Family Crafts

There is nothing more delightful than receiving a gift given from the heart, whether it is a holiday gift, a birthday gift, or a just-because gift.

And when this gift is handmade, the surprise is even more special.

Here are two ideas for handmade gifts the whole family can prepare. A family that plays together and works together has double the fun together.

Picture Frame Collage
This gift is perfect for anyone who can use a picture frame, and that means pretty much everyone we know. Whether the picture frame is to hold a special memory, a diploma, or something else that can be framed, this idea is sure to be enthusiastically received.
You will need:
a frame or a matting for frames
copies of pictures, what kind will depend on who the recipient is
craft glue
scissors
imagination

Let's look at the frame. You can choose a wide and flat frame or, if you choose to get an all Plexiglas frame, get a matting you will then use to glue on your pictures. The color of either will really not matter as you will be covering them with the pictures.

Now let's choose the pictures. If the frame is for a family member, a collage of family pictures will work great. Make sure you make copies of these pictures so that you don't give up your personal photos. If the gift is for a graduating student, pictures representing his or her major field of study will be a good choice.

Younger children will love choosing pictures to use in the collage. Older children will probably like figuring out the best picture placement. Parents can do the cutting based on where the pictures will be positioned and then help the children glue those pictures in place. Make sure that the glue you use is safe for pictures.

When the pictures have all been glued on the frame, consider spraying a protective coating of clear fixative sealer. You should be able to find cans of this sealer in craft stores.

Once the clear coating is completely dry, you are ready to wrap the present, write the card, and deliver it.

Wall Clock
We all need clocks around the house, the office, or the classroom, so why not capitalize on this need and create a clock that will be the talk of the day?
You will need:
a clock kit
a face for the clock, which, once again, can be chosen based on the receiver
glue
scissors
basic tools to put the clock together

Clock kits can be purchased in several craft stores. They will contain the clock's mechanism, the hands and, possibly, a battery.

Ask your children to use their imagination when it comes to choosing the face of the clock. It does not have to be round and it does not have to be made of plastic. Is the clock for a teacher? Then, why not choose a wooden apple and use pictures of students in place of numbers?

If the clock is for grandma, ask the children to draw small pictures to be used for numbers, or use copies of personal pictures.

Let the children choose the theme or the pictures for the different clocks. They can paste those pictures on the face of the clock and then pass the tools necessary for the assembly to the parents.

Your imagination and that of your children is the limit when it comes to creating the clocks.

Remember that the most important part of this all is to have fun as a family. That fun will transfer to the gift which will bring joy to those who will receive it.