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Saturday, May 4, 2013

That's a Wrap!







































One of the most enjoyable things about being a grandma is conspiring with the kids to make gifts for their parents. Especially for Mother's Day. Most daddies are good at taking the kids out to buy something nice, but it's the rare one who can handle sitting down with them to make a coveted gift that will end up being a lifelong treasure. That's where grandmas shine!

But what to make? Lots of cute ideas out there these days! I have found a favorite spot for gathering ones I don't concoct myself. Ever stopped by Grandma Ideas? Oh my. She didn't just pull that blog name out of an idle dictionary. This author means what she says and invites you to come on over and poke around for lots and lots of fun things to do. (Young mommies welcome too! We both enjoy having you as readers!)

I love how Nina's suggestions cover home made gifts, activities for all of the holidays, and plenty of ordinary times in between. You'll find a wide range - ones requiring the quickest prep, such as cute print-color-and-cut project pages for Easter, to those needing a bit more in materials and supervision like home made puffy paint pictures (cute grandparent gifts!). And easy and awesome glow jars would be fun presents to give to siblings. There are crafts for older kids too. How about a set of 3-D snowflakes for parents at Christmas?  Space to work, paper and basic instruction provided at grandma's house are all you'd have to add.

And Nina offers cute games to play - both inside and out - during present-making breaks. Like this clever ball toss game and a wonderful masking tape road system idea. She'll also direct you to clear, easy instructions for lots of outside summer fun. I love the pop bottle sprinkler and I think kids would, too!

Yikes. At this point I wonder if I shouldn't just copy and paste that entire blog! Everything I see there is a real "keeper!" Recipes, too. Just a few, but quality over quantity. Ones that rate in kid appeal - perfect and practical to make and enjoy at grandma's...like the peanut butter cheese ball. Yum! We're making that one for sure next time!

And finally! If you aspire to share top tech-learning-fun-and-games with the kids in your life, well that's all well researched and nicely covered at Grandma Ideas too. "Digi-Gram" specializes in that area and if you think everything else on her site is cool - wait'll you see the fantastic resources she digs up and shares on a regular basis! A real trove of treasure lies buried at Grandma Ideas for each and every holiday, gifting occasion - and plenty - waaaaay plenty! -  of ordinary times in between!

My favorite gifts are always ones that can be used. I don't have a problem with the population of shelf-sitters that I've acquired over the decades I was a mommy. But things that were useful did make an impact because they didn't need to be dusted, arranged, or, at our house, protected from nosy cats! One of two things I'm helping my grandkids make this year is a super-practical, consumable item that I think will be enthusiastically welcomed not only by mom on her day, but a month later when it's daddy's turn to open gifts and be celebrated! Now what could that item be? Curious?







We made wrapping paper kits! That's right! How simple can you get? Or practical? I gave each child a thin 18" x 24" piece of white paper and a set of potato halves, tempera paint, and markers. They printed away, drawing features when dry, resulting in happy pages that crawled with personable bugs! All that remained was for grandma to match a coordinating sheet of tissue, roll them up together, tie with reusable ribbon, and attach a name tag punched from smaller water colored odds and ends. So how about that for user-friendliness? Mommy won't even have to unwrap her gift until the night before Father's Day, she won't need to buy paper, and daddy will be delighted to see what's not only inside his gift, but OUTSIDE as well! If carefully unwrapped, favorite sections can be saved and popped into frames for both parents to enjoy for years ahead....the ultimate gift that keeps on giving!

And that's a wrap!

20 comments:

  1. Both of you ( both blogs ) are super creative!!!

    I have not been over to hers for awhile though...will visit! :)

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  2. Love this idea! I gave me Mom a wrapping paper and bows kit years ago. Love the idea of having the grandchildren make the paper!

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  3. Such awesome paper! Looks like they had fun making it, too! Mom and Dad will both be happy and of course Grandma already is!

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  4. What great gift idea! They look really cute. Thanks for the tip. :)

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  5. Love the wrapping paper idea! It looks fantastic and I know it will be appreciated and treasured. Thanks for the suggestion of the other blog too. Lots of amazing ideas "here" and "there!"

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  6. So creative and cute :) Love it!

    Hugs to you!

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  7. Super creative

    New follower from the lets get social Sunday;)

    http://o-fata-simpla.blogspot.ro/

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  8. You are so sweet to talk about my site! Thank you so much for your kind words.

    And your wrapping paper idea is fabulous! It's on my to-do list now.

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  9. That is too cute! I love the finger prints!

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  10. Kudos to both you and Nina on the incredible, creative and crafty goodies you share with us less crafty grandmas. Love it!

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  11. Hi, I'm a new follower and new blogger! I found you on Inspire Me Monday and I love this post!! How creative and the perfect little gift piece! Thanks for sharing... Please follow me on my blog at http://mybutterflyhaus.blogspot.com

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  12. I remember painting with fingerprints at camp as a kid. I'll have to put it on my list to do with the kids this summer. I can't believe I've never tried it with them!

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  13. What sweet gifts! Thank you for linking up at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase!

    http://sew-licious.blogspot.com

    Marti

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  14. Now that is too cute, and what a great thing to do together, and get some real quality time with the grandbabies. I have nine myself, but with all the electronics these days it's hard competition with the older ones, but mine loves to watch Disney still and other movies, so I keep all the latest ones, and favorite ones at hand. I'm your latest follower, nice to meet you. Hailing in from Friendship Friday! Happy Mother's Day!

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  15. Nina does have a great site! I love that paper too. This year I helped the kids decoupage doilies onto pretty bottles for a vase for mom. Fast and easy for me as I don't seem to have time anymore for anything complicated or messy :) See you tomorrow my friend!

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  16. Cut, clever and creative. I remember all those "special" gifts I received from my son when he was small. The best ones were the ones he made for me. Still have a popsicle stick jewelry box he made for me at age 8. Your gift wrap kit is a wonderful idea.

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  17. Thank you for sharing! Love it! Guess who's being featured at the party today?? You are!

    Shelley

    www.piggyinpolkadots.com

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  18. What is a great gift without beautiful handmade wrapping paper to wrap it in?

    I wrote a blog post today about DIY Father’s Day gifts that kids can help make. I included your wrapping paper. I’d love for you to take a peek:

    http://www.sewcreativeblog.com/inspiration-fathers-day-gifts-kids-can-help-craft/

    Best Wishes,

    Crystal

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  19. What can I say? First, thank you for sharing this on my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party! I really appreciate your appreciation.

    Second, as I re-read your post again, I feel so honored by all of your kind words. YOU, my dear, are far more creative than I can ever hope to be! I want to be like you when I grow up! Wait, maybe if I don't grow up, you could adopt me as a granddaughter! That would be far better than growing up....

    Again, thanks for participating at my link up party.

    You're the best!
    Nina

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