This year, our large extended family have decided to not buy any gifts for each other and to make them all. I love this idea and have made jewelry, a poem journal and am working on some magnets. Now my only trouble is what to make for my cousin Lan. He is almost fifteen years old and hasn't been to pleased with previous gifts.
So I'm trying to think of what to make for someone who is all into fads, is very well off money-wise and is at the moment interested in getting girls, being macho and acting way beyond his age! Please help me out. I really am stuck on what I can make for him and have considered just giving him some money in a clever way but even then I don't know if he would appreciate it.
Glorya from Paso Robles, California
How about baking some brownies and cookies for him? What teenage boy can be too well off or cool for food? And chocolate at that! I bet even if he acts nonchalant about it, he'll eat it all! Good luck! (10/13/2005)
By Olivia
How about sewing him some pajama pants? I don't know about where you are, but these are pretty popular around our area.
Get a print he'd like, find an easy pattern, and you'll be done in no time! (10/13/2005)
By carol
Another idea along the food line: what about ready-to-bake cookies? I have 4 (yes, 4!) sons and they all like fresh home-baked cookies. They love to have tubs of ready-to-bake cookie dough in the freezer so that they can bake cookies whenever they wish. I don't know if your teen knows his way around the kitchen, but if he doesn't, give him a fun lesson on how to use the oven (as well as the dishwasher!) and a tub of pre-mixed cookie dough or pre-formed frozen drop cookies. Good luck! (10/13/2005)
By Barb
Make his favorite cookie or candy and if he isn't happy then let him go without next year. (10/13/2005)
By Debbie
My sons would also love the pajama pants! They would also love custom-made boxer shorts, in novelty print fabrics, if you can sew. Another easy-sew idea for boys: big body pillows (the long rectangular shaped ones) covered in a fun novelty print fabric. Back to the food idea: a big bucket of home-made snack mix would also please the young men at my house. (10/13/2005)
By Barb
Maybe he would enjoy a scrapbook about his life. It wouldn't have to be from birth. If he is heavily involved in sports or maybe had his picture in the paper before you could put that in it. Even a page or 2 devoted to his favorite band with pictures and facts in it. Or if he has a favorite athlete, a page about him. I know some athletes will autograph items you send them. Or you could write to them and ask for an autographed picture. I would do that right away to allow a couple months before Christmas. (10/13/2005)
By Jill
Sew some boxers. (10/14/2005)
By Diana M.
One year for my son I made him a bulletin board. I purchased the cork board and covered in a whale printed fabric. You could pick any fabric that he would like. I then just glued the fabric on the cork board. You could then put some special pictures on it or leave it blank for him to fill with what he thinks is cool. (10/14/2005)
By Pattie
A huge box of candy or home made chocolate chip cookies with butter. He's male and they all like food. (10/14/2005)
By Holly
I just saw a show on TV the other day, where they got old skateboards, removed the wheels, attached brackets, and used them for wall shelves in the teenage boy's bedroom. They were pretty sturdy and had great graphics.
Another idea is to buy (or make) art canvases, lay them next to each other, spray paint graffiti on them, then separate and hang (with a little space between them) on the bedroom wall. They look like works of art. You could probably get a teenager to paint them with cool designs for free. (10/15/2005)
By Susan from AR
I'd prob'ly just give in to the $$ thing - a gift certificate to a local music store might be appreciated.
Teens do love to shop. (10/15/2005)
By carol
Along the lines of the canvas/grafitti idea. a "rasterbated" image (one picture on multiple pages, displayed with small spaces betwee) of his favorite picture...from a city, sports, a girl... check out this website: homokaasu.org/rasterbator/
Other quick thoughts: CD rack, collage (CD jackets, pictures, concert tickets, etc).
I'm not sure if this counts as homemade: "make" him a car washing kit (assuming he'll be driving soon...we can start at 15 here). Get a buckets, soap, wax, rags, brushes, etc. I got one over 8 years ago and still use the bucket! Just replace the supplies when needed. (10/17/2005)
I have homemade Christmas every year in my family. Sometimes it's hard to come up with a gift for that one person. An idea I came up with last year and it went over well with my 17 year old nephew was a wooden chest. We made it out of yellow or white pine ( I can't remember which). The chest was about 3feet by 4feet. I routered his name in the lid and added handles on each end. Then I stained it. It may have cost me about $20. I don't know about your cousin, but my nephew loved it. (10/18/2005)
By Melissa
How about buying a craft 'do not disturb' sign, paint it and write a message on it i.e. "Lan's Den. No password, no entry", or something appropriate and decorate or apply stickers around a teenage boy theme (sports/music/food). Then pop it in a cheap waste-basket he can use in his bedroom and fill it with snacks, either home-made or store purchased...even the sleep-pants which other readers have suggested could go in here! (10/18/2005)
By jojo
I was just reading another post and it gave me another idea, as well as the do-not-disturb sign for his bedroom door, why not buy a craft coaster and decorate it also with an appropriate theme. Stick on a magazine picture of his favorite artist/band/actor, or use a sports theme or do a graffiti theme on it and cover with clear adhesive contact paper. He'll have something cool to rest his drinks on, it could be a similar theme to the 'do not disturb' door hanger and will help fill the waste-basket. Hope this helps :) (10/18/2005)
By jojo
Not really home-made but close enough. Scour bazaars for old magazines, and either give them to him as are, much cheaper than new ones and more to read, or fold used A4 papers in two, and cover with four pix, cutting neatly. Glue at centre, and you have a 'book', if you want you can add prayers,jokes, proverbs... we've been doing it for ages. Recycled, too. Or else a BIG box of books from the same source, and he can donate them again when he's through.
