These are some great ideas.  One gift that I have enjoyed receiving from small children is homemade Christmas tree ornaments. I still hang the wooden cut-out candy canes that my niece painted from me when she was 4, and that was almost 40 years ago.  Then there's the God's eye my stepdaughter made from popsicle sticks and yarn.  Salt dough ornaments are a good project for kids that costs almost nothing, and even the youngest ones can paint them. Decorating pine cones is a good one: little kids enjoy painting them garish colors, while older kids can spray paint them gold or silver and glitter them.

Making Christmas presents can be a way to interest kids in sewing. They could sew and decorate personalized Christmas stocking. They could go green (and frugal) by making a soap-saver washcloth: fold a washcloth in thirds and sew up the sides. This makes a pocket into which you can slip those last little slivers of soap when the bar gets too small.  Older kids might make cell phone covers.

Then there's the classic pen cup made from a can covered with paper (or painted) and then decorated. A plain picture frame can be decorated with pebbles or shells or buttons or anything you can glue on; what grandmother could resist a picture of her grandchild decorated by that grandchild's own hands?  Or perhaps a work of art: a small wooden box could be decoupaged with a collage.  Even used flower pots can be given a new life with paint, and planted with a winter houseplant.

There are lots of ways that children can take part in gift-making and gift-giving.  It's a chance for them to find out how good it feels when someone likes something you made with your own hands, and how pleasant it can be to make something for someone you love.  And it can be down for very little money,

Couldn't figure out how to get my comment in thepost with the photo.  probably should have written first.  Any way, most of these are self explanatory.  Peppermints are baked at 375 degrees for 3 or 4 minutes.  Be careful as they will flatten out if left too long in the oven.  And they are fragile!

I have pictures of snowmen I helped my grand kids make yesterday. I need to know how to post them (I haven't ever posted pic before) but I can't seem to find the instructions. Can anyone help. Thanks

The snowmen are made from any length of 2x4 board painted white and at least one end cut square to be the bottom to stand on the other end doesn't have to be straignt.  Have the kids draw in pencil the face and buttons they want for the snowman spacing according to the length of board and leaving space at the top to glue on burlap or other cloth for hat. Paint or permanent marker the face on after you have drawn as you like.  Paint or glue on buttons.  glue on hat and or scarf from scraps you have on hand.  A fast and easy craft I saw on the internet but could not find it again on returning  – so it is not orginal from me.

whaledancer said:

Miki, your ornaments are cute. How do you stick the peppermints together? 

I'm sorry I did not get back sooner!  The peppermints are baked together and therefore fragile!  350 degrees for 3-4 minutes.   And they must be placed on wax paper on a cookie sheet!  Let them dry before slowly pulling off!