Inspiration please!

[legal girl]

My niece is soon to be 7 and I haven't a clue what to get her. My brother is worse than useless at coming up with ideas. She likes creative things like making stuff if that's any help. Any ideas?

[indieanna86]

Do you have a Hobby Craft shop near you? Thats great for creative things for kids. Stuff like paint by number, cross stitches, pottery painting kits etc. I used to love that sort of thing when I was a kid. If you don't have a shop near you, try looking for kids craft kits online and see what comes up.

Anna x

[legal girl]

That's a fantastic idea! I discovered Hobbycraft before Christmas and spent hours in there buying bits and pieces. I'll definitely go and have a look.

[redcrx]

as an extra, i dont know if you have a tesco near you but i went in yesterday and in their sort of sale section i found

glitter and glitter glue (4 of each) in a pack
stick glue (10 in a pack)
Paint brush set (about 15 in pack)
and colouring pencils (3 sets of about 15 in pack)

all for �1 each!

My little boy is too young for them at 18 months but im starting to build up a craft box for him when hes a bit older.

[smudge]

One of our Granddaughter's is 7 & like most girls her age, is into creative & sparkly things. Also writing, drawing, painting, hammer beads, cross stitch & plain knitting.

She also loves dressing up with her little sister aged 4.

Our daughter recently popped into her local Tesco's & bought them yet more dressing up outfits & they've had hours of fun with those too!

We also have a dressing up basket at our house & they always make a bee line for it each time they visit.

[smudge]

P.S. Further to indieanna's suggestion - my daughter & I recently spent hours in HobbyCraft - that's the only trouble with the shop - once in there, you just can't leave!

[smudge]

Whoops, meant to say, the Tesco dressing up outfits were in the sale, otherwise our daughter wouldn't have bought them so close to Christmas & their birthdays in December!

[SRH]

Another idea is for a day out - there are quite a few pottery places now (certainly up here in Lancashire - so probably elsewhere as well) where you can paint a piece of pottery (mug, plate etc) and have it fired in the kiln. It's a fun day out (she gets to have some quality time with you), very creative, has a practical present that will last for years and she could always take a few friends as well. See www.paintyourownpottery.net for a pottery near you.