If you love to get the kids involved in the gift-giving process or they love sharing their creative skills, kid-made gifts are the perfect solution! There are so many amazing options for kids of all ages. And homemade gifts are cost-effective as well and provide a great bonding experience between parents and kids! Come take a look!
Kid-Made Gifts, from the Heart
Ever since my boys were little – little, as in a year or 2 old – I’ve always had the kids a part of the gift-giving process.
Whether it was smearing paint on a card for the grandparents or offering me their little thumbprint to make a ladybug or butterfly, homemade gifts are just something we do.
It’s not that I don’t like spending money on gifts (although I do love being frugal); it’s more that I think that homemade gifts are something special.
More meaningful. Personal.
Hopefully, it’s something that will be treasured by the person who receives it – from my twin boys’ hearts, a little piece of them.
Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make, for All Occasions
There’s never a shortage of occasions for gifts to be given, right?
I’m talking birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Teacher Appreciation…. see where I’m going with this? This can add up real quick.
But DIY gifts usually only cost a fraction in supplies, plus it’s a great bonding experience for parents and kids.
Well, OK, sometimes it’s a very frustrating experience for parents and kids. I get it.
But handmaking gifts truly is teaching them some important life skills in trying something new, using their hands, and giving room for their creativity to expand.
All good things. All benefits for you and the kids, and it’s a wonderful gift for the person on the receiving end.
Fun Kid-made Gifts that are Useful and Adorable
I’m a big fan of a practical, useful homemade gift.
I love a cute handprint picture as much as the next mom, but I love getting a DIY gift I can actually USE.
That’s the no-nonsense side of me.
While there are a handful of cutesy gifts thrown in, the majority of the gifts below are things people can actually use.
And they are perfect for a variety of recipients.
You won’t find any holiday-specific gifts here.
You can make ANY of these and give them for ANY holiday (although some are clearly for women and not men, so they wouldn’t work for Father’s Day or a male birthday).
But for the most part, you’ll find a ton of ideas for gifts for all occasions.
As you look through this list, some projects you’ll want to make just as you see them.
Most of them you can customize and personalize to your taste and to the person who is getting it.
These DIY gifts give a lot of room for your child to express his or her own individual style and creativity.
You’ll also see that some homemade projects are a spin-off of another.
That’s intentional – just giving a few options on how to make a particular gift choice.
And you may have ideas of your own to vary the project. Go for it!
So, if you’ve been wondering, ‘What can a child make for a gift?’, check out these amazing choices!
50 Kid-made Gifts for Family, Friends, and Grandparents
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You can never go wrong with a homemade food gift! Here you'll find free printable gift tags you can use with any homemade treat. There are two versions - one for a healthy treat, one for a yummy treat! An easy way to give your favorite homemade food gift!
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This is a great project for a little one - there's nothing cuter than those little thumbprints. This also can be modified for an older child to draw with a toothpick or cut out a heart shape - as a keychain or necklace, too! I personally love to hang them from my rearview mirror!
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I love, love, love making these mugs! They are perfect to customize and fabulous for any person or occasion. This post shows 5 different ways to make them!
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Photo Credit: www.getgreenbewell.com
Fun craft that can be given as a gift! This is so cute and the stamp on it is so trendy! A GREAT gift using popsicle sticks. Practical, too!
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Photo Credit: sugarspiceandglitter.com
Wind chimes are such a fun summer accessory. I love this one made from pour painting a terra cotta planter. There are so many ways you can decorate this as well.
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Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com
If you have someone who loves fun jewelry, this is a great gift option! An easy craft for older kids, and this is a great project for younger kids to build their fine motor skills, too.
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Photo Credit: happyhooligans.ca
This is a no-sew craft made with pipe-cleaners and yarn, so it's great for all ages. I especially love how practical it is! I'm ALWAYS looking for something to grab to put under hot dishes!
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Another practical gift for a male or female! There are limitless options for what you spell out here, and it's an easy craft for kids of all ages!
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Photo Credit: happyhooligans.ca
If you have wine bottles laying around - or really any bottle that a candle will fit in, you have a great upcycled craft! This is a fun decoupage tissue paper project that gives kids so many fun options and ways to display their creativity.
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Photo Credit: handsonaswegrow.com
Mason jars are amazing all on their own, but a tinted one is something really special. Once tinted, you can fill with flowers, candy, or seasonal decor!
