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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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 Students to Graduates: Handmade Graduation Gifts and Keepsake Ideas (11–20)

balloon flower

How to make a balloon flower (the easiest rubber balloon version, with almost everything from the 100-yen shop)

balloon flower

As a springtime gift, balloon flowers are highly recommended.

Place colorful flowers inside a clear balloon and inflate it.

It’s great to use artificial flowers or handmade ones that children create.

Putting the flowers into the balloon can be tricky, but if you stretch the balloon over the mouth of a wide-mouthed plastic bottle to hold it open, children can insert the flowers more easily.

Make sure an adult helps with this part.

The finished balloon flower is vibrant and makes a wonderful gift, perfect for commemorating graduation.

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piggy bank

Summer vacation craft ♡ Easy and quick to finish!! Make a piggy bank using a plastic bottle and items from the 100-yen shop Daiso ♡

piggy bank

How about giving a piggy bank as a gift so they can save the allowance they receive? Having them use it could help them gradually learn the value of money.

First, take something like a plastic bottle and make a slot big enough for coins to go in and an opening to take the money out.

Then cover it with paper clay and add decorations—that’s all it takes to complete the piggy bank.

It’s important to think of a design that suits the recipient, but it might also be fun to incorporate a design that highlights the coin slot.

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magnet

I tried making stamped cookies and turning them into magnets♪

magnet

Magnets come in all kinds of designs—sweets, bread, animals, and more.

When you spot them while traveling, it’s hard to resist picking some up, right? Let’s make some of those magnets ourselves.

This time, I’ll show you how to make cookie magnets that look just like the real thing.

You’ll need resin clay, paper clay, paint, cookie cutters, cookie stamps, and magnetic sheet stickers.

First, mix the resin clay and paper clay together and tint the mixture with paint.

Next, use the cookie cutters and stamps to form the cookie shapes.

Once they’re fully dry, add a baked look with more paint, and finish by sticking on the magnetic sheet.

It’s easy to do, so you can create your own original magnet set—your friends are sure to love it as a gift!

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Sakura pen holder

A handmade pen holder gift from the current kindergarteners to the graduates! Materials: a plastic bottle, wooden sticks, double-sided tape, vinyl or masking tape, tissue paper flowers, lace stickers, colored construction paper, and glue.

First, cut the plastic bottle so it’s just a little shorter than the sticks.

Wrap tape around the cut edge.

After applying double-sided tape to the bottle, attach the sticks all around it.

Next, cut tissue paper into cherry blossom petal shapes and glue the petals onto the sticks.

Add lace stickers on top, then make a class name tag with colored paper.

Stick the name tag onto the pen holder, and it’s complete!

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Small accessory box made from a milk carton

https://www.tiktok.com/@buchiko_hoiku/video/7337953617057451266

A handmade trinket box gift made from milk cartons: from current kindergarteners to graduating children! Infants, please make finger stamps.

What you need: milk cartons, paint, construction paper, and ribbon.

First, cut open the milk carton and trim it into the shape of a small container.

Next, create swipe art using paint and the milk carton.

Put your favorite colors of paint on the construction paper and slide the milk carton across it.

Once it dries, attach it to the inside surface, then glue your preferred color of construction paper to the back, and fold it into the shape of a small container.

Punch holes in the corners, thread the ribbon through, tie it, and you’re done!

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