My 11-year old daughter was invited to 2 friends' birthday parties. Like I've mentioned before, money is super tight! I think we can find about $10 to spend on each girl.
Both girls are on cheerleading with my daughter. A while back I made my daughter a tee shirt with her name on it using iron-on letters in our cheerleading colors. We ironed-on some cheerleading designs on the front and decorated it with rhinestones. She has worn the shirt to practice and a lot of her friends liked it!
We could get tee shirts inexpensively and make a tee shirt for each one of her cheer friends as I have a lot of the stuff we used left over.
My daughter wants to make a bracelet with their names on it as well. We have lots of nice beads already!
She also wants to make pony tail holders in our team colors.
I figured we could use whatever is left over from the $10 to hit the dollar aisle. So each girl would get a cheer tee shirt in our team colors with her name on the back, a bracelet with her name on it, a pony tail holder in our team colors, and some dollar items like pencils or erasers.
I think that is a good gift. My daughter is excited to make things for her friends (as she LOVES doing crafts!) but has expressed that she is a little worried about what other girls might say about homemade gifts. I know most of these girls, and they are not snobby at all. I told her that a homemade gift is MORE special. We're both pretty good crafters, so none of the gifts are going to be lopsided or anything!
Are we good for gifts? The other option is to take the $10 per girl to Justice (where all these girls still love to shop) and try to take advantage of the 40% off, but I'm afraid we wouldn't get much more than ONE bracelet and that seems kind of skimpy! We went the craft kit route the last two years, and I think the girls pretty much have every craft kit at Michaels!
Thanks moms! My daughter was a little worried because she IS a tween and she's starting to get worried about being different. However, I showed her what you guys wrote and she's all excited now. She even started working on the bracelet!
Homemade gifts are a nice way to make something special for not a lot of money. Sounds like the girls will like what you have in mind. I say go for it. I would want my daughter to get something that she likes and is personalized for her instead of stuff she doesn't need. Just a side note: I still have a handmade angel ornament my friend made for me when we were freshman in high school. It goes on my tree every year.
I think you're more than good for gifts. :)
We've done home-made gifts for many a birthday party, and we've never had a negative reaction... Ever. I think it's awesome that some moms are still willing and able to take the creative time and patience to sit down with their kids and do this! Kudos, momma. :) Also, just the fact that your daughter wants to do this is awesome!
L.
I think you're very good for gifts! I think they will LOVE what you make ;)
I think only a mean, snotty girl would say anything negative, and it doesn't sound like her friends are that way at all!
My 16 year old daughter and her friends STILL make each other gifts, it's actually really sweet. They all bring homemade treats to the birthday girl at school, and they often make photo cards/collages for each other as well. They will also sometimes pool their money to buy something "big." The last gift was a Tiffany bracelet! Ten girls pitched in $15 each.
I often complain about how hard it is to have daughters, but this is one of their best traits IMO, they CAN be extremely thoughtful and kind, and making a present for a friend is a perfect example of that :)
love the home made gift ideas.... your on a roll and setting good example, it will be great.
I think it's awesome! You keep on going the homemade route. There is nothing sweeter and more memorable to girlfriends. My youngest's best friend comes from a family of 6 and all her gifts have been homemade. I certainly have never expected anything fancy from any of her girlfriends. There's just a very special connection when you take the time to make something for someone else. My youngest has always loved the gifts that her BFF has made for her and has them all still. If the girls turn their nose up at the gifts, then you will know who her friends really are. An idea for you, as it came in handy for me.....as your daughter gets older, teach her how to knit or crochet and the gifts will grow with her and her age group. A scarf for everybody. Have fun!
Just thought I would share that I used to make things for friends too...into high school. One of my best friends (who was on cheerleading with me) still has today a needlepoint picture that I made for her...25 years ago!! She has hung it in each one of her nurseries for her babies. :) I also used to make bracelets and jewelry. :)
Also, I remember one of the things that we loved to give for presents were this "cheerleader buckets" :) They had the girls name and pompons painted on...the bucket and paint colors being the school colors. Inside the basket were things like you mention...hairties, barrettes with the ribbons braided (http://remarkablydomestic.com/2010/05/13/remember-these-8..., HS or her name letters painted in school colors, school colored pencils, salt dough dolls with her name, etc.
Into college I learned to crochet and I made a sorority sister a blanket in the colors of the sorority with the greek letters on it. :) I think it is great that she wants to make her friends a personal present. Have fun. :)
What's your question? You sound like you have this totally under control!
Your daughter already likes the shirt and the other kids have admired it, you have a lot of the stuff, and your daughter is willing to spend the time to create something herself rather than just expect you to do all the work! Sounds like you're hitting it out of the park.
I don't think you have to give all those gifts - even just 2 would be great.
My daughter is in 5th grade and is 9, gonna be 10.
Now, she has a friend, that for years... always handmade gifts to friends.
ALL the girls, know this about her. She is just a real crafty girl who likes to make things. And we all know her Mom has a real lean budget.
No one makes fun of her.
My daughter, still has, the homemade things from her, even from 2nd grade.
But however, Tweens can be fickle.
9-12 years old, are Tweens.
The other thing is, making something or homemade things, can actually cost, more than $10. Homemade things are not necessarily "cheaper."
So keep that in mind.
Or, is there a "Claire's" store in your area????
Girls, LOVE this store. And they love gift cards from this store.
I would do a $10 gift card, and then your daughter can make the girl a bracelet, or bead ring on stretchy elastic, since you already have tons of beads at home.
Movie tickets are good-not sure what two tickets cost in your area-but your craft ideas sound really sweet!
You should offer this as a small business.
You can make some extra money to add to your income.
I think the homemade gifts sound perfect! Don't even bother with the dollar aisle. Way more meaningful than some thing anyone could get at a store. I'm sure they"ll love it.
