| Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Even | | | | 4. Glue the 2 white ovals towards the end of the |
| kids would want to get into the picture. Giving | | | | pebble, where the eyes should be. Remember to |
| gifts to their friends and loved ones. | | | | leave some room for the nose and mouth. Glue |
| Now what gifts can kids give that do not look | | | | the irises to the white of the eyes and the pupils |
| tacky? I mean, kids generally do not have much | | | | to the irises. |
| income. It kind of breaks a mom's heart to see a | | | | 5. Cut out a small triangle out of pink or brown |
| kid break his or her piggy bank just to buy a gift | | | | felt to be the nose. Glue it right at the center, |
| for someone who might not really appreciate it. | | | | beneath the eyes, where the nose should be. |
| A better alternative is to get kids to make | | | | 6. Cut out a small crescent out of pink or red felt |
| something cute to give as gifts to those who | | | | to be a happy smile. Glue it below the nose, |
| matter to them. | | | | where the mouth should be. Let the pebble pet |
| One thing that comes to mind is a pet rock. | | | | dry. |
| Those cute little pebbles with faces, which one | | | | 7. Cut a piece of light colored felt slightly smaller |
| could get quite fond of. These are easy to make, | | | | than the pebble. Write a secret message on the |
| and they are practical as well. Pet rocks make | | | | felt. Glue the felt under the pebble with the |
| great paper weights. Add a secret message | | | | message facing outwards. That way, whoever |
| below and you have an adorable, personal gift a | | | | gets that pebble can turn it over and read the |
| kid could make, without breaking the bank. | | | | secret message beneath it. Kids love secret |
| All the kid has to do is to collect some smooth | | | | messages. This should appeal to them. |
| pebbles, each around the size of his or her palm. | | | | Once you and your kid have made the first |
| Mom can supply the felt, glue, cardboard and | | | | pebble pet together, your kid should be able to |
| pens. Kids just spend their free time making gifts | | | | make the rest of the pebble pets he or she can |
| they can give out on Christmas day. The glue | | | | give away on Christmas day. |
| must be able to stick the felt to the stone. To | | | | Here is another a tip about Christmas gifts. Every |
| avoid disappointment, test first by sticking a small | | | | year, you and your kids would get gifts you do |
| piece of felt to a stone that you do not want. | | | | not like and spend money on gifts for your loved |
| Stick another small piece of felt on top of it. Let it | | | | ones which they do not really like either. Everyone |
| dry. If the felt pieces stay stuck to each other | | | | wastes money that way. |
| and to the stone, you are all set to go. | | | | A smarter way is to be more upfront. Go to |
| How To Make Pebble Pets | | | | What Do You Want For Christmas and search for |
| 1. Wash and clean the pebbles. Let these dry. | | | | the things you and your kids really want. Then |
| Take 1 dry pebble to begin with. | | | | add what you want to your personal registry by |
| 2. You need white, black, brown, pink, and red | | | | clicking on the pink add to my giftlist button right |
| felt, and a light colored felt to write the message. | | | | below the gift. Get that registry to email your |
| 3. Cut 2 ovals from the white felts to be the | | | | choices to those who give you gifts each |
| white of the pebble's eyes. Cut 2 smaller circles | | | | Christmas and ask them to return the favor by |
| out of brown, blue or green felt to be the irises | | | | adding what they like to their registry. Everyone |
| of the eye. Cut to even smaller circles out of the | | | | gives and gets gifts that will really be appreciated. |
| black felt to be the pupils of the eye. | | | | No money is wasted that way. |