Tanja (10/18/2005)
By Tanja Cilia
If he really loves you, all you have to give him is love and compassion. (10/25/2005)
By Kaitlyn
If you know a handy man, get him to build a cd / dvd tower to organize all this fave music, movies, and video games. You could paint it any number of colors, modge-podge on any magazine cut outs and that sort of thing. Please no sweaters or pjs. he is 15 not 5. I remember being 15 hating all the UGLY clothes I got from family members that had the best of intentions.
(10/27/2005)
By Morgan
I have three teens and they all love the money gifts the best. (10/27/2005)
By Joanne
Being a 16 year old girl, music is awesome! I hope this helps.
Food is always a great thing as well. like everyone else suggested. teenagers love their food.
Hope it helps (10/29/2005)
By Ashley
I found this pattern for fleece hats. I think the boys in our family will love them. I hope so, since that is what they are going to get for Christmas. Try the link, if it doesn't work, go to marthastewart.com and search "fleece hats".
www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1403&contentGroup=MSL&site=living (10/31/2005)
By Trudy
Last year I made all the boys on my list a Duct tape wallet and put some $$ in it. They all loved them. Even the grown ups! I have the instructions if you like (11/01/2005)
By connie
One neat idea is to get a bunch of one dollar bills and tape them together and have one hanging out of a wrapped box and say pull here on it. Then as he pulls the dollar bill a bunch of money will come out of the box. It is pretty neat and my friends love it. (11/01/2005)
By me
I would love to get the instructions for the duct tape wallet. And thank you to everyone who has given me such nifty ideas. I still would love any other ideas people would like to post! (11/06/2005)
By Gloria
School Color Pillow. Purchase the 12 X 9 1/2 felt squares, (these are the small squares) found at any
craft stores.
Hot glue 2 together, leaving one end open, turn
to the other side, stuff with cotton or rags, since
they are small. Hot glue the end shut.
Can also use girlfriend picture, or their names, etc.
Another one is a throw.
Purchase 1 1/2 to 2 yds of cloth. Hem or you can purchase cloth that does not need heming.
Hot glue a felt cut out such as a basketball, etc., or
write a saying, such as #1 on it using craft paint with
the tip. (11/11/2005)
By Deloris Q.
A mix CD is probably your best bet, though please consult with his mates because not all teens can bear your incessant Glen Miller.
For something extra (If you have the experience) is to create an album with his face "photoshopped" onto his favourite band's cover. I've done this for my mother with The Beatles' "Beatles for Sale" and she loved it! (11/14/2005)
By Cameron, Australia
Here is a site that has all kinds of duct tape creations:
home.san.rr.com/repapyob/ducttape.htm
Or make a fleece blanket of his favorite sports team with a coordinating pillow. Buy gift certificates to a movie theatre, bowling alley, mini-golf course, fave fast food restaurant, etc. I also thrift for gifts. My 15 year old and 20-yr-old bros-in-law have gotten funny t-shirts, stuffed animals, antique books, a vintage knife, sports collectibles, antique postcards, etc. If you know the teen's interests that can lead you in the direction of a great gift. (11/23/2005)
By samaree
I think love is all about chemistry. So write a poem to him about your love for him and maybe some chocolate candy or even a flower. Well the most important thing should be just that ya'll have each other. Love is like a flower...when it blooms it is beautiful, but you have to take care of it or it will die.
pretty good huh? No who am I kidding...awww =( (02/11/2006)
By ilovekevin!
You can make him an x box 360 or a sweet tv. You know hes gonna like it unless he already has that. (03/03/2006)
By David
Gift card to Itunes. Cheap enough and is awesome cause he can choose what songs or albums he wants. I know its not DIY, but it works, because music to a teen, is like food and water to everyone else..
its a must. (11/24/2007)
By Thomas
Make him a duct tape wallet. Use an index card to get the size right and make sure you can fit in credit cards in the slots and bills in the bills section. His friends will think it is cool.
Mom of a 15 year old. (12/20/2007)
By Debbie
Forget about getting them a present and just say you have me and that is all the present you need! LOL! (12/21/2007)
By Emily
I love the idea for baking things, and buying boxers. He will love it! (01/05/2008)
By Taylor.
You should make him a duck tape luggage bag! I made that for my uncle one year and he loved it. Though he doesn't travel much he used as a storage case. (10/20/2008)
By Kasey
Food and music I. can't get any better than that. The duct tape wallets are kinda lame, not sure he'd like it. :\ (12/20/2008)
By 16 year old
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