Homemade Personalized Kids Gifts

Turn an old shoe box into a personalized keepsake box for a child.

Personalizing gifts for children helps to prevent mix-ups and lost items by having the child's name on the item. Almost any child's toy can be personalized, but some lend themselves to a homemade name imprinting more than others. Adding a name to a child's gift at home saves you from paying for expensive processes which might charge per letter. Save money on the gifts by doing it yourself for the next gift giving occasion.

Things You'll Need

• Shoe box
• Wrapping paper or fabric
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paint brush
• Foam letters or stickers

Instructions

1. Place the shoe box (without its lid) into the center of a large piece of fabric or wrapping paper. Bring one side of the fabric up and over the box to cover it, and cut the fabric or wrapping paper from the roll.

2. Repeat measuring and cutting the fabric to completely cover the lid.

3. Brush craft glue onto the outside surface of the box and lid in a thin layer.

4. Press the fabric pieces onto the outside of the box and lid, smoothing the fabric as you apply with your hands. Trim excess fabric off with the scissors.

5. Cut a piece of fabric to fit inside the bottom of the box and up the interior sides. Glue this down to the inside of the box as a liner.

6. Use foam stickers or fabric paint to put the child's name on the lid and exterior side of the box. Put on the box just the child's name or "_______'s stuff".

Tips & Warnings

• Use different size boxes for keeping larger or smaller items. For instance, a large shoe box would hold a collection of dolls and a small box could be used for jewelry.

References

• Semi-Homemade: Keepsake Box
• Family Education: Christmas Ornament Keepsake Box