Lovely handmade crafts

From current students to graduates! A collection of handmade graduation gift and keepsake ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

As graduation season approaches, many people start thinking, “We want to give heartfelt gifts from the current students to the graduating class.” If possible, you’d love to deliver something special that the children make with their own hands.

In this article, we introduce handmade gift ideas you can create using familiar materials like milk cartons and origami paper.

We’ve gathered a wide range—from easy projects to slightly more elaborate designs—so choose the ones that suit the children’s ages and your school’s policies!

From Current Preschoolers to Graduates! A Collection of Handmade Graduation Gifts & Keepsake Ideas (1–10)

Memo stand

Memo Stand (1) – Easy and Cute with Clips and Air-Dry Clay – Also Works as a Photo Holder ❤︎ DIY/Tutorial/Photo Holder/Memo/Handmade Gift Idea ❤︎ #731

Memo stand

It might become an important message board within your family from now on.

Let’s try making a handmade “memo stand” where you can tuck in small notes.

The materials are air-dry clay and a paper clip.

First, straighten one end of the paper clip.

Next, use air-dry clay in your favorite color to make the base.

Mixing colors can look beautiful too! Then insert the straightened part of the paper clip into the clay.

Let it dry, and finish by brushing on some diluted white glue for a glossy look.

It’s done! Depending on how you use it, it can even serve as a photo stand.

When your child starts elementary school, your daily rhythm may change.

At times like that, this will definitely come in handy!

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Photo frame

[Crafts] Perfect for Graduation Season! 3 Easy Gift-Making Ideas Using Only Everyday Materials [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Photo frame

When your child goes to kindergarten or daycare, you end up with lots of wonderful photos from various events.

Choose your favorites and place them in a handmade photo frame as a graduation keepsake.

The materials you’ll need are cardboard and yarn.

Prepare two pieces of cardboard: one solid rectangular base and one frame with the center cut out.

To make it, first wrap yarn around the cardboard frame as much as you like.

Once you’re done wrapping, glue the frame onto the base.

Be sure not to apply glue along the top edge so you can slide the photo in later.

After the glue dries, it’s complete!

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thanks tag

If you’re looking for a way to express your appreciation to graduates, thank-you tags are a great idea.

First, gather items like cookie cutters, air-dry clay, string, and a straw.

Start by mixing the clay to create your preferred color, then cut out shapes with the cookie cutters.

Next, use the straw to punch a hole near the top of each clay piece—this is where the string will go.

Finally, write or stamp a message on the clay and let it dry.

You can also decorate with beads or other embellishments to suit your taste.

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From Current Students to Graduates: Handmade Graduation Gifts and Keepsake Ideas (11–20)

plastic shrink film keychain

[Simple & Cute] Basic Way to Make Shrink Plastic Crafts [For Beginners]

plastic shrink film keychain

Let’s make your own original keychains using plastic shrink sheets you can buy at 100-yen shops! Shrink sheets are thin plastic sheets that shrink and harden when heated in a toaster.

Many people enjoy using them for handmade crafts.

With standard shrink sheets, you can draw illustrations using pens, but recently there are types you can print photos on and ones that become semi-transparent when finished.

Let’s use shrink sheets to create keychains that can serve as a memento of graduation from kindergarten.

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Laminated whiteboard

How to make an instant whiteboard

Laminated whiteboard

Did you ever feel fascinated by chalkboards or whiteboards when you were little? If you loved drawing, even more so—you were probably drawn to the freedom of writing and erasing at will.

A perfect gift for such a child is a handmade whiteboard.

With the method introduced here, you can easily make a “whiteboard” using laminating film.

If you can create a whiteboard that lets you write and erase as if by magic, children’s eyes are sure to light up.

And if you decorate the edges with origami paper or other embellishments, they’ll be even more delighted!

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corsage

[Graduation Gift Craft♪] Handmade Corsage ♪ How to make a DIY corsage easily.☆

corsage

The corsage, a classic for graduation ceremonies at kindergartens, feels special and makes a perfect gift! It’s fun to make and will delight the graduates—a win-win item.

Here’s an easy and cute corsage you can make using origami and tissue paper.

Even if you’re not good with crafts, no problem! Cut your favorite origami sheet into four equal pieces and fold each one in an accordion style.

Attach the folds with double-sided tape to create parts that look like paper fans.

Decorate a circle-cut piece of thick paper with a ribbon, the paper-fan parts, and a tissue-paper flower, and you’re done! Attach a safety pin to the back, and the current students can pin them on the graduates’ chests—they’re sure to love it.

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strobe bracelet

[Graduation Gift Craft♪] Easy Bracelet♪ How to Make DIY Bracelets☆

strobe bracelet

A simple yet colorful bracelet made by combining straws and beads.

Prepare finely cut pieces of straw and some beads, then thread them alternately onto a pipe cleaner.

It’s important to make it the right length to fit the wrist of the person you’re giving it to.

Finish the bracelet by shaping one end of the pipe cleaner into a loop and attaching a large bead to the other end to create a clasp-like structure.

Another appealing point is that you can make it in a variety of color schemes by choosing different pipe cleaner colors and types of straws and beads.

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