In our house, Grandma and Grandpa are heroes. They are best friends, bringers of snacks and gifts, and givers of sick snuggles. That’s why our kids get so excited to make them gifts for just about any occasion, and Christmas is no exception. We’ve always got our eyes peeled for adorable DIY presents we can help our kids create for their grandparents and that list only grows around this time of year!
Just in case you love the idea of getting crafty with your kids in order to help them give their grandparents something homemade and sentimental just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the best designs we’ve come across so far.
1. Kids’ photo interchangeable outfit blocks
Besides being avid little crafters, our kids are also total hams in front of a camera. That’s why helping them make this interchangeable outfit photo block set was so simple! They were more than happy to put on four different funny outfits to make all the sides of the blocks look great. Once you’ve got the photos taken, Meaningful Mama shows you how to do the rest too!
2. Grandkids clothespin photo hanger
Maybe you’d rather make your parents something they can display proudly in their house so you’re looking to do the bulk of the artwork, but you really like the idea of getting the kids involved in picking out photos? Well, if you’re a big fan of hand painting then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how My Simple Obsession made this adorable quote plaque with a mini clothesline for hanging photos on.
3. Mod Podged photo planter
Can you tell by now that we really love photo projects? They’re just so cute and personalized that we can’t resist! If your kids’ grandparents are greenery lovers, then we think perhaps you’ll get along very well indeed with something like this photo decoupaged planter idea outlined step by step thanks to Mod Podge Rocks.
4. Handprint apron
Maybe you’ve given the grandparents plenty of photo based gifts before and you’re looking for something a little different now, and maybe something that’s a little more hands-on for the kids to help with? Well, this super fun customized apron from Simply Kierste takes that idea very literally indeed! Check out how they made this lovely handprint design in their tutorial.
5. Send-a-hug
Do your kids’ grandparents live a far away so you can’t send them something quite as large as a box of building blocks or a whole plant in a heavy pot? Then maybe simply drawing them pictures, writing them messages, and putting them all in an extra special envelope will do! We adore the way Raising Arizona Kids embellished their envelope to look like it’s delivering a hug.
6. Handprint window wall hanger
Just in case you were very into the handprint idea as a gift for the kids’ grandparents but you don’t think they’ll have any use for an apron, here’s another idea that’s a little bigger and more decorative! Check out how Not So Idle Hands used an old window pane still in its frame as an opportunity to document little hands as they are now.
7. Handprint glass ball ornament
We know that handprint crafts are simple, fun, and incredibly nostalgic, so we want to make sure you have all kinds of options before you decide! Here’s an idea from A Sorta Fairytale that’s a little more specifically Christmassy, just in case you’d really like to make an actual holiday craft. It’ll look special on their Christmas tree for years to come!
8. Rice filled sock heating snuggly
Maybe your parents live close by and your kids would like to actually make them something they can really use this winter? Well, we can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love a little extra help keeping warm when the weather is cold and dark, so take a look at how Unsophisticook made microwavable warmers from socks and rice!
9. Hand and footprint Christmas tea towels
Here’s another fantastic hands-on craft that’s simple to make, useful for your parents around the holidays, and specifically holiday themed! We adore the way Let Kids Create had their kids print their hands and feet onto a tea towel with fabric paint and then embellished the prints to look like a reindeer and a Christmas tree.
10. Grandkids photo bracelet
Maybe Grandma is particularly nostalgic and just can’t possible get enough pictures of the kids no matter how many photo based things you make? Then we can pretty much guarantee she’ll adore this lovely DIY charm style bracelet that features a picture of each grandchild in the connection. See how it’s made in more detail The Country Chic Cottage!
11. Watering can photo display
Maybe you’d rather make something themed along what the kids’ grandparents actually love doing rather than just the fact that it’s Christmas? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Sprinkle Some Fun made this lovely garden themed photo gift if either of your parents has ever had a green thumb! Sure, they might not sit it outside until spring, but until then it will brighten up the living room near the Christmas tree.
12. Thumbprint magnets
Maybe you really like this hand and footprint idea but you’re looking to make something small enough that you can send it to your parents a long distance in the mail? In that case, we think these funny little personalized thumbprint magnets outlined step by step on Busy Mom Vs Daily Grind might be a little more up your alley! Each child can do one and they’ll still be space efficient to send.
13. Generations photo project
If you’re going to make something cute for your child’s grandparents, would you rather make them something they can extrend or participate in? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Moose Photography did this lovely generations based photo project! Give the almost completed frame to the eldest generation and taking their own picture holding it will actually feel like part of the gift.
14. Scrabble family shadow box
If you have a rather large family, it might not be conducive to try and get prints of everyones hands and feet at once, nor to try and send what you’d printed them on to someone in the mail! Instead, especially if your family likes board games, we’d suggest taking a look at how This Is Sesame created this Scrabble tile of family names in a shadow box. Talk about personalized decor!
15. Sand footprints keepsake
Just because it’s winter right now doesn’t mean every gift you give has to be snow or Christmas themed! What if the place that your kids and their grandparents’ have bonded the most over the years has been at the beach? In that case, we have a feeling you’ll get along a little better with something like this wonderfully creative sand footprints frame outlined in careful steps on Paging Fun Mums.