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Photo Credit: www.cometogetherkids.com
Kids will really enjoy making these candles with their own artwork. The technique is easy - using tissue paper, wax paper and a hairdryer! But what a fun, personalized gift to give!
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Photo Credit: mamapapabubba.com
Embroidery hoop decor is on trend for modern farmhouse style, but I love this kid version of it! What a clever way to display a child's artwork and a really unique way to give it as a gift!
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Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com
There are so many things you can make with salt dough, but I especially love these magnets! A big variety of ways you can decorate them, and as always, I'm a fan of a practical gift!
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Photo Credit: frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com
If your child likes to play with PlayDough or modeling clay, this is a project that he or she will really love to create. Many ways to personalize this as well!
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Photo Credit: www.thebestideasforkids.com
I'm a fan of footprint, handprint, and thumbprint crafts. They are precious keepsakes. I love the idea of using Shrinky Dinks to capture them. You can also use your child's artwork as a Shrinky Dink keychain, which is another adorable idea!
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Photo Credit: www.hellowonderful.co
I love how pretty this gift looks! Infused with essential oils, this is a gift that has health benefits as well!
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Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com
If you have someone in your life who is a reader, this is a great gift! Made with pressed flowers and leaves on cardstock, then laminated, this bookmark will be something they can keep forever!
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Photo Credit: www.modesettravaux.fr
I love this idea! So many women have jewelry laying everywhere. What a great solution for having her favorite earrings nearby and handy! (Note: this post is in French, but you can probably figure out how to put it together by looking at the picture!)
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Photo Credit: blog.darice.com
I think this is something that a grandmother or aunt would especially love! Another sweet handprint craft for someone who loves to read!
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Here's another fun popsicle craft that has a practical use! This magnetic recipe holder is a great way to keep all his or her favorite recipes handy and within arm's reach at any moment!
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Photo Credit: www.toddlerapproved.com
Tea towels are such a great gift to give! Decorated with your child's art or whatever message you want to write, it's something that will bring a smile to the lucky person who gets it!
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Photo Credit: craftulate.com
If you have a candle lover in your life, this would be a pefect gift for them! There are also lots of other little things you could fill this with if candles weren't his/her thing. Lots of ways to decorate this using Mod Podge and tissue paper!
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Photo Credit: www.howweelearn.com
Lavender is one of the best soothing scents that is across the board liked by most people. I love the idea of a lotion bar! This one will go down as a gift favorite!
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Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com
Rock painting is such a popular activity for kids! Creating a picture holder with painted rocks finds a useful way to use all of those creations! This is also great as a paperweight!
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Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com
You can put a lot of creative spin on this idea. Decorating a frame with objects of your choice, such as shells and filling it will handprints, footprints or any other personalized art is such a fun option.
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Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com
Here's another combination of footprints and handprints, using salt dough. Super cute way to remember how little they once were!
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Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com
Here's another option for both a glass magnet, kid art and fingerprints! Look at all the fun creations you can make with little thumbs and fingers! Just love this!
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Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com
Suncatchers are beautiful home decor, and I just love how shimmery this one is! Using a heart prism and pony beads, the effect truly is breathtaking.
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Photo Credit: www.parents.com
If your person loves fun fashion, this tie-dyed scarf is a great idea! The kids will have a blast making it - and the best part is - it's mess free, using rubbing alcohol and Sharpies to create!
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Photo Credit: www.parents.com
If you love to collect vintage jars or bottles, your kids can decorate them with paint pens for gifts! Perfect to fill with all kinds of goodies!
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Photo Credit: www.parents.com
These painted wooden spoons are sure to add some flair and fun to the kitchen! Kids can paint fun designs, write messages or just add splashes of colors! You can adapt this idea to paint hammers for Dad or Grandpa, too.
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Photo Credit: www.parents.com
This is an adorable necklace made with metal washers and nail polishes! This is sure to make a fun statement and there are ways you can adapt this to your taste as well as your special person!
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Photo Credit: lifeasmom.com
This is a gift ANYONE would be happy to receive! My sister made me one of these fabric heat packs (filled with rice), and I just love it! Sewing machine skills are required.
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Photo Credit: www.marthastewart.com
This is a fun gift for someone who works at a desk or in an office - or really, just has any kind of space for notes! Have the kids decorate the sides of these note cubes as a sweet reminder.
