Here is a favorite trick of mine that I thought I’d pass along to you. This general idea can be used for a boy or girl from about age 0-13 and can easily be modified to taste and developmental stage. I have 9 nieces and nephews to buy gifts for each year not to mention all the gifts for birthday parties, baby showers, etc. So, what to do when you have a very limited budget but want the kiddo to be pleased with the gift? Enter seau de merde (or “bucket of crap” for those of you sketchy on your French).
Personalize a bucket, tote, basket, or other reusable bag and buy little somethings to stick inside. Works every time! Dollar Tree or Target Dollar Spot is a great place to search for the buckets AND for the merde.
Kathleen from Grosgrain invited us to her daughters’ birthday party. (Her girls are a few years apart to the day!) Kathleen and I are friends from our mom’s group at church; I adore her and am so grateful to have a “big blogger” friend to bounce ideas off of.
For her girls, I had a budget of $10 per gift. I found these Play-Doh gift sets on sale for $8 each. Perfect! Then in the Dollar Spot I found the metal tin buckets for $2.50 each. (I bought some in black for Halloween! I suggest you run to your Target to snag these before they are all gone. I nearly had to take out a grandma and wrestle with a fellow mom for my buckets.) I then found some tissue paper on clearance and my shopping was done.
I had some letter stickers (previously purchased from Target’s Dollar Spot) and simply stuck on the girls’ names. Then I used the coordinating colored tissue paper to line the buckets. I wrapped the ice cream shop gift in extra tissue paper.
So how about you? Do you have easy gift ideas for kids to share?
Lisa at Paint in my Hair says
I just did a whole post you and how you keep sending me scurrying to the store to stock up on all these great bargains you find…come and check it out if you have a second.
Lisa
http://metromom2008.blogspot.com/2010/08/thrifty-gifting.html
Colleen says
I love this idea!! We have alot of twins in our life so this is a great idea for the future. Love it!
Drama queens mum (Kimberly) says
Great ideas. I love Targets dollar section.
Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans says
Brilliant! I love it! I often use the Dollar spot or the dollar store for kids gifts.
French always makes everything sound romantic! 🙂
Mrs.B says
Thanks for the ideas! I LOVE all that cute crap! 😉
Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish says
I like that you at least classed it up for us with a little French! Lol! I have what I affectionately call the crap box – in it goes unused stocking stuffer toys/gadgets, happy meal toys (this chick sometimes just wants a happy sized meal – ok), or misc. stuff we get for free at work. I then dole that stuff out to little kidlets and they think I am cool!
Though you have now inspired me to look up the French word for box and create a new beautiful tag for my box o crap!
Jenny says
That is so cute! What a fun and festive party too!
MommaKiss says
Looooove the new digs, and that swing is awesome.
You have the best ideas. Seriously.
Beth at southernfriedliving says
Soooo cute! I'm heading to Tarjay tomorrow and will look for those buckets! Just found your blog via Rhoda and love what you have done to your home! Keep up the good work!!
~Beth (too!)
Empty Nest Full Life says
Thanks for the tips. I have a boy birthday party coming up and this looks like it might just do the trick. Thanks for sharing. Jackie
The Ingrams says
Super cute! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa at Paint in my Hair says
Seau de merde, that cracks me up! You made those gorgeous and it looks like you spent way more than $10! My girls would be out of their minds to receive those.
You have probably thought of this, but another idea for merde is art/school supplies – I stock up at this time of year (crayons, glue sticks, and glue can all be found for 25 cents and markers for a dollar) and use them as filler all year.
arkie says
Very cute presents!
Debra from Bungalow says
Love this idea and how you've dubbed it such a lovely name. Kids always go for play doh, well so do I!
Stop on by for a giveaway.
too Blessed to Stress says
Cute and smart gifts! I also love making gift baskets for fun, unique gifts 🙂
~Emily N. from "too Blessed to Stress"
Lee-Ellen says
The buckets are a great idea! I've read somewhere on a blog about putting together a birthday gift that consists of cookie mix, sprinkles, can of icing – or other things like that. Basically, everything you need to make a batch of cookies. I sure wish I could find that post again! It was a good idea and I'm missing a lot of the details.
Jennifer says
You crack me up! Well, the bucket of crap looks good to me!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Ha! And here I'm thinking, "ooh, I love the French title to this little bucket". I love those pails and I think this is a great idea! Plus, I think kids like seeing their name on things {well, that's what I'm going with anyway, because I like to do it myself}.
nannykim says
a great post!! Soooo enjoyed this one; loved the ideas. I also love the picture of the 2 girls on the porch–such a darling photo!! One idea I love that my daughter did for her son's 2 year old party was a matchbox car exchange. For presents everyone just had to bring a matchbox car and they would swap them and each kid would go home with one. I loved this idea (I didn't take one home –just the kids did!). Plus you don't get overloaded with presents, and the kids all LOVE them.
http://nannykim-nannykim.blogspot.com/
Beth@The Stories of A2Z says
LOL! I didn't even realize that my name tags were on the wrong buckets!!! Too funny :). Can you tell I was in a major rush to get out the door? I claim Nester's IDHTBPTBB on this one 🙂 🙂 :).
Julie~ My Bella Home says
Love it, I'm stealing, err… borrowing that idea in the future! Thanks for sharing!
Shel at Dreamy Nest says
What a fabulous idea! I've actually thought of this before, I just always seem to run out of time to do anything creative like this. I need to get better organized. Looks like it was a great party!
Amy Kinser says
Great ideas, Beth. I love getting creative, not expected gifts, for others.
foggogs says
great buckets Beth! Don't forget to change the name tags to match the buckets though. What little girl wouldn't love a personalized bucket- My daughter has one too!
Jaimie says
LOVE that idea so much. I always stress out on what to get kids on their birthdays. Great ideas!!
Kathleen Frances says
Oh Beth thanks for the props! Your gifts were certainly the best presented! The girls are currently playing with them now. No kidding. Molly just tried to eat some.
TidyMom says
Too cute!! I Stumbled for you!!
{ L } says
Such a cute, cute idea! Kids love seeing their names on things too. 🙂
The mad woman behind the blog says
How are you in my brain today? I was just scouting out a present for a one year old.
While this doesnt exactly work, its a start and definitely what the cutey pie is getting next year.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Kristi says
Another cute idea Beth! Love it!
and that SWING! What a creative friend you have!! 🙂
-Kristi
@ Creative Kristi