I am going to put together some activities for the kids this year. I want it to be special. A gift they will have a permanent record of and a little memory photo album with it and also a one use camera to record it.
- Nature Walk for Artists Gift Pack: This gift includes a one use camera, a sketch pad, a charcoal pencil, a sharpener, and an eraser. Also included will be a book on whatever the nature walk is most about, such as trees, birds, flowers, etc. There will be a little photo album in it to store the pictures after the person does the activity or the drawings they complete.
- The Gifted Journalist: A nice large as possible sized journal, a calligraphy set, glue stick, pencils of different colors, note cards to take notes on while away from the journal, Thesaurus and Dictionary. Some little decorations for gluing in the journal such as those used in scrap booking. I like to make a journal a book of things to read and look at and remember like tickets, rose petals, etc.
- Coffee Drinker: A coffee cup, a teakettle, coffee, creamer, and a book that is huge and colorful to read while the person is drinking coffee. Also a print out of the history of coffee, and how it is made etc. With this I would put a throw for sitting and drinking the coffee while being covered and cozy with the throw.
- Donut Making Kit: Loaf of bread, skillet to fry donuts in, powdered sugar, little bottle of oil to fry with, tongs, beautiful colored mixing bowl, Package of pancake mix (just add water kind), loaf of bread (give this the night before Christmas or just add bread later). You could add a serving tray, a little one.
Recipe: Cut bread slices into circles, squares. Add water to pancake mix and stir. Coat bread pieces in pancake mix. Fry in oil. Take out, drain most of oil off and then toss in powdered sugar to coat. This is great with sugar free substitute.
- What I Like About You: I like this idea, it is a keepsake for life. I call around to friends and ask them to send what they like about this person. I take the writing which should be on one side of the paper only so it can be read in the album. I also ask if there are any pictures of the person or find pictures of them at different ages. I put the letters of what people like into the photo album, wrap it up and give it as a gift. It is probably the least costly of all the gift packages but one that will be cherished.
- Photographer Package: I would put a single use camera in this one, and about six to eight frames to put the photos in when the person has taken the photos. A book on how to take photos would be included, and a scrapbook kit also. Maybe some little knicknack or something about being a photographer, such as a plaque or a pencil or anything you might find.
- Freebie Package: All year long try to find freebies, and stash them away, at the end of the year put them in a box, wrap them up and add a note that says. I freely give my love to you, or something corny like that.
Take into account the things that the people like to do; such as drinking tea (teapot, teabags, cute potholders, book to read, and a package of cookies to eat while drinking the tea) studying a certain subject such as the oceans, math, etc, (book on the subject, notebook or journal, pens and pencil sets, calculator, etc.)
Any kind of enjoyable activity, such as sitting in front of the TV. I would include a nice throw, some hot chocolate, and some marshmallows or sugar free hot cocoa, and a pillow to lean their head on while they are watching and a subscription to TV guide if they don't already have one (you can omit this if it is too expensive).
One more thing. Teachers just like gift cards at Walmart, they get enough candles and such to last a lifetime.
Merry Christmas to you all!
By Robyn Fed
