PEG Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Arts and Crafts Edition
This week we’re sharing some of our best ideas for holiday gifts for kids of all ages! Be sure to check out all of our holiday gift guides!
Today’s guide is for all of you whose house is littered with paper scraps and markers and glitter and fabric pieces.
1. PlushCraft Owl Pal Pillow
($13)
With a little plastic tool and a WHOLE LOT of small square fabric squares, little crafters can make an owl pillow by pushing the fabric into the pillow with the tool! Over the summer the girls made this bunny and they loved it! It takes a little practice for the smallest hand to give enough push to get the fabric to stay, but after a few minutes, they should have no trouble at all.
2. Craft-tastic Paper Bowl Kit
($15)
Using the colorful paper circles, create 3 bowls with these (re-usable) plastic bowl forms. For all kids who craft to give (one of mine does this a lot), these bowls are a nice alternative to the millions of potholders (see below). 🙂
3. Sew Cool Sewing Machine
($33) + Sew Cool Sweet Fabric and Apron Kit
($9.60)
This sewing machine is perfect for kids who want to get into sewing, but may be not quite ready for working with sharp needles and thread. It’s supposed to be super simple to use- no thread, no bobbin, no needle! There are a gazillion kits you can buy to use with the machine– this one highlighted is just a bunch of fabric that kids can use to make up their own project (plus a pattern for an apron!).
4. Qixels Design Creator
and Beados
($10+)
Create designs out of small plastic beads, spray a little water, and wallah! These are similar to pearler beads except you use water instead of heat to stick the beads together. Aqua beads and Beados are two popular brands and they are interchangeable, so just go with the best deal! Qixels are similar, except the beads are square and it has a Minecraft design feel to them.
5. Perler Beads
($8.31)
Perler beads may be the most-loved craft supply in our house. The kids love to create characters and items from patterns as well as from their imagination. Kids can create a design and grown-ups can melt the beads with an iron. The one annoying thing about these is when you are going to “iron them later” and your drop something on top of them, scattering hundreds of little beads all over the place. Ahem.
6. DIY First Sewing Kit
When your child is ready to start hand sewing, it may be less expensive and more personable to make your own kit! I made a kit a couple years ago for my 5 year old and it was a hit. I choose all kinds of tools for her to play around with an edit was a great way to introduce her to sewing without the pressure of doing something a specific way. But, if craft stores make you nervous, this sewing kit from Alex is a great alternative :).
7. ALEX Toys Craft Loop N Loom
($13)
We have been through a LOT of potholder looms, and Alex’s potholder loom is our favorite, hands-down! The plastic is durable and the looms are high-quality…. I can’t say that for any other loom we’ve had.
8. Melissa & Doug Mess Free Glitter
($3.98)
Mess-Free Glitter is perhaps the biggest oxymoron EVER, but Melissa and Doug have perfected it with their new Mess-Free Glitter playsets. It’s hard to explain how it works, but I’ve seen it done IRL and it’s amazing. A great stocking stuffer!
9. Kinetic Sand
($15)
This is probably “so last year” but we’re still totally enjoying it around our house! It’s a fun way to enjoy the sensory experience of sand, but without all of the mess. For those of you who haven’t experienced it, the sand clumps together when you apply pressure, and keeps its form really well. The kids will sometimes use their playdoh scoops and ice cream cones with the sand for added fun!
10.Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book!
($13)
For all kids who love Mo Willems, this will be a much loved activity book. The book is very thick and has a ton of really great activities…but they’re not necessarily stand-alone activities. The actives go in order and tell a story, allowing the child to be an integral part.
I could go on, but I have to stop here. 🙂 What is your child’s favorite art/craft activity??
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