Alternative Gift Giving Guide

alternative gift giving guide

When it comes to Gift Giving, I am always a little stumped and sometimes even feel a bit guilty. The minimalist and eco-consious side of me wants to do away with gifts completely. The teacher side of me wants to only give education gifts. The creative side wants to make all of my gifts. I become torn. That is why I have decided to put together this Alternative Gift Giving Guide.

My goal is to help you take the focus off the buying and the gift itself and to shift the focus to the giving, the caring, and the joy in being thoughtful about the perfect item for that special person you are buying for.

Alternative Gifts: DIY/ Hand-made Gift Guide

alternative gift giving guide

I have the pleasure of knowing some pretty amazing bloggers who are great at developing and creating DIY gift guides for children. Each of these guides will make you want to run out tomorrow to your local craft store and make something off the list.

(left to right, top to bottom)

1. Creative DIY Gifts for Kids by Fun at Home with Kids

I love everything that Fun at Home with Kids ever has to post. This was one place I turned to even prior to starting a blog. This guide will not disappoint you. In fact, I have her DIY Sensory Boards and Discovery Bottles at the top of my list of gifts to make for Super B.

2. 50 Handmade Toys for Kids by Dirt and Boogers

Amanda has done an amazing job of gathering 50 fantastic toys that you can make for any little one on your list. Where else can you find so many wonderful ideas in one place?

3. 18 Homemade Toys for Kids Made from Dollar Store Items by And Next Comes L

This guide had me at the words “Dollar Store”. The teacher in me absolutely loves the dollar store! Dyan is incredibly creative and crafty. I am thinking of making Homemade Geoboard for the boys to use in Homeschooling in the near future.

4. Sensory Play Kit by Mama.Papa.Bubba

Playdough, water beads, cloud dough… you name it, she’s made it! I know my boys would be ecstatic if this was a gift for them. I see myself coming back to this guide over and over for future birthday gifts. Who am I kidding, I think I would love this for myself!

5. Ultimate Gift Guide for Sustainable Giving by ALLterNATIVElearning

Anyone that knows me, knows that I attempt to live a sustainable lifestyle. This guide speaks to me in so many ways, and I hope you can find some ideas here as well. I love how Kara gives alternatives to buying gifts at a store such as thrift stores, used, and thinking out of the box. This will be a go-to guide for me in regards to gift giving.

Alternative Gifts: Kid Made Gift Guide

alternative gift giving guide

Christmas Gift Ideas that Kids Can Make by Red Ted Art

Red Ted Art is by far one of my favorite go-to sites for anything craft related! Maggy is amazing and is considered a Guru in the art blogging community! I love this roundup she has made of gifts that kids can make. This is the route we took here this year with the boys. When involving the children in deciding Christmas gifts, we made a list of gifts we thought they could make. Before I ever started blogging, I remember pinning Red Ted Art’s various ideas and looking forward to trying them out. We used Red Ted Art’s salt dough recipe when making ours this year and they turned out amazingly well!

alternative gift giving guide

 

Gifts the boys have made from Lemon Lime Adventures

1. DIY Yarn Ball Ornaments

2. Recycled Gift Boxes

3. Legoman Snow Globes

I hope that this Alternative Gift Giving Guide has left you with several ideas for taking the importance off of store bought items and presents. I hope you are able to find relief in knowing so many others keep it simple, creative, and imaginative.

And just in case  you want to steer completely clear of the “gift-giving” I leave you with two articles about alternative gift solutions…

Alternatives by Buy Nothing Christmas

The Anti-Gift Giving Guide by Apartment Therapy

What do you use for alternative gift giving? Do you have a go to alternative? I would love to hear!

Be sure to  read my Holiday Survival Guide For Parents.

 Follow me on FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestInstagram or subscribe by email in the sidebar. I can’t wait to hear your ideas.

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6 thoughts on “Alternative Gift Giving Guide”

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  3. These are great ideas! We’re big on crafts and DIY projects around here too, and we’re currently in the middle of a loom knitting craze. The only one who hasn’t been bitten by the bug is my husband! 😉

    Merry Christmas!

    1. That is great. Merry Christmas to you as well. The best part of the holidays this year was watching my children give the gifts they worked so hard on. They were not even interested in the gifts they received. (at first) Of course they love the toys they got… But they were so thrilled to hand out presents they thought of, created, and wrapped themselves.

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  5. Pingback: Homemade Playdough Gift Sets - Lemon Lime Adventures

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