DIY Creative Gift for Kids (cheap gift gives hours of crafting!)

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This was originally posted in December 2015, but I just think that it is the perfect creative Christmas gift (or anytime gift) for a child, so I wanted to share it again.   We still have this DIY craft kit box… all of these years later. 🙂

I am so excited to share our DIY Invention box (also called our “Craft Kit” or our “Crafting Box”… or whatever other names the kids give it at the time) with you!   It is the perfect gift for a creative child.

Do you have a creative child? 

If so, I’m sure you are always on the lookout for those creative gifts for kids.  We’re the parents of inventors ourselves.  Our house is covered in boys’ crafts, girls’ crafts, and really any other ‘gift’ that was made from those craft kits for kids that our kids have around the house.

Our kids love to create and they love to build.  I’m sure you can relate: A box becomes an airplane, a space rocket, robot arms, ski boots…

Coming up with a gift that was perfect for our “creator children” was a little tricky until I thought of this “invention box”.

What is an invention kit (or a”DIY Craft Kit”?)

It is a box that is stuffed full of “stuff” that they can use to craft.  If you find a button at the bottom of your drawer, it goes into the box.   Did you see a pack of stickers on sale at the store?  Take it home to throw into the box.    It is filled with anything and everything to allow for great DIY crafts for kids.

I filled it with a TON of stuff- some of it was laying around the house and some of it was picked up at the store or ordered online.

THE KEY TO THIS BOX IS TO MAKE IT ALL STUFF THAT THEY CAN DO THEMSELVES!

I didn’t include anything that he would need help with (ex: nothing that requires water or can get really messy.  It has to be stuff that he can open up, play with and clean up all by himself!).

The fact that they can use it independently allows them to use it more.

It really makes it the perfect creative Christmas gift idea for kids.   Our sons, and my nephew, all received one for Christmas one year.    They don’t make many “crafts for boys” types of kits at the store, but this one is great.  They can glue, staple, tie and create to their heart’s content.

Perfect Gift for Kids of All Ages:

This gift really works for any age child.  I have been watching our kids use this DIY invention kit for many years now, and they all use it.   Our kids use it to make everything from cool dream catchers with the yarn to great gifts for their grandparents.   The older kids even find themselves using it to make projects for school.

It’s awesome because it is inexpensive, making it a great arts and crafts gift for anyone.   It’s creative, imaginative, frugal fun for boys & girls.

We even pull this super easy DIY crafting kit out when our kids have a birthday party at our house and we want a fun, easy activity.  It has never failed us yet.  Their friends love to find new craft ideas as much as our kids love to create gifts and invent new things.

How to make this DIY gift for a creative kid: 

Grab a container and fill it with these things (be sure to read the comments for more great ideas).  You can find these items at most craft or dollar stores, or you can order them online (Most of them are sent with free shipping) by clicking on the affiliate links below.

IDEAS OF WHAT TO PUT INTO THE CRAFT INVENTION BOX:

pipe cleaners (colorful)paper plates“googley” eyes (wiggly eyes)yarn (I had this at home)kid friendly scissors (had these)Leftover wrapping paper from birthdays or the holiday seasonmini staplerspopsicle stickslittle pom-poms (those little puffball things)tapefelt squares

A few more things you could use to fill the craft kit: 

foam sheetscolored paper packetmini markersleft-over erasers from a school party (FREE)stickers  If your child loves a movie, like Star Wars, or Frozen, try to find a few packets of those stickers to add.buttons (I just found these around the house -FREE)little boxes that I had (ring boxes, small cardboard boxes) (FREE)regular glue sticksplates (paper or styrofoam – we had these at home, so I threw a few in)envelopes

Here is a peek inside of ours: 

I threw it all into a cleaned-out tin popcorn container that we had and I just put the lid on.   DONE!

When I gave it to our son, he was SO EXCITED!!!

I didn’t put everything into it, yet, because I wanted to save some of it for his stocking, but our kids have already spent hours upon hours playing with this!!   (I saved the really fun stuff ~ stapler, glitter glue, etc…) for Christmas morning.   The extra arts & crafts supplies make fun Christmas gifts for kids.

Just let them have fun and be scientists & inventors that they were meant to be!

If you can think of some other things to add, I’d really love to hear them.    I am always adding to this box and the kids never fail to be surprised and excited when they find something new inside. 🙂

What else would you add? 

ps- here are 50 stocking stuffers that your kids will love:

If you want to see my favorite gift list filled with Non-Toy gifts, check them out here: