Homemade gifts kids can make for parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, and siblings are always a favorite with family and friends. Help the kids make handmade crafts and DIY gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Christmas, a birthday, or your child’s favorite teacher with this list of gorgeous handmade gift ideas! You might also enjoy this list of homemade gift ideas for Dad and Grandpa –>HERE, and this list of gifts for Mom that she will love. Or check out this gift guide filled with DIY and ready-made ideas for the whole family!
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The joy of giving is a universal sentiment that transcends age. For children, crafting a heartfelt gift for their parents, grandparents, teachers, siblings, and friends can nurture their creativity and foster a deep sense of love and appreciation. Whether for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation Day, a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, or any other special occasion, this list of homemade gifts that kids can make holds a unique charm that store-bought items can’t replicate. Scroll down to explore a delightful and festive array of homemade gift ideas that children from toddlers to teens can create with enthusiasm and pride.
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The beautiful list of homemade gifts below has several great ideas for parents and grandparents that make holiday gift-giving fun. Below you will find easy kid-made gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, a birthday, or any other special occasion. You can also find great gift ideas that kids from toddlers and preschoolers, grade school kids, tweens, and teens can make for friends, siblings, a cousin, or a favorite teacher–scroll to the bottom to see them all!
The gift ideas in this collection of homemade gifts kids can make for parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and friends are best made by children with the help of a caregiver. First, scroll through the kid-made gift ideas below and choose a craft or two to make. Next, surprise mom, dad, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, or your child’s favorite teacher with your gorgeous handmade gift!
***Click on the title of each handmade gift idea to see the complete step-by-step tutorial for each DIY gift.***
Handprint crafts made by toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary-aged kids always make a great keepsake gift idea for parents and grandparents–no matter the occasion. Try any of the handprint gift ideas below.
Here’s a four-season handprint and fingerprint tree that makes a lovely keepsake gift perfect for year-round gift-giving. Teach children about the rhythm of the seasons that occur within the “Wheel of the Year” while making a homemade gift for mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa that they will treasure for many years.
Here’s a unique handprint ring bowl or jewelry dish keepsake gift. Rings look beautiful threaded onto the fingers or sitting in the palm. And necklaces can be placed in the palm of the handprint. Or they can be draped across the fingers. If you look closely at the photograph below, you will notice that the necklace pendant is engraved with my toddler’s artwork. Handmade jewelry also makes a lovely DIY gift idea children can make. So we have provided a few homemade jewelry crafts on the list below. (Scroll past the handprint craft and picture frame gift ideas to see them.) Or give someone a special new piece of jewelry to go with this gorgeous handprint craft gift.
Here’s a heart-shaped keepsake salt dough craft you can make with a handprint and footprint that makes an easy kid-made gift idea for mom, dad, or grandparents. Or, check out this collection of keepsake gifts kids can make. It contains several other heart-themed crafts that make great gift ideas any time of year–not just Valentine’s Day. And don’t forget to make a keepsake gift with the kids for yourself while you’re at it!
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Invite the kids to help make handprint art with a thumbprint heart on a gorgeous wooden plaque or a simple piece of colored cardstock with this easy DIY gift tutorial. This handprint gift idea doubles as a kissing hand that you can put near a classroom door and makes a great gift idea for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or your child’s favorite teacher.
One of the most timeless and cherished gifts for family and friends is a picture frame decorated with love and filled with photographs, artwork, a poem or verse, etc. Invite kids to try either of the simple handmade picture frame crafts below.
Children (toddlers, preschoolers, kids, and teens) can make these handmade keepsake gifts for someone special for any occasion. Put handprint art or footprints, photos, artwork, or a poem or verse inside each handcrafted shell frame for a one-of-a-kind homemade gift kids can make that your family will treasure! Learn how to make the personalized shell frames in the photograph below–>HERE.
Related: Sea Shell Calming Sensory Bottle
An upcycled tissue paper frame is an easy decoupage craft for kids and adults. We used a frame with a heart shape to make the personalized frame craft in the photograph below. However, any raw wooden frame with a flat surface would be perfect for this simple picture frame craft project. Place photographs, artwork, or a quote inside, and you have an easy (and beautiful) personalized gift idea kids can make for parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends. And a keepsake to treasure for years to come.
