The Fort Kit: Great gift for little builders

When my little boy opened this gift on Christmas morning, he didn’t realize how much he was going to love it.  It doesn’t look flashy, but don’t let that fool you.

Fort Kit Box

I feel pretty good about a lot of ideas I’ve had over the years, but this one was brilliant.  My kids use this kit on a daily basis.  They are always building forts, tents, hide-outs, etc. This kit took their building possibilities to a new level.

clothespins

The fort kit is simple.  I ordered heavy duty clothespins and a strong set of various sized clamps.  These clamps are tough!  The kids can clamp blankets to bunk beds like no rope or rubber band ever could. It’s really helpful to have many different sizes.

Clamps

I put the clothespins and clamps in a toolbox so they can get carried all around the house and yard, ready for building projects galore!  You could add some flat sheets to the kit, but I just let my kids grab whatever blankets/sheets they need for their current project.

Fort Builders

Happy building!

Find more creative gifts for people your love!

Family Paper Doll Quilt

 

Paper Doll Quilt

I made this throw-size quilt for my mother-in-law for Christmas a few years ago.  Each square has a person in our family, pictured as a paper doll. Some of the people have tools of their jobs (keys for a locksmith, stethoscope for a nurse, chalkboard for a teacher).

Grandpa Paperdoll

Some have objects that represent talents or hobbies (musical instruments, gardening tools, a pan of homemade rolls).

Dad Paperdoll

Mom Paperdoll

Aunt Paperdoll

The kids have their pets or toys.

Ella Paperdoll

Leif Paperdoll

I’m not a great seamstress, and certainly not a good quilter (as you can see by looking at the photos).  I appliqued with a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.  Even lacking skills, it sure was fun and I still think it’s cute. If you are a quilter, you could have a great time with this project.  The grandkids love looking at it and pointing out all the people they love.

 

Baby Hand & Footprint Bowl for Grandparents

Grandma Bowl

When my husband’s mother only had two grand babies, we made this bowl for her Christmas gift.  She loved it!  We went to a make-it-yourself pottery shop called Color Me Mine.  We designed the bowl beforehand.  My brother-in-law, claiming to be the least artsy, took the babies on a walk around the shopping center while we painted the bowl.  Then he returned so we could paint the babies’ hands and feet.

Baby Hands on Bowl

We all signed our names on the bottom of the bowl.

Bowl

We left the bowl at the shop to be glazed and fired.  We went back the next week and it was finished! This is a large serving bowl, so it’s practical as well as fun!