Homemade Christmas Gifts for Tweens

Moving on to tweens we meet our first difficulty in the homemade gift department. Tweens and teen are notoriously difficult to please. But it can be done.

One simple way is the creation of a coupon book just for them. Include coupons for items like a get out of chores for one day card, or chauffeur service on a weekend of their choice, or an all the goodies included movie night party at home. This is sure to please. Just sit for a minute or two and think about what they might like and then make the coupon to go with it.

Movie Gift Basket

Place the following in a popcorn tub or dollar store colorful bowl :

Microwave popcorn
A couple boxes of movie theater candy
A bottle of their favorite soft drink
A classic DVD or a movie rental gift card

Other gift ideas: Home made beauty aids, bath salts or a Rubber band airplane.

Bath Bombs / Bath Fizzies

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons citric acid (you can get this at a pharmacy)
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
3 Tablespoons coconut oil (or any other emollient oil like almond, avocado or
apricot kernel oil)
1/4 teaspoon fragrance oil
3-6 drops of food coloring (if desired)
Paper candy cups

Directions:

Place all of the dry ingredients (first 3) into a bowl and mix well.

Place coconut oil into a small glass bowl and add fragrance and food coloring.

Slowly add oil mixture into dry ingredients and mix well. Scoop up small amounts of the mixture and shape into 1" balls.

Let the balls rest on a sheet of waxed paper for about 2 to 3 hours, then place each ball into a candy cup to let dry and harden for 24 to 48 hours.

Store bombs in a closed, air-tight container. To use, drop 1 to 3 bombs into warm bath water.

Polar Fleece Scarf

Directions:

Purchase a 1/4 of a yard to make polar fleece in the fabric department of your local discount store.

Cut up the ends about 2-3 inches up vertically and about 2 inches wide on your sections you cut then just knot each ones end for a fun look.

Clay Beads for Jewelry Making

Ingredients:

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup salt
Warm water

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Gradually add warm water until mixture can be kneaded into a stiff dough. To reduce stickiness, dust with flour.

2. Roll into balls for beads. Pierce each with a toothpick for hole to thread onto string. Air dry and paint.

3. Include beading wire and clasps for them to make their own creations.