Creative Birthday Gifts

A pretty sewing box of her own, filled with scissors, needles, thread, a needle threader, embroidery floss, a few peices of felt, and a few easy starter kids quilting kits or latchhook kits. My daughter's first sewing was a felt heart that she embroidered the edge together with a blanket stitch and stuffed- it was a pincushion. (I cut the heart pieces out for her and I made several paper patterns so she could make her own felt things.)

knitting looms (which some come with instructions)and yarn.

Off topic but always fun for my girl was a butterfly habitat or an ant habitat. The any habitat in gel was really neat.

I gave my daughter a "busy box" for her 7th b-day. She LOVED it. I got a Sterlite plastic tote with a handle lid at Target for about $7. Then at craft stores I got her some acrylic paints, brushes, a couple of wooden birdfeeders to paint, birdseed, a journal, gel pens, and a disposable camera, and a $20 gift card to Jo-Ann for more craft stuff. I let her paint the birdfeeders and we put them on hooks outside the front window and back window by our deck. She played the role of birdwatcher, recording in her journal all the "important" things she saw on every other page and took pictures, which after we developed, she glued into her journal on every other respective page. She felt SO important....like she had a job. It was so much fun for her. The $20 gift card, I explained to her, was to go and buy any craft things she wanted that would fit into her now empty busy box so she could have a craft box of her very own to whip out on any rainy day or whenever. She bought some glitter crayons, a coloring book, some scrap material, felt, googly eyes, craft sticks...all kinds of stuff. I do the same thing with the $100 limit so this was under and she really had a lot of fun. She is constantly using her busy box and will add things to it all the time - like bottle caps, toilet paper tubes, whatever. She's 8 now, and her completed bird book is one of her most prized possessions.

Maybe get a babysitter for your other kids and take her out on a date with just you and your hubby. Let her pick the activities.

What about something to use for her crafts like an easel or a small table or desk if she doesn't have one. Also Klutz makes some great craft books with really good directions. It is not expensive but maybe a pot holder loop loom.

I'd say listen to her suggestion and how about a special day out too? Are there any places to go and paint your own pottery in your area? Kids love having a cup or plate that they have painted themselves, esp. if it's a dish or mug of their very own. Pretty special. If you are really wanting to whoop it up, let her invite a best friend to go with her.

For what it's worth, my sister has 3 boys aged 4-8, and each time I ask her what they want for birthdays it's nearly always art supplies. So your daughter isn't alone!

that is great! She indicated what is and is not important to her and she is not just being greedy or gratuitous.

Craft supplies are always still very special. My daughter is like that.
We have lots of craft supplies at home... she loves it.
Or... get her some crochet kits? Those are fun. Amazon has some, even E-bay.
Or bead kits.
Or, paint a plate type kits.
Or, t-shirt painting supplies, plus a couple of plain t-shirts for her to paint.
Or a tye-dye kit. Amazon has some and you can read the reviews of it.
Or, "friendship bracelet" kits.
My daughter is 7.... and she loves these things. And she has these.

Oh also, the brand "Alex Toys" makes great craft kits! Look it up on Amazon and you can see what they have and the reviews of it.
I also look at the reviews on Amazon... before buying anywhere or just for getting ideas.

Or, a birdhouse making kit.

good luck,
Susan

She seems to be very much in crafts so what about a craft book and supplies to go with it. There are some really great craft books out there. Also Wikki Sticks are great.

http://www.wikkistix.com/

Don't feel guilty! Heavens no...that is my Kristen and she is even older, she will be 10 in October, my mom gave her a whole bunch of art supplies at Christmas instead of the one token toy gift that most of the grand babies get, and Kristen couldn't have been more pleased! If you have a Michaels or a Hobby Lobby they have a lot of really neat all in one kits you can buy, a lot of the book stores will have how to draw books for all ages, Kristen had one that was super cute that was pretty simple, but it was all making animals from tracing your hand, it even came with a pouch of things to decorate your creations with, pom poms, sequins, rhine stones. I definitely liked the suggestion for a special day out or an art class too...Michaels does a lot of hands on classes. Some fun things that can be harder to find that are not traditional gifts maybe...paper dolls or maybe start her on a doll house that she could decorate and help assemble ( they get pricey, but I haven't known a girl alive that didn't Love to decorate them) Whatever you do, she will love it.

what about an art class? Maybe a local craft store has something for her age.

A digital camera is great for a creative child.

Get her a "big girl" art set with pastels, etc. Or better yet, sign her up for an art camp. Most museums have them in the summer and some art supply places. Or maybe take her for a private outing to a pottery painting place if she is in to that. She would also be old enough for paint by number stuff or a sun catcher kit. Take her to Michael's if there is one near you to get some ideas. Good luck.

How about hiring someone to teach her something for a couple of hours -- like cake decorating or jewelry making? Something a step up from cut and paste crafts for little kids. Then she will have a skill that she can continue with.

My whole family loves Sculpey. It's a clay that you bake in the oven and can be made into almost anything. We like to make jewelery, magnets and Christmas ornaments. There are several idea books that you can buy and thousands of project ideas on-line.

I've been in the same boat with material items. Last year when she turned 6, we started asking for charitable donations instead of a present. This has taught her the joy of giving and supporting a cause she cares about. Last year we supported MD SPCA and this year it was MS. As a special gift between us, I started Pandora bracelets for each of us. I've done all the shopping on Ebay so it hasn't been expensive.