Imagine the twinkle in a child’s eye as they meticulously string together beads, charms, and trinkets, crafting a piece of jewelry uniquely theirs. Personalized jewelry crafts offer a delightful blend of artistic expression and heartfelt gifting. From vibrant hand-beaded necklaces that mirror the recipient’s personality and intricate bracelets woven with care to unique handmade pendants and charms, the list of jewelry crafts below allows children to infuse their creations with personalized magic.
As little hands place every bead or craft each pendant, they can create a beautiful accessory and forge a deeper connection with the person they’re crafting for. It’s a journey of creativity that transforms ordinary materials into extraordinary tokens of affection, leaving a lasting imprint on both the jewelry and the heart of the recipient.
Kids can craft personalized jewelry items like hand-beaded necklaces or bracelets for a touch of elegance and sentiment. They can use beads, charms, and strings to create unique pieces that reflect the recipient’s personality and taste. This gift idea can showcase a child’s creativity while allowing them to express affection.
Learn how to make a necklace that reads mom, mum, grandma, or nana, or help the kids make a necklace or bracelet with any name, word, or phrase for mom, grandma, a teacher, BFF, or even your favorite aunt! Or, make a mother-daughter gift set like the necklaces in the photograph below. Handmade necklaces and bracelets make a gorgeous DIY gift idea that kids can make.
Wooden bead stretch bracelets make an easy friendship gift idea. No prior experience is necessary, and they also make a great gift idea children can make for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or a teacher. An older child can make these simple beaded bracelets independently with minimal guidance, while a younger child will most likely need a little help.
Related: How to Start and Finish Beaded Necklaces and Bracelets
Another fun way to personalize a necklace for mom or dad is to paint a wooden spool and string it onto a necklace. Wooden spool necklaces and bracelets are a quick and easy gift idea that kids can make for a friend, teacher, mom, or dad!
Acorn necklaces with natural acorn caps make a unique piece of handmade jewelry and DIY gift ideas kids can make for family, teachers, and friends. This handmade nature craft also looks gorgeous, hanging in a window as a suncatcher. Or, make acorn marble ornaments with your children to decorate your Christmas tree!
Help the kids gather the supplies to make personalized photo necklaces or photo keychains for family and friends. Picture necklaces, pendants, and charms are easy handmade gift ideas children can make with the help of a parent, teacher, or caregiver.
Invite children to use their fingers and thumbs to make fingerprint art necklaces or keychains with the same type of pendants the picture necklaces in the photograph above are made with. DIY fingerprint charms and pendants are a simple gift idea kids can make for parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends. Click on the title of each handmade gift idea on the list below for the materials list and DIY details.
Like the fingerprint art necklaces shown above, this list of homemade gift ideas is filled with creative ways to make fingerprint arts and crafts into gorgeous gifts anyone would cherish. Each of the fingerprint craft ideas below makes a creative personalized gift for Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Teachers, and Friends.
Invite children to use their thumbs and fingertips to make fingerprint art magnets. Fingerprint magnets make a sweet keepsake gift for anyone, especially parents and grandparents. However, making these sweet keepsake gifts isn’t just for kids–even adults are sure to enjoy making these fun refrigerator magnet crafts for family and friends–or just for fun! Click on either of the DIY fingerprint magnet craft tutorials below for complete step-by-step instructions.
Related: The Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids
Here’s a list of fingerprint and thumbprint heart gift ideas perfect for mom, dad, or grandparents! Encourage children from toddlers to preschoolers to tweens and teens to make one of these fun heart crafts for someone they love for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year.
Related: DIY Keepsake Gifts for Him or Her
In the world of gift-giving, few things capture the essence of heartfelt dedication, like hand-beaded crafts created by kids. There are several kinds of beaded crafts kids can make in addition to the hand-beaded necklaces, bracelets, and jewelry gift ideas on the list above. With a palette of colorful beads at their fingertips, young artisans can embark on a journey as they create something beautiful for someone special while making memories that last a lifetime.
A gorgeous DIY suncatcher strung with pony beads and a prism, like the rainbow suncatcher in the photograph below, is a homemade gift idea children can make for parents, teachers, and friends. They are simple to make, look beautiful hanging in windows, and cast gorgeous rainbows across the room when the sunlight hits them. Learn how to make these easy beaded crafts–> HERE.
A heart prism suncatcher is another easy fine-motor pony bead craft for children from preschoolers to teens and even adults. Heart Prism suncatchers make wonderful kid-made gifts for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or any other special occasion!
