Parents and caregivers looking for cheap and fun ways to entertain kids in the summer can capitalize on the season’s long days and less busy schedules to craft holiday gifts. Summer is a great time to start houseplants from seeds, paint a garden stepping stone, or work with clay out on the deck or in the comfort of an air-conditioned kitchen.
Here are some ideas for summer craft projects that double as holiday gifts for the Christmas and Hanukkah season or birthday presents for grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends.
Paint a Garden Stepping Stone
Easy enough for a small child and fun for older kids, too, a painted stepping stone makes a great personalized gift to grace a grandparent’s garden walkway. Purchase a flat circular or square concrete stepping stone and paint it with a couple of layers of acrylic paint (leftover paint from a recent home project is perfect), then let your young artist loose with brushes and a variety of paint colors. After the paint dries, spray the stone twice with a clear sealant to create a long lasting stone with a one-of-a-kind decoration that won’t fade.
Start a Houseplant from Seed
Nothing could be cheaper and easier than starting an orange tree from a seed garnered from an afternoon snack of citrus. Fill a medium-sized pot with potting soil and plant three of the orange seeds in holes one to two inches deep. Keep the soil moist, but not too wet, and place the pot on top of the refrigerator or in another warm place under the seeds germinate. Then place the pot in a sunny location and don’t let the soil dry out. A plant started in summer should be at least a few inches tall by Christmas time, although the full-grown tree may never bear fruit.
Create Salt Dough Ornaments, Magnets
Salt dough clay is not only fun to work with, but dries rock hard for a long lasting gift. Mix one cup flour, one cup salt and half a cup of water together in a bowl. For salt dough ornaments, knead until smooth and then form into holiday shapes or roll flat and use Christmas cookie cutters to make two-dimensional ornaments. Allow the dough to dry for a few days or over a few hours in a 100-degree oven. To make magnets, shape small figures or designs from the clay and allow them to dry. Paint and spray the designs with a clear sealant and glue a small magnet on the back with silicone glue.
These craft projects make perfect summertime activities while giving kids an ample stockpile of presents for winter holidays, birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s Day, and other celebrations. Wrap each finished project carefully and store the presents in a place where they won’t be forgotten.
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