10 Memorable Gifts You Can Give Your Children For Their Birthday

Everyone loves a special gift on their birthday: especially our kids! I have put together a list of 10 memorable gifts you can give your children on their birthday without breaking the bank.

    Art supplies: almost all kids enjoy crayons, markers, stickers, colored pencils, gel pens, special papers and scissors, sidewalk chalk, water colors, homemade rubber stamps, "how to draw" books calligraphy instructions, or origami instructions and colored paper. An art supply gift not only encourages the youngsters to use their imagination, but it can be an extra treat when you spend time with them using them.
    Books are always great gifts for any age: you can get musical or squeaky books for the little ones, short stories for preschoolers, adventure books for 9-11 year olds, and so on: there is a book for every taste. You can also buy books about your child's interests, books about careers, etc.
    A classic movie, which never goes out of style, great for when friends come over, or on that day when they are bored and nothing else could help.
    For older boys, a tool kit would be great: gives them the opportunity to work side by side with dad, and possibly learn a life skill.
    For older girls, beads could mean hours of fun. Buy a variety of colors and shapes and watch you little princess enjoy hours of happiness.
    To the gourmand give a roll of sugar cookie dough from the grocery store, along with a couple of cookie cutters, and a rolling pin. Again, this would be a lot of fun for the little one to make, and share with friends and family.
    For the nature lover, a gardening kit with a couple of small pots filled with potting soil, some seeds, and a plastic watering can give countless hours of fun, while caring for the plants, and watching them grow.
    A disposable camera will add a boost to the party. If your budget permits, add a small picture album, and you've instantly created wonderful memories of that birthday.
    A basket of fun: find an inexpensive basket, or another container, maybe a pail for kids and fill it with fun, cheap stuff. For instance, silly putty, a water gun, a deck of cards, sidewalk chalk, etc. For boys, you can add some little cars and for girls, throw in some hair accessories. Finish it off with some candy or a pez dispenser and you have a fun gift. If you find some fun, small things that most kids think are neat, pick up a bunch so that at any time you have a supply of items to mix and match for a birthday.
    Children crave attention from important people in their lives, (mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, older sibling). Give that special child the gift of time: a day out with you complete with lunch, a movie, and/or shopping for the gift of their choice.

Customized Mother Bracelets and Name Bracelets - Christmas Gift Considerations

Customized mother bracelets, also called name bracelets, are wonderful gifts to give this Christmas holiday. At a recent craft show I attended several people were discussing gift giving and how a customized bracelet would be a wonderful gift to give loved ones. There are several factors to take into consideration before making this purchase.

First, consider the components used in the bracelet. If you want a top quality bracelet, one must make sure that sterling silver and/or gold filled beads are used. If the price seems a little too good to be true, you can probably assume sterling silver and gold filled beads were not used.

Secondly, look at the size of letter beads used. A mother or grandmother bracelet should have the larger 5.6 mm letter blocks. This size is much better proportioned for an adult wrist. The reverse also applies. Smaller 4.5 mm letter blocks should only be used for someone with a very small wrist, such as a child.

Thirdly, determine what clasp you like. Normally you can choose either a toggle clasp or a lobster claw clasp. I have been told by many customers that although the toggle clasp in some opinions is prettier, the lobster claw clasp will insure the bracelet stays on your wrist and will not fall off. When you have such an expensive, personalized piece of jewelry you don't want to take any chances that you will lose it. However, toggle clasps are much easier to put on by yourself. Consider this when making your purchase.

Lastly, find out what the shipping costs are. It only costs between .60 to .80 cents to send a bracelet across the country through first class mail. Many companies charge a flat $5 shipping fee. Companies should not be making money off of shipping charges. Also, first class mail only takes 4 to 5 days at the most to reach a destination across the country which is not bad considering we wait longer for orders that are made off of the television or magazines.

Customized mother bracelets really do make wonderful gifts. If you decide this would be a wonderful gift for a loved one this Christmas, remember not to wait until December to order. This is a very busy time for customized bracelet companies and orders can become backed up longer than usual because of the holiday season.