper is a lovely idea, I will probably look for a special cup for him to take his drink to bed in too.

Any other ideas would be brilliant Dazzle21 :-) We have plenty of time to get prepared!

I was also thinking of making a name plaque for his bedroom door, I was thinking of a mosaic one, may have to see if I can go to a hobby craft and look into it.

mary-op

If you look at the search box at the top of this board and type in 'crafty for christmas 2008' the thread should come up with the felt scrapbook on it.......its about half way down.......sorry I'm no good with links.

purplegirluk1

Thanks Mary, I had a look at the thread and came across the door hangers, then remebered that I had bought two plain ones last year and not used them. I then spent the rest of the evening covering and decorating them both, one for my son and one for my neice. Can't believe I have started making christmas presents already, perhaps this year I won't be wrapping presents at 2am on Christmas eve!!!

bluenose1

Last year I downloaded a few free personalised Christmas stories and turned them into books from http://www.northpole.com/Den/PersonalizedStories/
I printed it out in colour and cut out clear plastic covers from cheap plastic folders to make it more sturdy, punched holes and kept together with red ribbon. Took about 5 minutes to assemble.
My son was thrilled with them far more than a lot of his expensive presents (actually so was I as I am not very crafty.)

purplegirluk1

What an amazing site bluenose1, thank you so much for the link!!! I have never seen it before, I know my son will love them!! I wonder if I could borrow a laminator and laminate the pages.

monkeysallsayboo

hi

i have a 2.5 year old daughter and have started already. some of the ideas i am posting are sewing ones, but you could use felt and glue instead of fabric and thread!!

dinosaur digging http://sewcando.blogspot.com/2010/04/diy-treasure-stones-tutorial.html

ABC sponges http://www.marthastewart.com/article/pop-up-sponges?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/handmade-baby-gifts#slide_33

if you are feeling very adventurous http://www.flickr.com/photos/21938817@N00/4638578959/in/pool-lil_d/

or make the above into a dog house. you could also use a nappy box and paint it into a kennel and cut a hole. then you could buy or make a dog.

monster hoodie http://www.craftstylish.com/item/59231/create-your-own-monster-hoodie

crayon roll http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/08/06/felt-crayon-roll/

finger puppets (again use felt and glue) http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/felt-people-puppets-704440/ or
http://www.carewear.org/patterns/sew/images/felt_finger_puppets.pdf

this page has a tic tac go game (you could use cardboard and magnets/washers) and a fishing game.if you are trying to keep costs down i would reccomend that instead of putting a magnet on each fish, you put a metal washer on each fish and just one magnet on the rod. http://kelsimad.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/homemade-christmas-pt-2/

these little fairies you just paint and not use the material, also not necessarily into fairies but something else. http://www.littlesisterhandmade.com/2009/03/the-three-little-fairies-tutorial/

i love this idea of ocean in a box, but the blogger has also used the box for farm/ contruction in a box http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2008/09/ocean-wonders-wednesday.html

letters and stamps http://sewcando.blogspot.com/2010/03/felt-house-along-week-5-post-office.html
again you could use felt and stick on velcro for the stamps.

tool belt http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/02/childs-tool-belt.html

i knwo these is a lot but hope this helps!