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