Easy DIY sea glass suncatchers are GORGEOUS! I love the fire and ice look that my daughter created. They look beautiful in any light–but are exceptionally magical when the sun hits them. My daughter and I also made beautiful DIY Wind Chimes using these beautiful sea glass beads, which is another great gift idea that children can make.
Here’s the hand-beaded wind chime my daughter and I made with sea glass beads. A sea glass wind chime makes a lovely garden and yard gift idea for family and friends. Click the link for the step-by-step DIY tutorial.
Candleholder crafts, lanterns, and luminaries give children the opportunity to become architects of light and ambiance. With a dash of creativity and imagination, young minds can transform simple materials into mesmerizing creations that evoke warmth and wonder. From personalized votives to mason jar luminaries and lanterns, these crafts are not merely decorative but useful objects that cast gentle light throughout a room. Whether you craft intricate candle holders that dance with flickering flames or design simple lanterns that cast a pattern on walls, these projects offer a magical experience that bridges artistry and functionality.
Related: Glass Paint Heart Tree
My daughter and I made the heart lanterns in the photo below with real fall leaves. However, you can easily substitute whole leaves, construction paper, or tissue paper hearts to make these lovely luminaries. Fill them up with words of gratitude as a hostess gift for Thanksgiving, or fill them with goodies such as sweet treats and candles for a DIY Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day gift from the kids!
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Leaf lanterns and luminaries are lovely gift ideas kids can make for someone special in autumn. Give one to a teacher at the beginning of the school year or to a family member or friend with a fall birthday. Leaf luminaries made with mason jars make a great homemade hostess gift idea for a fall harvest celebration or Thanksgiving. They would also make a great gift idea for a couple getting married in the fall or for an autumn anniversary.
Related: Turkey Leaf Lanterns
Hand-sewn gifts are a testament to patience and creativity as kids transform humble fabrics into gifts to be treasured. The joy of hand-sewn gifts isn’t just in the final product; it’s in the quiet moments where stitches weave dreams into keepsake tokens that carry their unique touch. When gifted, these creations speak volumes, narrating stories of affection that resonate far beyond the threads and fabric.
Whether your child knows how to sew or is just learning, these felt lovebirds make an easy gift idea that kids can sew by hand. Hand-sewn lovebird crafts make a great gift idea for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or a wedding, anniversary, or birthday.
A pocket pet mouse is a great handmade birthday gift idea that children can make for a friend of family member.
Sew a narwhal for someone special with this sewing project idea. A narwhal softie makes a lovely plush toy for kids and is an equally lovely keepsake for people of all ages when hand-sewn by a child. Another fun idea is to have children make one of these sweet gifts for a sibling or a cousin.
Here’s a list of heart-shaped sewing projects that make great gift ideas for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, a wedding, or an anniversary. Get the DIY details for these fun heart sewing project ideas here–> Easy Heart Sewing Projects for Beginners.
Here’s a great hand-sewn gift idea for Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or a teacher. Of course, apple crafts like this sweet idea make a great gift for Teacher Appreciation Day. But it also makes a great gift for a family member, especially if the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree! Learn how to make this hand-sewn apple craft idea here–> Hand-Sewn Button Apple Tree.
Capturing the essence of nature’s beauty, flower craft gift ideas offer a delightful way for kids to express their love and gratitude. Children can transform simple materials into blooming masterpieces, infusing their creations with their unique touch. A flower crafted by a child’s hands becomes a heartfelt reminder of the love that blossoms between generations and encapsulate the beauty of the relationships between kids, their mothers, grandmothers, and teachers. Make any of the beautiful flower craft ideas for Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Her Birthday, or Teacher Appreciation Day.
This easy flower craft will help the kids make a single felt flower or a whole bouquet of felt flowers on twig stems for mom, grandma, an auntie, or their favorite teacher!
This simple watercolor painting tutorial invites your child to paint a rose for their favorite aunt, grandma, nana, or mom! You can also paint a rose for Mom onto a printable Mother’s Day card with the same rose outline. Or, use crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color a Mother’s Day coloring card.
Related: Winter Tree Black Glue Art
Scented bath salts are a super easy gift that kids can make. Think of bath salts like a spa in a bottle–a gift that anyone would enjoy! Best of all, scented bath salts are a simple gift idea that children can make for parents, grandparents, or a teacher!
Many of the handmade gifts mentioned above would make a great gift for a teacher or a friendship gift for your BFF, classmates, and friends. However, we thought we’d provide a special section first highlighting a few friendship gift ideas followed by a few fantastic gift ideas for Teacher Appreciation Day.
