Festive and Frugal Gift Idea – DIY Fort Kit

Remember the joy of building a fort in your living room?

Maybe you used a card table and sheets, or maybe you created a fort with a giant box and markers.

Those forts could be castles high in the mountains or tents in the great outdoors.

Your fort was always as big as your imagination, and you would play in it for hours.

When little kids are asking Santa for iPads, don't you think it's time to introduce them to “old-fashioned” fun.

The Budget Diet girl has decided that L Creative Blog gets the “Best Homemade Gift of the Year Award” for coming up with the uber clever DIY Fort Kit, and I'm convinced you'll be mom of the year (or grandma of the year or aunt of the year) when you give this DIY Fort Kit.

How to Make a DIY Fort Kit

• Tote Bag with Pockets – in a pinch, you could substitute a reusable grocery bag.
• 3 Flat Sheets of Various Sizes – don't worry about the quality and make sure to find them on sale or be super frugal and roll up a few old sheets with ribbon.
• Clamps or Chip Clips – a kid's got to be able to attach those sheets to a table leg! Your local hardware store should have clamps, and you know where to get chip clips.
• Flashlight – download L Creative's free hand puppet cheat sheet for some flashlight fun.
• Glow Sticks – always fun.
• Snacks – every good fort needs a few good snacks.
• Book – reading is always more fun in a fort, and you could add a book light to make it really special.
• Pillow – just in case mom and dad allow nap time in the fort.
• Gift Tag – add the finishing touch to this awesome gift with a free printable gift tag from L Creative Blog.

These are just a few ideas to spark your imagination and bring back memories of your fort building days. Customize your fort kit for the child's interests like a camo bag or camo sheets for the want-to-be soldier in your life. Go pink for a princess and add a tiara. You get the idea.

What would you add to the DIY Fort Kit? Please leave a comment to share your ideas.