Ok, I have a brother age 6 and a sister age 8. I am putting together a 'Boredom Buster' basket. It will include the following:

-A basket found in the back of my closet~FREE
-An Arts & Craft book that we've never used (re-gift)~FREE
-I am making 2 geoboards (wood,nails,rubber bands)~$7
-2 Crayola activity sets from Dollar Tree~ $2
-Girly ceramic paint set from Dollar Tree~$1
-Kritter Creations (from post on this board) includes:pompoms~$1
chenille stems~$1.50, styrofoam balls~ 1.88, googly eyes~.75
-I am also going to put a jar filled with dry ingredients to make gingerbread cookies, and a small jar with the molasses in it.~almost free, I have everything already.
- I am looking for a mancala game cheaply-can't convince dh to make this for me.

Can you think of something cheap or free that would make this gift even better. I think I am just about done, but anymore ideas would be great!!

Christy

PS Thanks mamas, for all the great ideas you have given me in the simplifying Christams posts.

Couple play silks. About $6 a peice and really worth it.

Couple play clips (my kids play with the black ones from Home Depot (they are metal and hard to use so Alex has to do it, and he is 8... I thought of that right away) They are $1 a peice.

Recipe cards... simple ones in a little bound book. Put a couple kid friendly recipes on them, like Monkey bread or Dragon Bread, or oat meal cookies. About $3 if you don't already have the cards.

Mancala games can be found around here in their own little travel box, with the marbles and everything for under $10. They are so much fun... this is a game we play often.

Good luck!

Love Val

oooh I lie the playsilks and clips idea a lot!! Thanks mama!!

We love Mancala too!!
Christy

I bought Mancala at Target for $3.99! For a gift a while back.

I love it; it sounds like so much fun! I love the recipe cards idea. Playsilks and clips are awesome, too...they are just about the most used toy around here (it's a tie with the rest of the dressup box, scarves, blankets, strings, ropes).

I am so excited about finishing up this gift. Thanks for all of your input. After watching my own kids today with a pack of white paper plates, the thought crossed my mind to include a pack, but they might think that's a bit tacky. My kids made adorable snowmen out of the plates.

Ya know, a gift I would LOVE to receive would be a nice collection of assorted boxes, cartons, etc..(trash to most people) My kids enjoy this kind of stuff SOOO much. We have some of the coolest creations around our house made from 'junk'!!!

Happy Holidays to you all !!! Off to watch ER now....

Christy