Friendship is a treasure to be celebrated, and what better way for kids to express their appreciation than through handcrafted friendship gifts? These heartfelt gestures can help kids learn the importance of valuing and cherishing the people who fill their lives with laughter and companionship. So this list of freindship gift ideas can also be fun to make for siblings and cousins. First, we share a few friendship gift ideas that are not shown in the photographs above. Next, we share a short list of a few gifts for friends, siblings, and cousins that were briefly mentioned in the previous sections.
Fingerprint keychain and backpack charms are fun and easy way to create something unique for each person on your list. Learn how to make these personalized homemade gifts here–> Fingerprint Art Keychains and Backpack Charms.
Here’s a fun hand-beaded craft and jewelry making project you can personalze for a friend or group of freinds, classmates or teamates, with their name, nickname, the name of their favorite team, an inspirational word or phrase, or an acronym such as BFF. And while your at it, you can make one for yourself! Learn how to make this simple hand-beaded gift idea here–> Name or Word Necklace.
A DIY Tetris Cube is a fun homemade gift idea kids can make for friends, siblings and cousins. Tetris puzzle cubes are a fun fidget toy for kids of all ages. Get the step by step instructions for this unique homemade gift idea here–>Tetris-Inspired Puzzle Cube.
Make a fairy wand or a magic wand in a rainbow of colors with this easy DIY. Rainbow ribbon wands also make a great party favor idea for a birthday party or other special event. Get step-by-step instructions for this fun project here–>Star Wand with Ribbons.
Rainbow Fairy Wands
Thoughtful creations like those on the list above are more than just tokens; they are tangible symbols of the special bonds kids share with their friends, siblings, and cousins. From personalized friendship bracelets to whimsical keychains that carry memories with every jingle, these gifts are a true testament to the joy of giving.
Like friendship gifts, many of the DIY gifts kids can make on the list above can be made by your children and given to a teacher. For example, a handmade felt flower or a hand beaded necklace, bracelet, or suncatcher can be just as lovely for a teacher as it is for Mom, Grandma, or most anyone else. However, the apple teacher gift ideas below are apple-so-lutely perfect kid-made gift ideas for teachers!
An Apple button tree is a great gift for your child’s favorite teacher. You may also like to try our gorgeous hand-sewn button apple tree mentioned in the section with hand-sewn gifts kids can make.
Last but certainly not least, we have several homemade card crafts you can make to go along with your handmade gifts. Scroll down to see several ideas you can try with the kids.
Here’s another flower craft kids can make. It is not mentioned in the section with flower craft ideas above because we thought it would be better to list it with these handmade card ideas. With that said, this project could just as easily be made into a flower craft that is not a card. Invite your child to make a beautiful rosebud card for mom, grandma, nana, or their teacher. Rosebud pinecone cards are wonderful homemade gift cards children can make for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, or a birthday!
Thumb-Buggy fingerprint lovebug cards can be personalized with a unique message for for family and freinds. The how-to contains several phrase and message ideas you can use for Valentine’s Day Cards, Mother’s Day Cards, Thank you cards, and more! Learn how to make these cute homemade cards cards (and see fun ways to make them for different occations) here–> Fingerprint Lovebug Card Crafts.
Or, use this printable Mother’s Day Coloring Card that can be personalized with crayons, colored pencils, markers, or watercolor paint, and a message for mom inside.
Printable Mothers Day Coloring CardHere’s a collection of cards you can color for Dad, Grandpa, Father-in-Law, or another father-like figure in your life for Father’s Day or his birthday. Although several of these printable coloring cards say “Happy Father’s Day” there are a few you can personalize for his birthday or just to say “I love you” any time of year! See them all here–> Printable Father’s Day Cards to Color.
Here’s a collection of handprint, footprint, and fingerprint crafts you can use to make homemade cards for the holidays. See several fun ways to create Christmas cards to send to family and friends or give with gifts here–>Christmas Card Crafts.
Related: Reverse Fingerprint Christmas Tree Card
We hope you enjoyed this great list of homemade gifts kids can make for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or a birthday. Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners are likely to need assistance with these homemade gift ideas for parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends. While older children and teens can make most of these kid-made gift ideas independently. You might also enjoy our Ultimate Family Gift Guide with DIY and ready-made ideas for year-round gift-giving.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
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