Instead of using gift wrap, have your child turn an empty canister into a decorative, reusable gift holder.

Materials

Clean, empty cardboard canister

Glue

Construction paper

Card stock

Ribbon

Instructions

1. To make one, you’ll need a clean, empty cardboard canister (the kind with a lid, such as an oatmeal or potato chip container). Remove the lid, then have your child use a glue stick to cover the outside of the canister with colorful scrapbook or construction paper. Help her glue on decorative shapes from colored card stock, letting them stick out from the canister for a 3-D effect and adding other decorative elements, if she likes (we used buttons for flower centers and eyes). Allow the glue to dry.

2.Place your gift in the canister, then put on the lid. For a decorative top, trace around a plate or other round object onto a piece of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper to create a circle about 3 inches wider than the lid, and cut it out. Scrunch the paper circle over the top of the canister, adding a dab of glue to stick it to the lid, then tie on a pretty ribbon bow.

Source: familyfun.go.com