Gifts Archives - I Can Teach My Child!

Burlap and Branches Tic-Tac-Toe Game in a Bag

October 23, 2012 by Jenae — 5 Comments

If you’re looking for another inexpensive, fun, and relatively-easy homemade gift idea…this Burlap and Branches Tic-Tac-Toe Game in a Bag is for you! I was inspired by an outdoor tic-tac-toe game I saw at a barn sale that I recently went to that was set out as entertainment for the kids. It was made out of large branch slices (about 8-9 inches in diameter and 2-3 inches thick) and used stone tiles as the game board. Here is a picture I took on my phone:

After seeing this, I immediately knew I wanted to use the branch discs we made last year for our Tree Branch Blocks to make our own tic-tac-toe game with its own drawstring bag! If you don’t sew, you could easily make your own mat with a piece of a vinyl tablecloth and duct tape!

Here’s what you’ll need: Branch blocks, fabric (I used some leftover burlap), ribbon, a sewing machine, and a permanent marker (or paint).

1. Cut your piece of fabric. My bag ended up being 14 1/2″ x 17″ when it was complete, so the piece of fabric was about 16″ wide by 40″ long (when I factored in seam allowance and the drawstring top.

2. Use ribbon to create a tic-tac-toe board on the top half of your fabric piece. If you don’t want to use ribbon (which you’ll need to sew or hot glue on), you could also just use duct tape!

3. Pin the ribbon onto the fabric. I normally have an aversion to using pins, but in this case…it is completely necessary. :)

4. Sew the ribbon onto the fabric.

5. Fold the fabric, with the tac-tac-toe on the inside, and pin the sides to create the bag.

6. Sew each side.

7. Rip out the seam on the top inch of one of the sides. Place the ribbon inside and fold down the top of the exposed fabric to create the drawstring.

8. Sew the flap closed, making sure not to get the ribbon into the stitching.

9. Gather your branch blocks. Directions for these are here.

10. Use a permanent marker (or paint) to draw your X’s and O’s onto each branch block (and by the way, I’m not left-handed…I had to take the picture with my right hand, so I had to fake writing with my left). :)

Ready to play!

He’s strategizing!

One you’re done playing, just slip the X’s and O’s into the bag…

…and pull the drawstring shut!

All-in-all, I spent $0 (since I already had everything on hand) and less than an hour to make this fun game!

Be sure to check out more great homemade gift ideas here and on my Pinterest board!

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Filed Under: 3-5 years, Crafts, Gifts, MAKE IT, School Age

Handmade Gifts for Kids

October 9, 2012 by Jenae — 7 Comments

There are less than 11 weeks until Christmas! Can you believe it?!?! It seems like I was just putting away all of our Christmas stuff away a month or two ago…and now it’s almost here again! Although I love Christmastime, gift giving can sometimes stress me out (especially when it comes to making handmade gifts for kids). So like I’ve always resolved to do (but never really done), I’m starting early.

I REALLY LOVE to give handmade gifts. There is something about pouring yourself into a project that means so much more than picking up the latest gadget or gizmo at the store. But when I wait until the last minute, I don’t have the time or energy to pull off a handmade gift. So I’m left scouring Amazon for the latest and greatest “toy” to give the special little people in my life.

As I’m planning our gifts, I thought I would share with you a few ideas of handmade gifts we’ve given in the past. And there’s no excuse because you have a good 10 weeks to make these! :)

DIY Wooden Snap Blocks

Science Kit for Kids (with free experiment book)

Build Your Own Felt Snowman

DIY Car Mat Backpack

Peek-a-Boo House (made with disposable baby wipe container tops)

Ribbon Blanket for Baby

I Spy Mats

DIY Soccer Goal

Beanbag Stomp & Catch

The Truth in the Tinsel eBook with a Bag of Materials (Use the code “MYCHILD” to get 20% off). Find out how I created our binders here.

You can also check out more gift ideas on my Pinterest board.

What is your favorite handmade gift to give to children???

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Filed Under: Gifts, MAKE IT

DIY Wooden Snap Blocks

September 6, 2012 by Jenae — 10 Comments

Part of the fun of having a child attend preschool (for me, anyway) is seeing all the fun activities and toys they have! I got the idea for making these DIY Wooden Snap Blocks after seeing something similar in my son’s new preschool classroom. I immediately went on the hunt for the necessary supplies and began my woodworking adventure (you can also buy them here–but they’re pricey)!

