Homemade gifts for kids

[MorningHasBroken]

Most of our nieces and nephews (we have 9 to buy for) seem to have every toy under the sun. Their parents are wealthy but we are most definitely not, so trying to find xmas presents that are unique but not vastly expensive is proving a challenge. Parents seem to place an increasing amount of emphasis on the monetary value of things.

I thought about making a couple of the boys (aged 5 and 6) a superhero cape each - out of a bright shiny (lycra?) material with their initials in a sort of badge on the back. I'm not convinced, once I've bought all the fabric, thread and extra decorative bits that it will be a particularly cheap option anyway!

So, is this acceptable or will they think homemade stuff is too cheapskate?

If it IS okay, anyone got any other ideas of nice things I could do for the others - a range of girls and boys from 5 months - 7 years! I wondered about getting dh to make a wooden pirate treasure chest (or I could decorate one of those blank cardboard ones you get), but wasn't sure what I should fill it with?

Money is super tight here so I am making a lot of stuff.

Monogrammed hankies
earrings
beaded denim bracelets (from the seams of an old pair of jeans)
sweetie sleighs
snowman soup
knitted hand warmers (fingerless gloves)
scarves and hats
felt stockings with sweets inside.

i don't even care much if folk think I am cheap..

my nana made me a few outfits for my favourite teddy. Made to measure teddy couture! along with the huge pile of books my dad bought me when I was about 8, it's the thing I remember most from my childhood. I adored them. if you're handy with a needle and thread, and can get best teddy / dolly measurements, I heartily recommend it.

This year I am going to have mdf cut out and holes drilled to make a do it yourself tool box for my childrens friends. The kit will also include screws and a screw driver.

For the baby, how about a patchwork blanket for the cot or pushchair? or a taggie like this?
Little girls up to age five or six would like a little red riding hood cape and with a cheap copy of the book it would go down a treat I'd say. Boys could have the super hero cape and a similar super hero book. Look in The Works and you won't pay much more than a pound a book.

They might really like the cape idea. I hope the parents aren't ungrateful though

I'm making DS a fix it Felix costume as one of his presents.

Treasure chest (cardboard one sounds great, you could paint it nicely) would obviously need to be filled with chocolate coins :o

My 5 and 7 yr old DSs would be very happy with a handmade cape (they probably wouldn't realise it was homemade anyway).

I made DS1 a wooden castle when he was 3 as his main Christmas present. It still gets played with now by his younger brothers - they have no idea I made it.

I'm learning to crochet:)

it's fun, fills in my lonely nights & is inexpensive to make gifts.

Some great ideas here, thanks all! Will go with capes with books then and a little red riding hood, a taggy for the baby, some pirate treasure (choc coins great idea! may also add some other shit little trinkets like those polished stones and old jewellery) and I thought about putting together a make-your-own jewellery set with some nice wooden beads, cord etc as well.

I've tried knitting before and failed miserably. Is crochet any easier?

Sock monkeys always go down well, especially if you personalise them with the child's favourite colours or theme.