TIME TO START CHRISTMAS SHOPPING PART 2 KIDS

Okay so, I have done a part one on Christmas Shopping. I so far have a gift for 18/22 people on my list COMPLETED for Christmas and that is something to be proud about having accomplished this by last week which was. But my Kids, they are more extreme to shop for, especially our own. I have come across some websites that are new to me that I have started using that I'm about to share, I have some ideas for low cost, home made, handmade, personalized, and low cost gifts for just kids. So here are some very helpful tips I was taught, picked up or learned throughout the years.

Okay. FIRST THINGS FIRST: KIDS

ONLINE SHOPPING FOR CHILDREN



• As you know I was a skeptic turned huge fan of Amazon. The economy today doesn't leave much room for spending $5, $2, $6, $9, or even $0.75 extra on a gift if Amazon is able to search the SAME gifts from DIFFERENT stores at different prices, saving a few bucks here and there. EVERY PENNY COUNTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS TO AVOID DEPRESSION, AND AVOIDING DEPRESSION GIVES ONE THE REASON TO ENJOY THE SEASON: FAMILY, FRIENDS, LOVE, AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS. No need to say what we've all said ONCE at least, "I can't wait until Christmas is over!" Avoid it using every resource available. Click on the right side of the blog here to check out SAVINGS and GIFT ideas that are brought to your door. If you are one of those people who doesn't put credit cards online, that's fine, you'd still save money buying a prepaid credit card which doesn't require any personal information and can be purchased at your bank, grocery store, or drug store. (ALSO MAKE GREAT GIFTS). OR to avoid the WHOLE credit card or checking acct issue, then buy an AMAZON GIFT CARD, sold at the same stores, and pay with it. You can then chose to have it gift wrapped and sent to the person, or sent to your home. Christmas of 2011 I did ALL shopping on AMAZON. DIDNT ever leave the house.
• Next, I found a website GREAT for gifts of every holiday and reward in a magazine: Women's Day. ~This one can be used for your own kid/grandkid/etc. or a child you know little about. It's a Web Site you can get to by clicking this link named: The Toy Insider Guide: For the hottest toys of the season . It just lists toys well known, and little known of that are great for all kids.
• Remember all those GREAT toys from your childhood, or looking for either a specific or special toy for a child? Try this Web Site: The Land of Nod . I enjoy this site because the gifts are unique and if you sign up for their email, then you get coupon codes as well as special offers.  And as I will FOREVER and ALWAYS mention that making your own gifts is the best, and shows time and love as well as saves money, the Land of Nod also has a blog with some interesting things they call, "Tips, quips and tricks." on their blog that gave me some ideas for some DIY gifts. It's at this site: HONEST TO NOD.

 

