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When I was growing up I often heard various expressions: \u2018It\u2019s better to give than receive\u2019 or \u2018giving is more joyous than receiving\u2019 and lastly, \u2018it\u2019s not about the size of the gift that matters.\u2019\u00a0 I used to ask myself Is it true? Is it better to give than receive?<\/i> As a kid I used to think that one of the biggest thrills at Christmas was finding a beautifully wrapped present under the tree with my name on it—a gift that was my very own! However, when I became an adult—and a parent—I soon discovered there were few greater joys than watching someone else opening a present, especially my children.<\/p>\n
For many years I\u2019ve been \u201cborrowing\u201d three kiddos to teach them how to make Mother\u2019s Day and Christmas gifts for their mothers. I felt this was not only a wonderful way for the kids to experience making homemade gifts, but to show their moms how much they cared. This past December was no different. I searched the internet for simple gifts that the kids could make that wouldn’t take a lot of time, or cost a lot of money, but gifts that would last a long time as well. I wanted the kids to create DIY gifts so that they could associate that positive feeling of joy when giving. So, with only three weeks before Christmas, I invited Chloe, Ava, and Cole into our home. The six hours we had together was just enough time to squeeze in lunch and craft three different gifts which hopefully would captivate a mothers\u2019 heart.<\/p>\n
The first projects were jewelry boxes. I purchased unfinished boxes from Hobby Lobby. I provided the kids with plenty of basic art materials such as colorful markers, acrylic paints, various sizes of paintbrushes, glue, scissors, beautiful ribbons, and wood decals to make their own creation! \u00a0I wanted to unleash the kid\u2019s artistic potential and unlock a whole new world of creative possibilities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n <\/a><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The second projects were confetti bowls. The super cool confetti bowls were made with only three easy steps. And this simple activity doesn’t require much in the way of supplies. The kids didn\u2019t need any crafting skills for this, and the results were so cool! The confetti bowls met all the criteria that I was looking for: they wouldn’t take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Anyone can make one, and I mean anyone. It\u2019s an easy DIY craft for kids or for adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n First we had to inflate balloons. Then we placed the balloon in a medium sized bowl. Next the kids smeared Mod Podge to half of the balloon. They then applied confetti directly to the wet Mod Podge. The kids applied 4 layers of Mod Podge and confetti. The internet predicted it would take 12-18 hours for the bowls to dry. So, long after the kids left, I popped the balloons and trimmed the bowls before giftwrapping.\u00a0<\/p>\n The final projects were rope baskets. Would you believe these rope baskets started out as simple plastic dollar store laundry baskets? The kids used jute rope, glue guns, and muslin fabric to make these stylish baskets in less than an hour. The hardwearing jute baskets will be a practical option for all kinds of uses. From storing various items or be used as laundry baskets.<\/p>\n Now back to the question\u2026 Is it true? Is it better to give than receive? My answer is, yes! And it’s important to remember: it’s not the size of the gift that counts, but the size of the love behind it that matters most.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n