Expert: don`t ask me - 11/12/2001

Question
Hello,
My creative juices aren't flowing so well these days and was looking for ideas for my boys (10yrs) to make for their grandmothers for xmas.  We have already made painted flower pots, tote bags, beaded bracelets.  One grandmother (retired) loves cats, the other is an investment banker but easy to please.  I would prefer not to do anything edible.  Got any great ideas?

Thanx,
Cindy

Answer
hmmm...it's kind of hard to explain the things that i have in mind in full detail, but here's some ideas. i'll give you the basic idea, and you can try to expand on it.
for the grandma that loves cats, how about making cat ornaments. you could buy clay or crayols model magic, and help your kids make a cat's face out of it. then turn it into an ornament after they have painted it. you could also add little jingly bells. another idea is to go to a craft store and look for unpainted ceramic cats. sometimes they have statues to paint yourself.
other than cats, you could maybe make magnets. you can look at craft stores for supplies and ideas on this. another cute idea i did one year is to make angel magnets. to do this you take 2 bow tie noodles, and paint them gold.you then use one horizontally for the wings,and one vertically for the body. you glue them together. for the head you use a white or glittery puff ball(pom pom type things).i don't really know how to explain them, but you can find them in any craft store. for the halo you can buy little metal bendable rings. they don't cost much, and are sometimes used for wedding rings on cakes. you can add a little flower in the middle or something, or write your kid's name on the wing with a felt tip pen. then just glue a magnet on the back. i would suggest to just walk through craft stores, and your bound to come up with some creative idea. i hope i helped, and if you come across any relly fun gifts to make my friends, please e-amil me and share!      ~tara