10 Homemade Holiday Gifts For Grandparents

Ten Homemade Holiday Gifts For Grandparents

1. Make a mini scrapbook photo album. The kids can do this themselves, with some help from you! Use a single photo on each page of the grand child and the grand parent (or one or the other) and on the opposite facing page, do some journaling about that photo or about feelings or memories the child had of the grand parent. Write the journaling like the child were writting a letter to the grand parent. "Grandma - I loved it that day you took me to the park and we fed the squrriels..." or "Grandpa - you helped me make that project and it got me an A in science class! I was so proud to have had your help..." If the photo doesn't particularily have a "reason" it was taken, just the two in the photo - have the child write their feelings about the grand parent. "Grandma - you mean so much to me and I am so glad that you are my grandma....". It doesn't have to be a long album - just a couple of pages. But make sure you put some blank pages at the end so more memories and photos can be added as they come along!

2. For distant Grandparents, take a couples days or weeks and prepare a "Here's My Life" kind of video. Walk through the child's day and video tape them doing chores and the comments they make about the chore. Video the child going to school, introduce their friends to their grand parents on video. Have the child talk about what they do, their enjoyments in life, show them doing something with their parents and "talk" to the grand parent like they are right there! For instance, if they are washing the car with Dad, and Dad sprays them with the hose, the child can run to the person holding the camera and saying, "Grandma, Dad is spraying me, make him stop!", kind of thing. This actually includes the grandparent and makes them feel like they are there. As a grandmother myself, I love it when my grand child runs to me for any reason! Include other members of the family and what they are doing. If you have more than one child, give each chlid a segment on the video to "do their thing". What distant grandparent wouldn't love to have 2-4 hours of their grand kids anytime they want it!

3. Create a Gift Card Collection - In the "olden" days, this was called a "coupon book". But in this new millenium where gift cards are the "in" thing, we can make that change too - and even elaborate on its creation! Cut some cardstock to size 4x6. Now, using your creativity and card aking/craft supplies, create 10, 4x6 inch "gift cards". Decorate them anyway you like and add the description of the "opportunity" being offered. Make the "opportunity" being offered fun and meaningful, as well as useful and specific to the grandparen's wants or needs. For instance, "Present this Gift Card to (child's name) and redeem it for 1 days work around your house. This includes anything you might need done, as well as waiting on you "hand and foot", working in the attic or helping you with a craft or hobby". Structure the gift card to what the grandparent does - whether it be fun or work! If the grandparent lives close enough, make a gift card for "breakfast in bed" or a "free lunch at (grandparents favorite resturant),but you'll have to drive!" How about "This gift card is good for 2 hours of my time to spend anyway YOU like". Punch a hole in the corner of each "gift card" and lace ribbon through each hole and tie a nice bow. This makes for a beautiful presentation as well as being able to remove the "gift card" for cashing it in! Give it some thought and find some new ways to make your grandparents not only happy, but enjoy the time with their grandchildren!

4. Make a donation to the grandparents favored charity. Make a "certificate" showing that X amount of dollars was donated to (name of charity) by (grand parents name) and put it in a nice frame. The grandparent will feel wonderful to know that the child is thinking of others while thinking of them.

5. If the grandparent has a favorite food or dish, prepare them a basket of all the ingredients. If Grandpa loves to make pizza, buy all the ingredients and assemble them in the basket! Include some tools useful for making the dish like a new pizza board, pizza cutter, etc. Add special napkins that reflect the theme of the food. If Grandma loves to bake cookies, get all the ingredients and include pans, spatula, measuring spoons, even have the recipe created on a beautiful card so she has it handy.

6. Find out what community service or organization the grandparent volunteers at and present them with a coupon or certificate stating "This certificate is good for 2 days volunteer work at (organization name) with you". They are helping others, and at the same time, creating a bond between grandparent and grandchild. Generations can connect if given the opportunity. And what grandparent doesn't love showing off their grand kids and how proud it will make them to have their grand kids at their side while they all help others.

7. For the younger kids, make some homemade clay and press it into a pie pan and have the child make their hand imprint (or foot!) then sign and date it. Put a hole in the top (before you bake and dry) for a ribbon to be the hanger. Decorate as you like. What a wonderfully cute wall decoration! You could also get cement (it comes in kits with a mold at craft stores) and make garden stepping stones. This would be a great gift to do every year - grand parents can line their garden or patio with their grand kids hand prints and remember the kids every day!

8. Make the grand parent a "Fun Box". Find out what they realy like to do - whether it be a hobby or an outing. Get a paint can (at a craft supply store) and decorate the can. Fill the can with things that fit the theme of what the person likes to do. For instance - if they love going to the movies - include tickets to the theater, gift cards for getting food AT the theater and also for dinner before or after the movie. A gift card to buy the DVD when it comes out! If they have a favorite craft, fill the can with tools and supplies for that craft. You could even offer them something different to try - fill a can with lotions, nail supplies, bath salts, bubble bath, etc for the grandmother for a "home spa" day. For the grandpa, how about a "Emergency Repair Kit" and fill the can with small containers of nuts, bolts, nails, and other household repair items. And what Grandpa wouldn't love to have a bucket filled with his favorite car cleaning supplies! A nicely deocrated can allows the can to be set out in the room so that the contents are always handy! You could also use a wooden box or any other style of item that has a closing lid.

9. If the grand parents love coffee - create them their own "coffee house". Fill a large wooden box or basket with a variety of coffee flavors, add some wonderful mugs with a design that they would like and matching spoons and napkins. Add some flavored creams and sugars, and include a elegant box of cookies or biscuits. They will think of their grand child every morning they prepare their wonderful, flavored coffee!

10. Personalize a calender for the grandparents. Buy a blank calendar and choose photos of the kids, and have the kids deocrate the calendar page with the photos and other embellishments. Have each child write a short message to the grandparent(s) on each calander page. If there are any holidays or birthdays or other rememberance days in the month, use stickers to mark them. The grandparent will have a wonderful note from their grandkids to enjoy all month while not forgetting the special days in that month.

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