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Photo Credit: tatertotsandjello.com
These yo-yo clip bookmarks and paper holders are just adorable! Any girly-girl will love getting a fancy clip like this!
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Photo Credit: www.marthastewart.com
Most people have some kind of tech device - a protective case like this is a trendy gift that really is super-useful! Lots of options to really design a case that suits your special person!
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Photo Credit: www.classic-play.com
This is a fun project using tissue paper, Mod Podge, and a clear vase! Imitating a stained glass window, this is sure to be a hit.
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Photo Credit: eighteen25.com
If you're planning to give fresh flowers, I love an idea like this to make the gift more personal! Flowers are placed inside a mason jar, placed inside a bag. This would be a really fun to personalize as well!
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Photo Credit: www.settingforfour.com
If you want to showcase your children's art or give it as a keepsake, a tea towel is a great idea. It's an adorable reminder of your child that will mean so much!
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Photo Credit: www.thegirlcreative.com
I don't think there's a woman in the world who doesn't like a good scrub. We feel like a million bucks after getting off that rough skin! I love the idea of cubes, too. Perfect size to handle!
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Photo Credit: www.peanutblossom.com
A child's work of art can truly be a gift in itself! This is a sweet project using watercolor paints to make a work of art using hearts! Of course, a child can paint just about anything, but there's something about the hearts that make it so sweet!
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Photo Credit: b-inspiredmama.com
I love that this craft is designed to be a stylish piece of home decor! If you have a recipient who isn't into 'kid art' but you want your child to be in the process, this is a great choice that has a 'store bought' feel to it!
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Photo Credit: www.curbly.com
If you happen to like an upcycle craft type gift, this is a super-fun DIY Shrinky Dink made from #6 plastic! You can make the key chains or magnets listed above or come up with your own kind of craft using this smart repurposed project idea!
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Photo Credit: nerdywithchildren.com
If you're trying to make a gift for a book lover, a box like this would be so appreciated! Made with spines of old books, it's a truly unique gift. And, you can fill it with all kinds of goodies, too!
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Photo Credit: www.craftibilities.com
This super-cute project is made from scrap wood or even your child's own wooden blocks! This is perfect for grandparents, close relatives - or really anyone that you'd like to gift with a special picture!
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Photo Credit: www.adventure-in-a-box.com
How beautiful are these! These are beautiful as candle holders, luminaries or even just decorated jars. A truly lovely gift.
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Photo Credit: diycandy.com
Here's another gift using real flowers that is just beautiful! Your child can certainly decorate a tote bag and give it as a gift, but a pounded flower tote bag is just striking!
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Photo Credit: www.agirlandagluegun.com
Here's another sweet variation on a clay keychain. In the shape of a heart with the fingerprint of your child, it's a sweet keepsake.
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Photo Credit: rufflesandrainboots.com
Anyone who is on his or her feet a lot (think: teachers!) will truly appreciate a gift like this. After a long week, a good foot soak will do the trick!
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Photo Credit: echoesoflaughter.ca
Here's another upcycle project that I just love! Using a recycled can, paint, scrapbook paper and Mod Podge, this is a fantastic gift! The can is also able to be used a pen holder as well!
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How cute are these? This is another fun gift made with clay, and tea light holders always look amazing, wherever they go!
We’ve got YEARS of gift-giving ahead of us and LOADS of occasions and people to give to!
More Creative DIY Gift Ideas
If you are looking for more holiday-specific gift ideas or other DIY projects that would fall under the ‘gift-giving’ category, here are more ideas for you to peruse through:
75+ Creative DIY Gifts (To and From Adults)
Nativity Trail Mix + Free Printable Tag
Christmas Stovetop Potpourri + Free Printable Tag
DIY Mason Jar Gifts
Love is Patient & Kind Free Printable Tag
Love is Patient & Kind Children’s Turtle Valentines’ Day Card Free Printable
30 Mother’s Day Crafts for Grandma
25 Mother’s Day Free Printable Gifts & Cards
25 Father’s Day DIY Gifts from the Kids
25 Free Printable DIY Father’s Day Cards
Easy Thumbprint Clay Keychain
“Thanks a Latte Coffee” (& Tea) Free Printable Gift Tags
If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Please tag me on Instagram @100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest!
For more information personalized crafts, please get in touch with us!