For Christmas this year, I’m trying something new and encouraging my boys to not only gift an item to one another, but to go the handmade route and create something instead. Here’s an easy project that may make for a fun gift from one sibling to another.

You will need:

Black shrink film
Vellum sheets
Cardboard sheet to bake on, letter size 8.5″ X 11″ or larger
Hole punch
Colored beads (ours are from a Kid Made Modern set from Target)
Neon satin cord
Jump rings (found in the jewelry making section of the craft store)

Step 1: Preheat oven to 275°.

Step 2: Cut out shapes from shrink film. Film shrinks down by about 50% in the oven, so cut your shapes on the larger side. My shapes started out around 4-5 inches long. Punch a hole at the top.

Step 3: Arrange shapes onto cardboard. Cover with a sheet of vellum to prevent the film from curling and sticking to itself while baking.

Step 4: Bake at 5 minute increments. Baking it more slowly and at a lower temperature will reduce any warping.

Step 5: Remove from oven when charms are reduced down. They will harden as they cool.

Step 6: Insert a jump ring through the hole of charm, then thread cord through ring. String on colored beads, then knot cord to finish necklace off.

Do you have any handmade holiday gifts planned? Some other ideas for my kids include a notebook filled with story starters and an “art” binder with plastic sleeves to house drawings and other projects. I’m hoping this will be a memorable experience and that my children will appreciate the effort and thought behind something homemade!