Homemade Gifts From Kids (That Will Actually Get Used!)

Kelly R:  Bath and body products with a personal touch make wonderful homemade gifts from kids! This exfoliating foot scrub smells like a freshly-baked cookie and smooths and softens feet. You probably already have everything you need to make it in your pantry! Thoroughly combine 2/3 cup white sugar, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup olive oil and 1 tsp vanilla. Divide the mixture into mason jars with tight-fitting lids and decorate with a label and bow.

Alexandra F.:  I know I’ve seen gorgeous rugs like this sell for a pretty penny at Anthropologie, and getting a handmade one would be such a special gift for any lucky recipient. This tutorial uses finger knitted yarn to create the beautiful textured look of the rug, but you can also use strips cut from old t-shirts if you prefer to skip that step (though, finger knitting can be a wonderfully relaxing activity for kids worth adopting all on its own). Note, this is a longer project probably best done over the course of several days, so be sure to allot enough time if you are planning to gift it for a special occasion!

Kelly R:  You just need a set of 100% cotton cloth napkins and a tie dye kit for this fun idea for a homemade gift! Follow the instructions on the tie dye kit to create one-of-a-kind cloth napkins that will get used every day. For a more sophisticated look, tie dye with just one color.

Kristy Pepping:  Whether you live in a cold or warm climate, flower pots make a great gift as they can be used indoors or out. Simply purchase terracotta pots in whatever size you like, and have the kids use acrylic paints to decorate them! If you use outdoor acrylic paints you don't need to bother with the extra step of coating them with a weatherproof sealer after they are painted. You can always add a packet of seeds or even herbs for an added gifting bonus.

Lisa R:  I made a ton of these as a kid. They lasted forever and my aunt and mom still say they were their favorites. This year my 5 year old was able to make them replacements (with help).

Alexandra F.:  Use pipe cleaners and yarn to make these adorable and practical trivets, and bring a smile to a lucky loved one’s face every time they use it for holding hot drinks or dishes. A hot glue gun is needed to stick the yarn together, so younger kids will need help with that finishing touch.

From Happy Hooligans

Lisa R:  We made several bean bags recently as a first sewing project out of old leggings and regular dried beans. We've been playing all sorts of games with them- toss, basketball, hopscotch, relay races, musical shakers, learning to juggle and more. I could see them making a nice gift from one sibling to another, perhaps along with printed directions for learning to juggle or a list of beanbag games.

Kelly R:  Combine 2 cups epsom salt, 1 cup sea salt and 1/4 cup baking soda. Add 10-20 drops of essential oil and mix well (divide the mixture into separate containers first, if you want to make a variety of scents). If you like, add a couple drops of food coloring to tint. Divide among glass jars with tight-fitting lids, and add a ribbon and sticker label for gifting.

Your kids can let their noses decide which essential oils to use, but a relaxing blend including lavender is a nice choice for a Mother's Day gift and a blend with peppermint is great for Christmas!

Kelly R:  These adorable pom pom bookmarks are a great way to use up any extra yarn you have on hand. A fun homemade gift for teachers or anyone who loves to read!

From Design Mom

Lisa R:  Who doesn't enjoy fresh homemade cookies? Cookies in a jar include all of the dry ingredients and directions needed to make a small batch right at home. Sometimes the amount of candy and sweets floating around during the holidays can feel overwhelming. I like that this gift idea stays fresh until the recipient is ready for it. I halved everything in the linked recipe (except the 1 egg) so that it fit in a 16oz jar and the cookies came out soft and delicious. I have also gifted 8 oz jars of homemade hot chocolate mix consisting of cocoa powder and milk powder with mix-ins like marshmallows, crushed candy canes and large holiday sprinkles.

Katie G.:  Photo pillar candles are a fun and creative DIY project that the whole family will have fun making. Pick up a few white pillar candles at your local Dollar Tree or craft store and grab the rest of the supplies from your house. Use pictures of the kids, family pictures or just plain silly pictures to create a unique gift your friends and family will love.

Shila:  DIY perfume can be generally made by mixing a variety of essential-oil scent combinations, such as citrus, lavender, coconut, peppermint, etc. Bottle-up a glass vile or perfume jar after combining a few of your favorites together and create your own fragrance to gift! There are various techniques to making perfume, here is an easy version, where the perfume can last up to a few weeks:

You'll need about 4 oz of any carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. To this, add-in any amount of scented essential oils you wish in order to achieve a desired fragrance. The more drops you add, the stronger the aroma. Go slow before committing too many drops. Shake for 30 seconds and you're ready to go with personalized perfume! Note: some oils can stain clothing, so using a few modest dabs on the wrist works best.

Sarah Calamita:  My kids helped me make homemade potpourri bags. They are a great gift anyone would enjoy! From Liz on Call

Kristy Pepping:  Jars make a nice gift as they can be used to store everything from loose change to candy to even dry rub for your next BBQ. This project requires a few empty mason jars, food coloring and glue. It does need to be baked into the oven so an adult will need to supervise this one. But the finished products resemble stained glass once they are cooled off.

To create this pour glue into mason jars and add a few drops of food coloring of your choice. Then you can either paint the inside or the outside of the jar. You can use multiple colors if you want a marble effect. Then tip them upside down until the access paint comes out and put them in the oven for 10 minutes on the lowest setting you can.

Kristy Pepping:  Who doesn't love their hot coffee or tea from Starbucks or another favorite local coffee shop? A great gift is an embroidered cup holder. Skip the paper cup holders you get and opt for a fancy homemade one instead. This is a project that is simple enough for kids.

Simply trace a Starbucks or another coffee sleeve on a piece of felt. Cut it out and then use an embroidery needle and thread to create a simple design. Or you can simply use puffy paint or permanent markers to create a design. Then, stitch it together to fit around a coffee cup or use craft glue to seal it closed.