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What are homemade frugal gift ideas for an 8 year old boy?

Santa will be taking care of the wish list. What are some things big or small, but frugal frugal frugal that I can make/give my 8 year old son? I'm very low on funds this year and I'd rather Santa take the credit, while it lasts, on the items my son has asked for.

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1. When I was about that age my sister and I would get a big Mayo jar full of our favorite cookies from my Grandmother. We looked forward to that each year (and we brought back the jars to make sure we were not forgotten).



2. Decorate a coffee can and fill it with brownies, or your son's favorite cookies. Or fill it with hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup.

   My son loved matchbox cars. I would get them 2/$1 way back when (on sale).

   In the party section, they have paratroopers. You get up high and release them and the parachute opens up and he floats down. My son was nuts about those, and they're inexpensive. Same with water balloons. In the party section, really, really fun. You'd have to fill them and put them in a laundry basket, but he and his pals would have a ball with them.

   TX Mom




3. My kids love, love, love the tie together fleece blankets that I make. Get clearance fleece at a fabric store in a fabric that they would enjoy. Take two equal sized pieces, cut 3 inch cuts every one inch all around the fabric and tie them in double knots all around. My children have some that they will not give up after 9 years.



4. Maybe you could make something together like a drawing, a gingerbread house, or if you have got temporary space for it you could make a small tent together inside or outside. You would be spending time with each other and creating a nice memory to look back on. I loved tents (or tee-pees) when I was little, i would build them all the time out of practically anything I could find and fill them with my favorite things. Its a nice place to read books too.

   You could also take him on a day trip to a museum he would like, watch a movie or imax, or go the zoo.




5. Get a piece of plywood or thin wood that is poster sized. You may be able to get it from a salvaged sign or some abandoned buildings (my husband salvages some very nice wood). It can look awful and when you sand it down it looks very nice underneath. Then paint or stencil a favorite sports team logo on it. Look thru sport magazines or online for ideas of what to put on it. Make it poster-sized to put on his wall. Some other favorites are rocks....yes rocks.......with a team logo painted on them. ANYTHING with a favorite football team on it or baseball or whatever will probably be a hit! Good luck!!



6. Make him some cool juggling balls in his favoite colors. These are easy to make from balloons and rice, and really look professional.

   For photos and instructions, have a look at my website, below.

   (It has tons of other craft ideas too.)




7. Homemade playdough is cheap and fun. Does he like to blow bubbles? The solution is pretty cheap to get or make.

   I'd check out the local thrift stores, I see toys like matchbox cars and tracks go by on a regular basis.

   About.com has some ideas, as well as a playdough recipe:

   http://toys.about.com/od/kidsartsandcrafts/a/hometoys.htm

   Oh, yeah, one of my friend's kids was thrilled to get some bubble wrap - the ones with the big bubbles. He spent some happy time stomping on it, with loud popping noises.