Money Notebook

A great gift for older kids.  Money is glued into notebook form with fave crafts.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.favecrafts.com/blog/fc/quick-gift-idea-money-notebook/

Paper Money Dispenser

A cardboard tube is painted and decorated to house and store dollar bills for a fun paper money dispenser.  Cindy derosier cuts a slot into the tube so the money can be pulled out.  She then wraps it up into tissue paper like a cracker for a fun gift.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2013/11/giving-money-as-gift.html 

Draw Your own Animal Gift Wrapping

Creative ways to turn a box into an animal with markers and some extra paper from mr. printables.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.mrprintables.com/diy-animal-gift-wrap/

Reindeer Thumbprint Wrapping Paper

Thumbprints come alive as reindeer with splash of something's homemade wrapping paper.  She draws on eyes, antlers and glues on a red pompom nose. 

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://splashofsomething.com/2013/12/09/wrapping-week-2013-holly-jolly-reindeer-prints/

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails shares a more kid made version and makes her reindeer brown drawing the antlers, eyes and nose. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/2013/12/diy-wrapping-paper-kids-can-make.html

Nutty Gift Wrapping

Gifts in a nutshell.  A walnut shell.  Break a full walnut open, clean the inside and paint with glitter and wrap with a cute ribbon.  Brilliant idea from curly birds who puts fairy charm necklaces inside.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://curlybirds.typepad.com/curly-birds/2011/12/walnut-presents.html

Monster Box

A white cardboard box transforms into a hungry monster thanks to markers, tissue paper and handmade charlotte.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/diy-monster-gift-box/

Egg Carton Fire Starters

Every nothing wonderful turns egg carton containers into mini fire starters adding dryer lint, shredded paper and small twigs.  She holds everything in place with melted wax.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.everynothingwonderful.com/2011/06/firestarters-useful-reuse-for.html

Year End Teacher's Gift

Everything is pink has a fantastic idea for a year end teacher's gift.  She creates a pocket album and  has each child write notes to the teacher.  On one side of each page she puts the notes and on the other side dollar bills.

Get the instructions here:
http://everythingispink.blogspot.com/2007/05/teacher-gifts-but-with-end-of-year.html

Apple Jars

Crafty moods shares the cutest and pretty simple gift idea for teachers.  She takes little clay jars, paints them red, and adds a clay stem, and silk leaf. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftymoods.com/2012/05/sweetest-apple-clay-jar-ever.html

Wine Cork Photo Frame

Wine corks get cut, colored and glued to make this fun and unique picture frame from two shades of pink.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2014/04/all-you-magazine-confetti-cork-frame-diy.html

Painted Stone Garden Markers

Painted pebbles make super cute labels for plants, vegetables and herbs in the garden.  Evermine shares all of the details on her blog.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.evermine.com/blog/diy-painted-garden-rocks/

Squish ideas for preschool leaves the stones unpainted and just paints on the label name and a picture of the fruits and vegetables.

Get the instructions here:
http://squishideasforpreschool.blogspot.com/2012/04/garden-insects.html

Mini Zen Sand Garden

A mini air plant adds a nice touch to the traditional zen garden.  Ruffled blog shares their favor version.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ruffledblog.com/diy-mini-zen-garden-favor-kits/

 Curbly makes hers out of a picture frame using two different sized dowels for the rake.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/4906-curbly-video-podcast-how-to-make-a-zen-garden-on-a-budget

DIY Sewing Kit

An egg carton gets upcycled to make an adorable sewing kit with better homes and gardens adding a pin cushion, scissors, buttons, thread, measuring tape and coins.  They spray paint the carton to make it fresh.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bhg.com/holidays/mothers-day/crafts/mothers-day-crafts-for-kids/#page=18

 Funkytime uses a jar for her version.  She builds the pin cushion into the jar lid. 

Get the instructions here:

http://fun.kyti.me/index.php/2011/04/sewing-kit-in-a-jar/

Glitter Wooden Spoons

A cute idea for a Mother's Day gift are these sweet glittered wood spoons from something turquoise.  She makes them for wedding favors but a lot of Moms would probably love them as well. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://somethingturquoise.com/2013/07/26/diy-glittered-wooden-spoon-favors/

Hand Painted Coffee Mugs

A really simple and functional gift that even the youngest toddler can make - these hand painted mugs make great containers or drinking cups.  Clumsy crafter shares all of the details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.clumsycrafter.com/2011/05/gifts-from-kids-handpainted-mugs/

Fireflies and jellybeans makes them for Mother's Day.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.firefliesandjellybeans.com/2012/05/last-minute-mothers-day-gift-kids-craft.html 

Lilla design uses a thicker paint brush and solitary color for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lilla-a-design.blogspot.com/2011/12/julklappar-barn-kan-pyssla-ihop.html

Wrapping Paper Coloring Pages

Download these free black and white wrapping paper printables from pickle bums for kids to color in for the next time you need to wrap a present. 

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the template here:
http://picklebums.com/2013/12/10/colour-your-own-wrapping-paper/

Hand Painted Clay Bowls

A really pretty idea from camille styles.  She shows you how to make the bowl itself and how to fine paint it with shiny gold paint using a cookie cutter to etch the clay.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://camillestyles.com/life-2/transformed-imprinted-clay-bowls/

Happy hour projects uses a stamp for her bowls.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhourprojects.com/polymer-clay-bowl/ 

This heart of mine blog makes many bowls of increasing size and nests them into one another.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thisheartofmineblog.com/2015/01/16/nested-clay-bowls/

Studio diy makes hers with a sense of humor.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.studiodiy.com/2015/05/11/diy-trinket-dishes/

A moms take cuts hers into a flower shape using air dry clay.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.amomstake.com/2014/10/diy-flower-clay-jewelry-holder/

How to Make a Mouse Pad

A sheet of foam is the main item you need for a do it yourself mouse pad.  You just need to glue on a pretty picture.  Design sponge shares all of the details for an artistic version.   

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designsponge.com/2013/11/diy-project-fine-art-mousepad.html

Watercolor Bookmarks

Watercolors are a nice way to introduce little ones to paining with a brush. Kristen tool has a cute idea for making a water color bookmark and glues a photo onto the top.  You could also glue a photo of the child to the top to make a really cute gift.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kristentool.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/make-your-own-watercolor-photo-bookmarks/

Grow creative makes leaf patterns on her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://growcreative.blogspot.com/2013/03/bright-flowers-bookmarks.html

Momtastic shares a very toddler friendly version having the kids paint on a larger paper and cutting the sheet into bookmark sized strips.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtastic.com/diy/172817-diy-watercolor-bookmarks

Picture Frame Made Out of Legos

Have a bunch of Legos all around your house?  Dad vs wild creates a colorful picture frame out of Legos.  A great gift and project for kids to make and put all of those Legos to use. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dadvswild.com/2010/11/homemade-gifts-dad-lego-picture-frame/