Grandparents Day Crafts

September 9 is Grandparents Day — the perfect day to get together with your grandchildren and make precious keepsakes that feature their photos and yours. Other family members will be thrilled to receive these crafts as gifts on birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays.

For Toddlers and Preschoolers:

ACCORDION PHOTO CARD
A cheerful, multifaceted display.

Materials:[photo accordian max-width=150 align=right]

• Two sheets 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch card stock, 1 dark pink, 1 magenta
• 1 sheet of light pink construction paper
• Drinking glass with 2 1/2-inch diameter for tracing circles
• Family photographs
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• White craft glue

Instructions:

1. Trim the sheets of card stock by 3 1/4 inches lengthwise so that each measures 11 inches x 5 1/4 inches.
2. Trim 1/2 inch from the end of each piece so that each measures 10 1/2 inches x 5 1/4 inches.
3. Lay the pieces out horizontally and mark each piece of card stock at 3 1/2-inch intervals so that you have two light pencil marks separating three equal sections of cardstock.
4. Fold the card stock along the lines in the opposite directions so that the folded pieces are 3 1/2 inches x 5 1/4 inches and form a Z shape.
5. Overlap the end pieces of the two different folded card stocks and glue them together so that you have 5 faces on each side.
6. From the light pink construction paper, trace five circles, cut them out and glue them onto the faces of the card.
7. Select an array of family photos and trim them to fit within the circles.
8. Inside each light pink shape attach a snapshot with adhesive glue dots.
9. Display your photos on the nearest table or mantle.

For Grade-Schoolers:

PORTABLE PHOTO ALBUM
Great for grandparents on the go!

Materials:[photo card max-width=150 align=right]

• One 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch piece of blue card stock
• Scissors
• Ruler
• White craft glue
• (One 4 3/4-inch x 3 1/2-inch scalloped oval in blue card stock (available at most stationery stores)
• 1 sheet of 1-inch diameter round white labels
• Alphabet rubber stamps
• 1 yard 1/8-inch thick blue ribbon
• Two 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch white construction paper
• Adhesive glue dots
• Family photographs

Instructions:

1. Fold the card stock in half so that it is 5 1/2 inches long x 8 1/2 inches high.
2. Trim the folded card stock so that it is 5 1/2 inches long x 4 1/2 inches high.
3. Center the scalloped oval on the front of the folded card stock and glue it in place.
4. Using the alphabet stamps, spell out the name of the grandparent on the round labels, one letter per circle.
5. Arrange these lettered labels on the scalloped oval to spell the grandparents name.
6. Trim the white construction paper so that you have 2 pieces that are 10 1/4 inches x 4 1/2 inches.
7. Fold the construction paper in half so that you have 2 folded pieces that are 5 1/8 inches long and nest one inside the other.
8. Put the two nested pieces inside the folded cardstock and tie a ribbon around the folded edges of the three pieces, creating a book with 4 pages.
9. Attach family pictures to the pages with adhesive glue dots and present them to your grateful grandparent!

For Older Grandchildren:

MULTIGENERATION HANGING FRAMES
Show off the family resemblance in one fabulous craft.

Materials:[photo hanging max-width=150 align=right]

• Three 4-inch x 6-inch clip frames (available at any frame store)
• One yard 1 1/2-inch wide orange-and-yellow striped ribbon
• Orange embroidery thread and needle
• Scissors
• Ruler
• One 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch sheet of orange card stock
• One 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch sheet of yellow card stock
• One photograph of the grandchild, trimmed to 3 inches x 3 inches
• One photograph of the grandchild's parent, trimmed to 3 inches x 3 inches
• One photograph of the grandparent, trimmed to 3 inches x 3 inches
• Adhesive glue dots
• White craft glue

Instructions:

1. Trim the orange card stock so that it fits flush with the glass of 2 of the clip frames.
2. Trim the yellow card stock so that it fits flush with the glass of 1 of the clip frames.
3. Take the ribbon and cut a piece that is 20 inches long.
4. Centered at the top of the piece of ribbon, sew a loop 1-inch long with the embroidery thread and make sure it is securely tied onto the ribbon (don't worry how it looks since it will be hidden).
5. Orient the frames horizontally and glue the ribbon so that it runs along the center of each backing piece, leaving 2 inches between each frame.
6. Place the card stock on the backing pieces of the frames on top of the ribbon and glue into place so that the colors alternate.
7. Center a photograph on each of the pieces of card stock and secure it with an adhesive glue dot.
8. Put the glass on the top of the photos and backing and secure in place using the two side clips.
9. Using the remaining ribbon, tie a bow and glue it over the base of the embroidery thread loop. Once the glue is dry, trim the ribbon ends so that they sit at the top edge of the uppermost frame.

To learn more about Grandparents Day, click here. Elsewhere on Grandparents.com, read our reviews of the latest books on grandparenting, and learn the 25 reasons kids love grandparents.