by Melanie Aves

Created on: September 20, 2010   Last Updated: September 21, 2010

Tips for making gifts with children's art

Much of the art created by children holds a guileless charm that is appreciated and treasured by art lovers who are not even related to the creator.  A child’s art can be shared in its original form, or it can be used to generate designs for a number of useful and attractive gifts.  Following are some ideas to get you started.

 Note cards

Take a large sheet of painted children’s art and cut it up into rectangles to glue on blank note cards.   You can make the surface of the rectangles shiny by coating them with acrylic based glossy varnish.  Do this after you cut the shapes so that the varnish seals the cut edges and protects the paint without cracking.  These abstract note cards are stylish and sophisticated.  Children can help with gluing the rectangles onto the note cards.  For variety cut the painting into hearts or circles.  Blank note cards are available at craft stores.  Suitable paintings can be created with finger paints, watercolors, temperas or even acrylics.

Needlepoint

Using a soft lead pencil, copy a child’s painting onto blank needlepoint canvas.  Larger gage canvas works well, but smaller is okay too.  You can paint the design onto the canvas with acrylic paints or you can simply keep the painting nearby for reference as you work.  At a needlepoint store select the colors of yarn needed to complete the design.  A salesperson will be able to help you estimate the amount of each color you will need.  Complete the needlepoint design in yarn.  When you are finished it can be framed, or used for the front of a throw pillow. 

 Pillows

Copy  a child’s design onto unbleached muslin.  Embroider it with a sewing machine or by hand. Use the embroidered design to front a  throw pillow, or sew onto an apron yoke.

Aprons

Buy blank canvas aprons at a restaurant supply store and have children paint directly on the aprons with acrylic paints. 

Dolls

Copy a child’s figure design onto unbleached muslin.  Color in the design with permanent markers or paint.  Appliqué is an attractive way to add texture.  Cut out the decorated figure design, adding ½ inch at the edge for seaming. Cut a second figure from the muslin, using the first one as a pattern.  Turn the two pieces right sides together and seam, leaving a slot unsewn for stuffing.  Turn right sides out, and stuff the doll with acrylic or polyester stuffing.  Stitch the slot closed by hand.   

All of these projects can be completed at home without special equipment or hard-to-find-supplies.  Each project elevates a child’s work to a new level of artistic expression that is sure to be appreciated by anyone fortunate enough to receive it.

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