Let’s say you’re a 6-year-old girl, and it’s your birthday. How would you feel receiving this gift? When I was six, my creative wheels would be spinning and I would be so excited to sit down and draw and create, and WOW–it even has my name on it!
This is a $6 birthday gift, actually $1 over my usual budget for kid birthday gifts, but I explain why below. Do you want to make one too? Here’s how:
1. Find a great deal on art supplies. I bought these Crayola goodies at Toys R Us in December when they were Buy One, Get Two Free, so I paid only $5 for all three items. I stuck a bunch in my gift closet waiting for the next invitation to a classmate’s birthday party. Target just had a BOGO sale on Crayola, or you can wait until the back-to-school sales in August.
2. Next, you need a cute container. I didn’t have a better bargain, so I got this at the Dollar Store. Since then, I have picked up even cheaper (i.e. free) containers with CVS ExtraBucks. I am a huge fan of toys that include their own storage, so I don’t like giving a gift of small parts without a way to organize it. I used some leftover scrapbooking stickers to spell out the name.
3. Find some other freebies you have lying around the house–in this case, a pencil box that was FREE at Staples last fall, some scrapbooking stickers, and a few pretty pencils.
4. Put a little tissue paper (recycled from the last round of gift bag gifts) in the bottom, then fill the container with your goodies. Make a birthday card with the usual construction paper and voila. Great kid birthday gift!
When we were done, my son whined, “I wish it was my birthday, I want one of these for me!”
What frugal kid birthday gifts have you given or received? Next Monday, I’m hosting a Mr. Linky here at Moneywise Moms where you can link up your posts showing your frugal kid gifts. Get those cameras out, and let’s get creative with $5 or less!
A few months ago you told us about getting Cranium games for under $6 at Toys R Us. I bought a dozen of them and have been doling them out for birthday gifts.
For cards, I used a 40% coupon at Michael’s to get a pack of plain white cards with envelopes (I think I spent about $5 for 50 cards). The girls decorate them for every occasion. Usually we’re doing it at the last minute so they just draw a picture and add some stickers. But when we have more time, I glue on a rectangle of colored paper and let them kick it up a notch with glitter glue or other art supplies.
After the holidays, I shopped the 50% off (and then 75% off) bins at Target. They had tons of Disney Princess, Hello Kitty, High School Musical and Hannah Montana “goodies” that were intended as stocking stuffers. I bought a bunch for the four January birthday parties that were already on our calendar. Now I wish I’d bought enough for all year!
I have had similar luck post-Valentine’s Day, and I should probably be scoping out the Easter loot right now…
At any rate, the art bin idea is great. I really enjoy your blog!
wow what a cute idea! thanks
What a great idea! I cannot wait to see what others come up with!
i do this too. i often find great goodies at dollar tree. they also have the clear plastic to wrap the baskets in. i print out a fancy tag and tie it with a bow! cute present for little $!
What type of gifts do you suggest for a 1 year old?
Thanks!
What a great idea! Thanks for this suggestion!
Great idea…my own son has a craft bin (and a cutting bin with kids scissors and such) and adores it.
Kids sure do love little “kits”.
@ Holly…for a 1 year old I would give a book bi with board books (found at Dollar Tree or bargain racks at bookstores).
There’s nothing like helping a kiddo build his or her own first library.
I have made several birthday presents like this. They are affordable and versatile.