Ideas for Gifts to Grandparents from 2 1/2 Year Old

For Christmas my daughter (4) made her gparents ornaments and magnets. We used shrink film (like shrinky dinks) and she drew on them with permanent marker (because after much trial and error we realized the crayola markers would NOT work, fit) and then she loved watching them back away in the oven for a couple minutes. What we got were adorable mini-artwork creations they could put on the Christmas Tree or on the refrigerator. I found the shrink film at Joanns.

I made a stepping stone for my mother n law with a handprint from my 2 year old and my baby on it, and the date stamped in it. I put a few tiles in to decorate it and my son sprinkled glitter. Its so cute, I wish I could steal it back from her.

Maybe you could take a picture of her doing something, like say, standing on the driveway she's decorated in side walk chalk that also says something like "I love Grandma and Grandpa" (which you would have to do or help her do) and then have her decorate a frame. My MIL and Grandma both love stuff like that.

Since they can't see her often I would put her hand and foot prints (or impressions) in a nice frame with a picture of her. I see my grandkids all the time but my kids will trace their hand on every card I get from them. It's really nice to see how they've grown from year to year. I don't know if they are picking you up from the airport but if not it would be really nice if she greets them with flowers.
You could wait until you get there and have the grandparents help with the project of making her hand, foot prints or impressions. You can get plaster of paris and make the impressions, add her name and date, then a picture of her and her grandparents.

I see you live is CA....are you near a beach? Maybe you could write something in the sand using a big stick like I Love You with the year and have her put her feet print or handprints next to it and take a photo. Have the phot enlarged and framed.

Or write something in the sand and have her stand next to it and snap a photo.

My girlfriend did this for X-Mas presents for the grandparents when they were on a family vacation....turned out REALLY beautiful!!

How about a scrapbook of her life, sInce they don't get to be there for so many milestones. You could buy or make 2 scrapbooks. Let her color or paint on the pages. Then put pictures of all her big days and just her everyday life in the 1st several pages. Then let little bit finish up with themed stickers that go with each page. Leave plenty of blank pages that they can add pictures to over the years. This would help keep grandparents connected to her.

Have her paint or draw a picture w/crayons then frame it w/expensive frame.

You've gotten some very nice suggestions( love the beach photo idea).I think at this small age and given the distance of the grandparents ,some sort of photo collection would be cherished by them. I'm sure you'll be making up for lost time with lots of pictures while your visiting so maybe include some custom blank pages to be filled in of your time all together. I like the idea of adding some hand and foot print pages, some painted on pages,scribbled on, stickered , collaged. What a fun and special project this would be.Also if the original art work is to rough or bumpy have it photo copied and it might look more professional or neat for mounting pictures onto. Have a great visit.

There are kits that provide all the equipment to make impressions of a childs hand, for a wall hanging for grandparents. I found this website, but there are many more. Good luck!
http://www.castingkeepsakes.com/clay-handprint-kits-c-22....

I got an apron from JoAnns and painted my kids hands so they could do hand prints on it.

I have not read any other suggestions, so forgive me if this has already been said. You could purchase an picture frame (acrylic or wide frame solid wood), and let your daughter decorate it by gluing buttons or something else appropriate around the edges, then put a cute photo of your daughter inside the frame. When we did this, we used small shells purchased from a craft store, then the photo we put inside was of our child at the beach.

If you have garage band software on your computer, make a cd of her singing songs that they can play in their car.

Framed Photographs.

Blessings....

When my son was about that age, we made t-shirts with his hand & footprints on them. My mom & SF LOVED them!

Get some FABRIC CRAYONS, at Joanns or Michaels, and let her draw on paper. (Scribbles are cute at 2 1/2.) Then go over her lines to make them bolder and iron it onto a shirt, apron or tote bag. Be sure to write her name and date on it but remember to write it backwards so it will iron on the right way. Take pictures of her coloring it too so you can give them a photo of her making it for them.

Every time we send a birthday card we let our two and half year old draw a picture, (Usually just scribbles) and include it. I always put at the bottom Art work by Raven and they love it! I really like the hand print and foot print on a shirt!

For this grandma (me) nothing is better than a handprint or footprint.. or both done in some form. It could be pressed onto a homemade card, done in plaster or self-hardening clay or any other form that you can think of. Also make up a card and ask the child what she wants to write on the inside. Print exactly what she says even if it sounds silly or doesn't make sense to you. It is the child's thoughts that please a grandparent, not the parents interpretation of those thoughts.

Have her watercolor paint with the bright colors and buy a nice matte and frame. We did this and it is so much nicer looking than a plain painting.

How about a hand print of her precious hand and she can paint hat. Or I also have done a silouette while holding a flashlight someone can trace her face on a black or white piece of paper put it in a frame or cut it out first.. Also pictures of grandkids put onto something always is appreciated (mug blanket etc) Hope this helps.