Do it yourself: make puzzle-cookies, stuffed animals and little boots and let the whole family enjoy |
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The holidays are coming.
The first is Saint Nicholas, a favourite among tots because of – presents.
But you’ve had enough of plastic building blocks, dolls and cars in the stocking or under the tree?
You’d like to give your loved ones something special, but you aren’t sure what, and the available holiday gifts seem too much and too expensive?
Why don’t you try making your own beautiful gift with which both of you and those receiving it will be equally pleased?
Choose edible ideas, unusual toys, tasty little stockings and other suggestions for home-made gifts we’ve prepared for you.
For most of them you almost certainly already have scissors, fabric, needle and thread at home.
Hand-make these interesting gifts on your own and make your loved ones feel special, because they will know you invested in them what’s most important – yourself.
1. Stuffed animals straight out of a child’s imagination
Many parents hang the works of art of their little creative kids on refrigerators or doors around the house.
Let them be a sketch for home-made toys this year.
Choose your child’s favourite illustrated character, transfer it onto a fabric in the right colour, and cut it out in two copies.
Add anything characteristic to the toy – use ribbons for decoration, buttons for eyes, strips of material for the mouth or nose.
Sew up the fabric leaving an opening at the bottom.
Fill it with cotton balls or another safe material (another fabric) and sew up the toy closed.
After that, sew on anything else – arms and legs, a tail, a hat, rays of sunshine or pieces of clothing…and your gift is finished!
2. Dragons, flowers or butterflies on little hands
Use children’s gloves or adult socks to make decorative gloves for play with various characters.
There are numerous ready-made patterns available online for you to use, as well as your own limitless imagination.
Cut out fabrics in various colours and pick out little buttons or beads to sew on the outside of the gloves or socks. Make a couple of gloves to make playtime even more interesting.
You’ll get a favourite children’s toy for many, one which can be used to play various roles, taken everywhere and shared with friends.
3. Gingerbread puzzles
Little ones love solving puzzles and discovering secrets.
Give them a challenge with which they can satisfy their sweet tooth in the end.
Make a large gingerbread cookie, bake it, and cut it into pieces while it’s still hot.
If your skills are up to it, make proper puzzle shapes, although simpler ones and pieces of varying sizes which can later be connected easily are just as interesting.
These tasty, edible puzzles can be decorated any way you like. Add your little one’s favourite themes or little bits of sweets you know they like, such as pieces of fruit or chocolate, for example.
To make the surprise complete, wrap the puzzle in a decorative box with colourful ribbons and bows.
4. Unique little stockings
This year make cute little felt stockings you can hang anywhere in your home, decorated with interesting details like a train, tree or wooden rocking horse.
These colourful little stockings will be particularly interesting to babies and small children, who enjoy exploring the unknown and are more fascinated by shapes and colours than toys.
Cut out felt boots in the size you want and sew the edges. Decorate the fabric with bright colours at the top and hang various other decorations on them – numbers, small gifts, drums, stars…
The little ones will be thrilled with taking things out of the stockings and putting them back in, and the whole family will enjoy in it with them.
You can make these cute little stockings for older members of the household as well, and friends, just choose decorations that will suit them best.
Fill the stockings with little gifts and let the surprises begin.
5. Wallet or mobile phone bag made of familiar material
Make your little girl a unique first purse, or make a friend a mobile phone or make-up bag by using old scarves, shirts, jeans, or any other material you have lying around.
Choose the shape of the purse or wallet, combine materials and decorations, and sew on a button at the end, to make sure everything stays in place.
Sources used for this article include:
[url=http://www.marthastewart.com]http://www.marthastewart.com[/url]
[url=http://www.trendymods.com]http://www.trendymods.com[/url]
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