The awesome thing about these blocks is that they transform ordinary block-building into something extraordinary by allowing blocks to “defy gravity”. Not only that, but they are EXCELLENT for fine motor control–the blocks are not easy to secure (or take apart), therefore your child must use those small muscles in his hands to connect them.

I’ll be honest with you–finding the necessary supplies was a bit tricky. I reused some blocks that we already, purchased the grommets and sockets, and drilled into them. In total, I spent about $15 for this cool toy (not including the price of the blocks). This would also make a great gift idea!

Here’s what you’ll need: Wooden Blocks, an 6 3/4″x6 3/4″ unfinished wooden plaque (I got mine at JoAnn’s for under $2 after my 40% off coupon), Snap Button Screw-In Studs (I used 2 packages of 25–these are by far the cheapest that I found…they were 80 cents EACH at our hardware store), Matching 3/8″ sockets and screws (which I had to purchase at our local hardware store), a pencil, and a drill/powered screwdriver (which even I can use).

Here is an example of the hardware you’ll need.

1. Line up the screw-in studs…I chose to do 3 rows of 3.

2. Screw them in.

3. Screw in the sockets using the loose screws onto one end of the blocks. Please Note: If your blocks are made out of very hard wood, you might need to use a more powerful drill or even pre-drill the holes to keep the drill from stripping out your screws (speaking from experience). I also found that it worked best when using a vice to hold the blocks in place while I drilled them.

Add one screw-in stud on one end and one going length-wise. Then add 2 sockets on the alternating sides. In total: You should have 2 screw-in studs and 2 sockets on each block (except for those that are too small, in which you’ll only have two.

Big Brother was SUPER serious about his block building!

Proud of his “leaning tower”! :)

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Filed Under: 3-5 years, Crafts, Fine Motor, Gifts, MAKE IT

“Play Shirt” for Daddy

June 15, 2012 by Jenae — 4 Comments

The thing my husband loves to do the most in life is play with his boys. The minute he gets home, they are normally wrestling on the living room floor while I finish up dinner. Keeping that in mind, I thought it would be fun to make him a “play shirt”, which combines two great ideas from two other blogs: A target on the front (from Celebrate Every Day with Me) and a road on the back (from Design Dazzle).

Here’s what you’ll need: a white t-shirt, fabric markers, red and white fabric, and a sewing machine (optional: you could just draw the target on the front of the shirt with fabric markers).

1. Trace circles from your fabric. I used a dinner plate, salad plate, and large cup. Cut the largest and smallest from the red fabric and the medium-sized circle from the white fabric.

2. Pin the circles on top of each other and sew.

3. Pin the target onto the front of the shirt. Make sure you pin it only on the first layer of fabric.

4. Carefully sew around the perimeter of the target onto the front layer of the shirt only.

All done with the front!

5. Turn the shirt over and draw a car track on the back of the shirt. I didn’t use a pattern (which I probably should have), I just made it up as I went along and used a Sharpie.

6. Let your little helpers use the fabric markers to add some color to the shirt. Ask your child to help you think of other places to add to the shirt.

The front: Perfect for aiming flying objects like angry bird plush toys, water balloons, and Nerf darts.

The back: Perfect for a quick back massage using matchbox cars!

As we prepare to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, I would ask that you would consider helping the fatherless. Click on the link below to donate just $10 to my friend Meagan and her incredible work in Zambia! We have reached almost 70% of our goal!

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Filed Under: Father's Day, Gifts

Father’s Day Photo Idea

June 14, 2012 by Jenae —

First things first…if you are my husband and you are reading this post. Shame on you! I told you not to even think about looking at the blog until after Father’s Day! :)

For everyone else…

I know I’m cutting it a little close, but I wanted to share with you a photo idea for Father’s Day! The idea is to dress your children up in their dad’s clothes and take a picture! Prince Charming wears a suit and tie to work EVERY day, so a tie (and dress shoes) was an obvious choice for us. Perhaps your child might want to wear Daddy’s favorite jersey or baseball hat!

Oh, and if you don’t know how to tie a necktie (like me) and need some instructions, this YouTube video is helpful! :)

I used PicMonkey.com (a free photo editing site) to add the text to this picture based on the lyrics of the song “I Want to Be Just Like You” by Phillips, Craig, & Dean (if you’ve never heard this song, get the tissues ready).

I used the font “La Belle Aurore” for the cursive writing and “Cardo” for the serif writing. I can’t decide to print it in color or in black-and-white. What do you think???