Self Made Craft

Cheap Gift Ideas -- The Personal Touch

Finding gifts for a member of the family from your little cherubs can become exhausting. There are only so many pairs of socks, confectionary, mugs and perfume you can buy one person in a year so why not try something a little different?

If you are looking for something to buy a loved one which is supposed to be from your child but you do not want to spend a fortune then why don't you try a slightly different approach. All you need is a little spare time, some imagination and lots of patience and you will be amazed at the results. You will end up with a very personal gift that the person receiving will treasure for years to come.

Try to capture a moment in time that the receiver can keep forever. Think about clay imprints of a child's foot or hand. You can have these done professionally but they are very expensive. You can make them at home with your child for a fraction of the cost and they look just as effective. You can buy white clay in a vacuum pack that can be placed in the airing cupboard after you have modelled it to dry out. Make sure you buy white though and not brown!

The clay is easy to model, it can be rolled out with a rolling pin or worked with your fingers - the kids will love messing about with it. Make a plate shape or plaque shape, if you want it to stand up make sure you make a base and then test it to see if it stands up before you dry it. Try to make the whole thing out of one piece of clay as it will be stronger. when you are happy with the shape get your little one to press his/her hand or foot onto the clay to make an impression. Make sure that all of the toes and fingers have left a mark. Smooth off any cracked edges with a little bit of water and place in a warm place to dry. The clay will need turning when the front is completely dry. It should take a few days to dry out completely. Do not color the clay until it is completely dry.

When dry its time to decorate! Use special pens that can be used on clay. Ask the child to decide on a color for the imprint and a color for the background. Draw a thick outline around the imprint with the chosen color so when the child colors in he/she doesn't go over the line!! When its finished leave the color to dry thoroughly. You can ask the child to write a short message on the back if you want to.

When you are ready and you are sure the pen is dry brush the clay with pva glue. It will go on white but don't panic when it is dry it will dry clear giving the clay a lovely clear sheen which not only looks lovely but also very professional. Its guaranteed to be a much treasured gift.

Another way to capture time is to use your stash of photos. Buy a large picture frame and fill it with photos of the kids or the family depending on who the gift is for. The kids will love picking out their favourite photos to add into the frame. You can make your collage tell a story. Start with the birth of a child and choose pictures that show the child as he/she grows up to the present day. Or if the gift is for a wedding use pictures of when the couple met through to present day. Take pictures at the wedding and add a few of those in to complete the picture.

For a more unusual gift try growing plants. The kids can plant them themselves or design the baskets themselves, they makes lovely gifts for grandparents and the kids love to see how they have grown when they visit.

If the kids are a little older suggest a digital keyring as a gift. These are relatively inexpensive to buy. They can upload which ever photos they want onto the keyring before they give it as a gift. This is can be a really treasured gift for someone who works away a lot for example if they are in the forces.

These are just a few ideas but I've tried them all out and they all look really effective, especially the hand imprints. Have fun making them!

Marie Wilkes is the owner of http://www.party-ideas-4-all.com/.

Marie has two lovely children who are rapidly growing and has attended hundreds of parties, she knows the strain the 'perfect gift' can cause the parents and wanted to help out with cheaper gift ideas.

Marie also has a degree in business and hotel management and has experience managing, organising and enjoying parties for all ages and all size gatherings.

Find party ideas just as individual as your friends and family!

http://www.party-ideas-4-all.com/