Making Gifts For Mom And Dad

The holiday season is fast approaching, and for many of us, trying to think of what kids can give as gifts can be quite a struggle. In my family we were encouraged to make all our holiday presents, and every year was a challenge to come up with something new. Here are some of my favorite ideas for things your kids can make for Mom or Dad (or Grandparents) for the holidays.

If your kids are like mine, they love rocks. They pick them up everywhere, and they don't have to be sparkly or unusual to be interesting to them. We have quarries of rock collections all over our house, so I developed this idea for using up those old rocks:

• Find rocks that are flat and fairly good-sized -- an irregular surface may not work as well -- and place them on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
  
• Heat them in the oven at 200 degrees until they are hot.
  
• Help your kids use crayons to "color" on the rocks. (Be careful. We don't want burned fingers!)
  

The heat from the rock will melt the crayon and produce spectacular rainbow-colored designs from where the kids drew. This would make a great paperweight for Mom or Dad's office.

Another great idea for Mom and Dad are pictures that can be put on their desks. Your local craft stores have many ideas for picture frames. Take a wood or cardboard frame and add colored buttons, ribbon flowers, silk flowers, glass pebbles, or stickers.

A very easy craft project involves tissue paper and a glass candleholder:

• Cut out bits of colored tissue paper.
  
• Apply Elmer glue with a paintbrush to the exterior of the candlholder.
  
• Place a bit of colored tissue paper over the glue.
  
• When the entire outer glass surface is covered with the tissue, apply a thin coat of glue over the surface.
  
• When it dries, add a votive candle, which creates a pretty stained glass effect.

You could try this on the backside of a clear glass platter for serving treats or on a clear picture frame too. Just be careful: it is not washable.

Don't forget the wrapping! My very favorite idea for wrapping paper involves the kids too. Buy the large brown postal quality paper at any office supply store. Give the kids the markers and stamps (store bought or make your own with sponges or potatoes), and let 'em at it. They will come up with some cute and funky designs and you'll have a large supply of wrapping paper at hardly any cost.