The last few years we've opened up what we call the Sib Shop for our kids to 'shop' for each other from. Basically, I buy a few small gifts (really small - like dollar spot at Target or found it on clearance) appropriate for each child, and then have one kid come up at a time to choose a gift for each of their siblings. They only look at the ones for their siblings, not ones that would be choices for themselves - does that make sense? Then they would wrap their gifts and giggling, set them under the tree.
This year I wanted to do something different (and not buy a bunch of cheap crap). Growing up as the oldest of 6, we always drew names and had a price limit. With three kids, though, it's not really enough to draw names. I thought of taking them shopping this year, with a price limit, to pick something out for their siblings, but I just wasn't all gung-ho about it.
And then Design Mom started posting her amazing handmade sibling gifts (follow the links for more ideas). Wow! Handmade kid-made gifts that aren't junk! I was inspired. And I used all things that I had in my craft closet, so I didn't spend any money! Woo!
We got them all made on Christmas Eve-Eve.
Monkey made initial paintings.
I cut out contact paper initials and stuck them on little 5x7 canvases. Then he picked out his siblings' favorite colors and painted over top.
They turned out pretty well, even if my contact paper wasn't the best kind.
And then Thomas made one for Monkey - not knowing that one was coming to him as well.
For his sister, Thomas painted a little wooden bird (from when I made these bird ornaments) and put fuzzy stickers on it. Dad helped drill the hole, and we had a pretty bird ornament for her!
Princess has been loving the knifty knitter lately, and made all her friends doll hats with it for their gifts. When Monkey told her that his teddy needed a blue hat, that made deciding what to make him really easy!
And then for Thomas, Princess gave a watch she'd gotten in a kid's meal at Wendy's. Not handmade, but she had set it aside for him last month, and we called it good. And he loved it.
We also like to have them exchange their sib gifts on Christmas Eve - mostly so that they will be really excited and appreciate them more than if they opened them in the morning with the rest of their loot.
And it's so sweet. Lots of hugs all around.
So what do you do about your kids' gifts to each other? Have you found something that works really well for you?