Great Homemade Christmas Presents for Grandma from the Grandkids

Almost every Grandmother has done her share of homemade crafts; some like to quilt, and some like to knit or crochet. Homemade gifts from a grandchild to a Grandmother are a great way to help the bond between them grow, and enhance the creativity of both.

A nice way to help decorate Grandma's kitchen is to have some handy potholder 'holders'. (They are also known as coat hooks.) It sounds funny, but it is true. These are decorative pegs to hang on the wall so Grandma has an easy way to grab those potholders when she is baking or cooking in the kitchen.

You will need the following supplies for this project.

** 2 wooden die cut coat hooks
** 2 die cut outs of favorite shape
** acrylic paints
** indoor varnish or spray varnish
** paint brushes
** small head sponge brushes
** hot glue gun or white glue

At the craft store, in the wood section, the kids can pick their favorite die cut wood shape. They have many different shapes. (The one in the picture is a heart that I painted bright red with a green peg.) After they choose their shape, have them choose a smaller, thinner wood die cut to paint as well. (The one in the picture is a cow. I made two matching pot holder holders, and just flipped the cow over so they were mirror images when hanging on the wall.)

All you need to do is paint the wood shape your favorite, or Grandma's favorite color. Don't forget to paint the little peg a different color so it will stand out. As those dry, take out the die cuts and decide how to paint them. As you can see it the picture, I chose cows. They were fairly simple to paint and did not require a lot of detail. When all the paint is dry, you will want to glue the die cut to the wood. After the glue has dried, usually overnight if white glue is used, it is time to varnish it. Use your small head sponge brush and gently but evenly, apply the varnish in thin coats. Don't forget to varnish the peg, too. Do this for both pot-holder holders and you will have a very cute and creative Christmas present for Grandma.

Another great present for Grandma is homemade placemats.

You will need the following:

** four vinyl placemats plain, no embellishments.
** clear contact paper
** scissors
** favorite photos or drawings

After you purchase the vinyl placemats and clear contact paper, have the kids gather their favorite photos, or drawings. Have the kids arrange their photos on the placemat in any way they like. After they are done, it is time to cover the placemat with the clear contact paper. This is an easy project, but will need some adult supervision when cutting the clear contact paper. Make sure to press out the bubbles! There you are- new, custom made placemats that would make any Grandma proud!

My last idea is actually very similar to my article on homemade presents for Grandpa. This project is very simple and quick, but will have lasting memories. It is a homemade-painted apron. For Grandpa, the craft was painting a pretty picture on the apron, but for Grandma, it is using stamps to design it!

You will need the following for this project:

** newspaper for covering the table
** paper plates
** assorted rubber stamps
** acrylic paints
** fabric medium
** one canvas apron
** an iron and ironing pad or board

Take your favorite large stamps out and have the kids pick their favorites. It is best to not use small, detailed ones because the paint will just make the details into blobs of paint. It is best to use larger, less detailed, ones. Some examples might be flowers, letters of the alphabet or cars or trains.

Take the paper plates and put them out on the newspaper covered table. Pour some of the paints on to the plates and, following the directions on the fabric medium bottle, add the proper amount of medium and mix it thoroughly. Place the apron on the kitchen table and carefully dip the stamps in the paint and place it, carefully, on the apron. If you like, you can take a paint brush and apply the paint to the stamp. This way, you get better coverage without globbing.

Have each grandchild do their own apron, or make it a group project. It is best to let it dry overnight and then iron it to let the paint set properly.

There you are; three quick and easy homemade Christmas presents for Grandma. These are basic ideas that can flourish added with the imagination of children. Enjoy!

Sources:
Personal Experience
My friend M. Blankenship