SPECIAL HANDMADE GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

• I find a home made gift one that means more as children grow. It's also especially special if you can get one or more siblings in the mix of making a Do It Your Self gift, because they will STRESS how special it is.  Last year I did some sewing for my children. I went and picked out two fabrics per child, some stuffing and made a pillow per child. NOT JUST ANY PILLOW. I made fleece on one side, regular cloth on the other, and put a patch of the regular cotton cloth on the fleece side, making a nice pocket for them to place books, Diaries, E readers, ETC. So you have a pillow with fabric that matches their personality, and EVERYONE loves doing things they shouldn't once in a while, right? So in that pocket I also gave them a SHARPIE PERMANANT MARKER. This was because the pocket was intended for books~regular, chapter, or E books. And when they were done reading this stuff, they could write the name of book, and date. Like a book journal on a pillow. My youngest daughter still loves hers.
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  Have you heard of "Quiet Books?" They are books which are made of felt and are real unique, not just another reading book, but a book with activities to keep the kids quiet, entertained, and imaginative. I'm going to share two from one of my best loved ideas I found from a blog named: SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS.  A HUGE plus, not only do kids like them, they are easy to make, and last a life time, BUT this blog SHARES the templates/patterns you need to make them. For free. That's right, free templates to a one of a kind kids book. (If you make one, as I'm going to, make it your own, add your own few touches and share it with the bloggers. FIRST QUIET BOOK: Kids of all ages like MR. POTATOE HEAD. I would make one for all my children ranging from ages 2-10 and when you see it, and see how easy it is, you'll fall in love as I did. If you're not an expert sewer, so what, neither am I, and you don't have to sew you COULD use fabric glue, right??? :) Here is my most favorite, click the link it will take you to the blog that has the templates; Mr.Potatoe Head Quiet Book and I'm sure your little one, tween, teen, or even older children like me at 29 will love getting this. The next one I'm sharing is getting made for my 2 year old son. He I obsessed and LOVES cars. It's great for the car in my opinion, Junior can sit in his car seat with his quiet book, being quiet, driving. Being a back seat driver while daddy drives up front. To get to this blog's pattern for the car and roads quiet book: Car page Quiet Book . These are just TWO of my favorite quiet books, and there are many more. Just be sure to check out the whole Blog: THE WHOLE BLOG~ "SUNSHINE, RAINBOWS,AND LOLLIPOPS" they are quite creative.
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  Ok not a fan of sewing, not a fan of felt books, or looking for something else to do? Then here is an idea that I recently made my kids for their walls. I received two metal trays from a yard sale for a total of $0.15 each. I then made my 6 year old PINK Chalkboard paint, and my 2 year had his chalkboard paint done in blue. So, step 1 find old metal trays (I used decorative trays, but you could use old metal trays from TV dinner stands, old metal serving trays, I'll show an example picture, as long as it's metal it'll work). We made these as a craft/home made gift for my son's 2nd birthday this past October 4th, and of course the sibling helping needed her own, so she got it. Any way we took acrylic paint, mixed it with unsanded grout until it was the consistency of thick pancake batter, painted over the beautifully decorated trays, let it dry and hung them on the wall. They now had a magnet tray AND a chalk board to hang on their wall in one.
• My all time FAVORITE BLOG is called A Beautiful Mess, just like ME! So, these are two sisters that do crafts, home décor, photography, fashion, beauty, and recipes ALL year long. They also taught me to make my chalk board paint I made for the last project I listed ^above^ , however I believe it's important for kids to have a creative journal at all ages. That is a great way to let them outlet their feelings, thoughts, fears, happiness, and be okay with it. Now this blog has a TON of DIY ideas, but my favorite journal for kids is made little, but special. I put stickers and used different sorts of craft and cardstock papers for my daughter's. But check this easy to pack in your purse, your son's back pack, a diaper bag, your daughter's purse, etc., It's called a Mini Magazine Notebook. Click on the link to check it out. (this would make a good gift for an adult who doesn't remember well or who's always taking notes too) The DIY Mini Magazine Journal. For more gifts like more types of journals and scrapbooks, as well as  textile printing, phone cases, sewing for beginners, DIY decorating for your kid's room/toy room/and the rest, and most importantly at the bottom of this next link the DO IT YOURSELF KIDDO, with a bunch of ideas for kiddies. Here's the link to their DIY crafts: DIY Crafts~Choose a gift for ANYONE in the family, there is EVERYTHING! And if you want to see what's newest, and start at the main page of the blog, get to know about Elsie and Emma and how they are so creative, then you can chose your categories for a gift by going to: A Beautiful Mess Blog, Everything creative
• FINALLY FOR NOW: Who has better, and more perfect ideas than Martha Stewart? Well in my opinion it's the Beautiful mess blog, BUT I stopped by and checked out some of Martha's things. I think that you could make a gift for a kid of ANY age with her help. There are gifts in a jar, gifts kids can make, gifts for book lovers, bath and spa gifts, stocking stuffers, pet gifts and even MORE! So, here is the link to get Christmas Crafting: Home Made Christmas Gifts, How to with Martha Stewart . There will be something FOR everyone to be able to make and something FOR everyone to LOVE.

Well I KNOW this has been a long list, a lot of information, and a LOAD of links to check out, but I'm confident you'll get your "shopping" done early and find the right gift for everyone you look for just by looking at these links. REMEMBER: last minute shopping=stress and regret and dread. So Stress, Regret, and Dread=RESENTMENT. AND Resentment of having to shop for the Holidays=not enjoying the reason for the season: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus, and sharing with family. Not just toys to kids gifts to others BUT love, togetherness, and happiness.

Look out for my FINAL and Part 3 of Christmas shopping for ADULTS.

xoxo happy shopping and crafting~

Megs