The holiday season is the perfect time to get crafty with kids, and what better way to create meaningful gifts than by using treasures from your garden? Garden-inspired presents are thoughtful, fun to make, and a great way to teach kids about the joys of giving. Whether it’s creating custom seed packets, dried herb bundles, or painted garden stones, there are plenty of ways to turn your garden’s bounty into beautiful homemade holiday gifts.
Here’s how to help kids make simple, garden-inspired gifts that family and friends will love!
- Create Custom Seed Packets
Seed packets are a great way to share a bit of your garden with others, and they make perfect gifts for gardeners or those just starting out. Kids will have a blast collecting seeds and decorating the packets to give away.
What You’ll Need:
- Seeds from your garden (such as flowers, herbs, or vegetables)
- Small paper envelopes
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Stickers or stamps (optional)
How to Make It:
- Collect the Seeds: Have kids gather seeds from your garden—like sunflower seeds, marigolds, or basil—and dry them out if needed.
- Decorate the Envelopes: Let kids get creative by decorating each envelope with drawings of the plant or fun designs. They can use markers, stickers, or stamps to personalize each packet.
- Label the Packets: Write the name of the seed and any growing instructions on the outside of the packet. Older kids can help write the info, or younger kids can trace letters.
- Fill the Packets: Place a small amount of seeds inside each envelope, seal it, and it’s ready to gift!
Fun Idea: Create a bundle of different seed packets as a “starter garden” gift, and tie them together with a ribbon.
- Dried Herb Bundles for Cooking or Crafting
If you’ve been growing herbs in your garden, dried herb bundles are a wonderful gift for anyone who loves cooking or crafting. They not only smell amazing but also bring a little bit of the garden into the kitchen all winter long.
What You’ll Need:
- Fresh herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, lavender, or sage)
- Twine or ribbon
- Scissors
- Optional: Small gift tags for labeling
How to Make It:
- Pick the Herbs: Have kids help you pick herbs from the garden. Some great options include rosemary, thyme, oregano, lavender, and sage.
- Bundle the Herbs: Gather small bunches of herbs together and tie them securely with twine or ribbon. Leave a bit of string hanging so you can tie it to a gift tag or hang it up.
- Label the Bundles: If you’d like, use small gift tags to label each bundle with the name of the herb and a simple note, such as “Happy Holidays!”
- Let Them Dry: Hang the herb bundles in a dry, warm spot for a couple of weeks until they are fully dried. Once dried, they’re ready to be gifted!
Fun Idea: Create “herb wreaths” by tying bundles of herbs into a circular shape with twine or wire for a more decorative gift.
- Painted Garden Stones
Painted garden stones are a fun and creative way to make lasting, personalized gifts. Kids can design stones for specific people, painting their names, favorite colors, or even pictures of plants or animals.
What You’ll Need:
- Smooth stones (gathered from your garden or purchased from a craft store)
- Outdoor acrylic paint or paint pens
- Paintbrushes
- Clear spray sealant (optional for weatherproofing)
How to Make It:
- Clean the Stones: If you’re using stones from your garden, wash them and let them dry completely.
- Design and Paint: Have kids use outdoor acrylic paint or paint pens to decorate each stone. They can paint designs like flowers, animals, or even inspirational words like “Grow” or “Love.”
- Seal the Stones (Optional): If the stones will be used outdoors, seal the paint with a clear spray sealant to make them weatherproof.
- Let Them Dry: Once the paint is dry, the stones are ready to be wrapped up and given as gifts!
Fun Idea: Kids can create a set of garden markers by painting the names of different plants or vegetables on each stone.
- Scented Sachets with Dried Flowers or Herbs
Scented sachets filled with dried flowers or herbs from the garden make lovely, fragrant gifts. These sachets can be tucked into drawers, hung in closets, or placed in cars for a fresh, natural scent.
What You’ll Need:
- Small fabric pouches or pieces of fabric to sew into pouches
- Dried flowers or herbs (like lavender, chamomile, or rosemary)
- Ribbon or twine
How to Make It:
- Gather the Herbs or Flowers: Collect and dry flowers or herbs from your garden. Lavender, rosemary, and chamomile work well for sachets because of their lovely scents.
- Fill the Pouches: Let kids fill each fabric pouch with dried flowers or herbs. If you’re sewing your own pouches, you can create small squares from fabric, sew three sides, fill them with the dried plants, and sew the final side closed.
- Decorate the Sachets: Tie the sachets with ribbons or decorate the outside with small details like fabric paint or fabric markers.
- Gift and Enjoy: Once the sachets are done, they’re ready to be gifted! They make a sweet, scented reminder of your garden all winter long.
Fun Idea: Create a set of sachets using different herbs or flowers for various scents. Label each one for different uses, like “Sleepy Lavender” for nighttime relaxation or “Fresh Rosemary” for a kitchen refresh.
- Herb-Infused Oil or Vinegar
For a gift that’s a little more advanced but still simple enough for kids to help with, try making herb-infused oil or vinegar. These make elegant presents for food lovers, and they’re a great way to preserve the flavors of your garden.
What You’ll Need:
- Fresh herbs (such as basil, thyme, rosemary, or oregano)
- Olive oil or vinegar (such as white wine vinegar)
- Clean glass jars or bottles with lids
- Optional: Small gift tags for labeling
How to Make It:
- Prepare the Herbs: Wash and dry the herbs thoroughly. You can use one type of herb or a combination to create unique flavors.
- Fill the Jars: Place the herbs in clean jars or bottles, then pour olive oil or vinegar over the herbs until the container is full.
- Seal and Store: Seal the jars and store them in a cool, dark place for 1-2 weeks, shaking occasionally to help infuse the flavors.
- Label the Jars: Add a label or gift tag that describes the infusion, such as “Rosemary Olive Oil” or “Basil Vinegar.” You can also include a note with serving suggestions, like “Great for salads and pasta!”
Fun Idea: Create a set of herb-infused oils with different flavors and give them as a trio for a delicious, homemade gift.
Making Holiday Memories in the Garden
Creating garden-inspired gifts with kids is a wonderful way to teach them about the joy of giving while connecting them to nature. These homemade holiday presents are not only fun to make but also show how the garden’s bounty can be shared with others in meaningful ways.
So this winter, gather your little ones, head to the garden, and get crafting! Whether it’s seed packets, herb bundles, or painted stones, the gifts you create will bring warmth and joy to friends and family—and help your kids appreciate the magic of their own garden. Happy gifting!
