By Lauren Galley
A tween & teen girl’s wish list can vary from the latest fashions to trending electronics and of course the ever popular stocking stuffer, money! Parents tend to rush to the mall for their holiday shopping, however it’s important to remember that a gift can be much more inspiring and empowering than the latest trends of the season. Spending quality time with your daughter is one of the most selfless gifts you can give this season. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up with a few ideas that will empower your daughter and remind her that she can be her very own superhero, even through the toughest teen years! Parents can be our best mentors, so gather a few items and wrap up a huge dose of Girl Power!
BULLETIN BOARD
Give your daughter an extra dose of Girl Power with this great DIY bulletin board. I love displaying memories on my bedroom wall so I created an extra large bulletin board that is easy, functional and looks amazing. A constant reminder of accomplishments and good times with friends is exactly what this board is made of.
- Ceiling Tiles
- Girl Power Fabric
- Staple Gun or Hot Glue Gun
- Small finishing Nails
- Push Pins
Head to your nearest home supply store and purchase a box of regular ceiling tiles. I decided on the larger tiles that come four to a box. Cover the ceiling tiles with a girl power fabric (Etsy has some really cute choices) using a staple gun. Simply nail the covered tiles to your wall of choice and let the memories begin. This is a great gift that you both can make together!
DIY GIRL POWER BLANKET
Wrap your daughter in Girl Power!! I love having an extra soft blanket to curl up with as I watch TV or study. Why not give your daughter a reminder of what a superhero she is by making her a one of a kind fleece blanket. I’ve had mine for several years and I wouldn’t trade if for the world….and I would have never thought to ask for something like this as a gift!
- 2 pieces of fleece fabric
Simply purchase 2 pieces of fleece fabric trimmed to the size of your choice. Mine has a solid color and a pattern piece which makes it reversible. Lay the two pieces on top of each other and cut 4 inch slits approximately 1 inch apart all the way around each side. After you have finished cutting take the top and bottom piece of each slit and tie in a tight knot. Now you have a beautiful blanket that is made with love.
VISION BOARD
Teen girls never think of asking for DIY crafts as a gift. I love that we can dream, be inspired and reach our goals as we grow up. A visual of our goals is important as we face the tough pressures of society and this is exactly why I love my vision board. I had so much fun creating my board tailored to my dreams and goals. Giving your daughter the supplies to make her own gives her a gentle reminder of just how awesome she is as she heads down the journey of life. My mom and I made one together…hint hint!
- Cork Board ~ Any size, however, make sure it’s large enough to hold big dreams!
- Selection of Magazines such as Oprah, Seventeen, House Beautiful and Time
- Scissors ~ Cut out your career, living, fashion, quotes, etc…. Really anything that inspires you!
- Push Pins ~ Cute pins add extra flare to this inspirational work of art!
- Ribbon ~ Glue the ribbon around the outer edges of the cork board
- Glue ~ Your choice – Hot Glue or Fabric Glue
Parents: Write your daughter a personal note telling her how much you believe in her. This vision board kit will give her the “power” to visualize her dreams and goals. We all have those bad days when we decide that nothing is going right and it feels like we stink at everything…ok that might be a little dramatic but you get the point! The vision board keeps a girl focused on what’s important.
GIRL POWER JAR
As I travel throughout the U.S. speaking to tween and teen girls, one of their favorite Girl Talks is my signature GIRL POWER Jar craft! Being a tween or teen is very stressful. The pressures of school, homework, fitting in socially, friendships and exams can be overwhelming. De-stressing is important and we don’t always think about how to stop for a moment and just breathe. My Girl Power Jars (I think I have one in every color) are a fun way to take five, de-stress and plus they are a really cute addition to a girl’s bedroom. Give your daughter the supplies to make her very own. No two are alike, just like her, which is super cool!
- Glass jar with lid – Get as creative as you like. Interesting jars add to the uniqueness of this craft.
- Clear Elmers Glue
- Water – Warm not Cold
- Glitter – Large and Small
- One small plastic trinket such as a heart, star, peace sign, etc… that will represent your daughters personality
Fill the jar 1/2 way with glue. Add equal amounts of large and small glitter. I use approximately 2-4 Tablespoons total. Be careful mixing colors that don’t match such as a dark blue and dark red. These colors blended will end up looking very dark which makes the falling glitter less attractive. Use blends such as pink and white or silver, blue and white or silver, etc… Carefully add warm water until it reaches almost to the top. Leave a little room for shaking. Replace with lid of jar and seal tightly. I use a hot glue gun to seal the jar from the inside of the lid. Shake and immediately feel the stress leave your body while you watch the sparkly glitter slowly fall. Warning: This could become addictive! Parents: You’ll want one too!
