Christmas Crafts for Kids

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• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Aug. 20, 2009 at 1:15 PM

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  his lovely wreath project is a great way to keep kids busy and entertained on a snowy day.

  For more activities, be sure to visit our main Christmas page. Don't forget to check out our Christmas crafts, recipes, printables, games, clip art and coloring pages.

  What you'll need:

  • 5” x 5” piece of white construction paper, cardstock or posterboard
  • Green tissue paper, cut or torn into 1” squares
  • 1” squares of tissue paper in various colors such as purple, pink, yellow, red, blue and orange
  • White craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Pencil with an eraser
    

  How to make it:

  1. Use an oatmeal container or something similar to trace a circle on to the construction paper, or draw a circle free hand. Draw a smaller circle in the middle of the larger circle to create a donut shape. Cut out the donut.
  2. Place the donut on the work surface and pipe a line of white craft glue around the outer edge of the donut circle.
  3. Place a pencil eraser in the center of a square of green tissue paper. Twist the tissue paper around the end of the pencil, and then gently press the tissue paper onto the glue with the pencil. The tissue paper should stick. Gently lift the pencil out of the tissue paper. Repeat this process until the entire outer edge of the circle is green.
  4. Repeat this method with the colorful squares (about 8 of them) and place them randomly around the donut; these will be your wreath’s lights.
  5. Fill in the remaining areas with white glue and cover with green tissue paper using the above method. Allow to dry completely.
  6. Use the end of the pencil to spread out the colorful tissue squares so that they can be seen better.
     

  Tips:

  • Younger children may find it easier to do this project by crumpling the tissue paper in their fingers and pressing directly onto the glue covered surface, skipping the pencil all together.
  • Squares do not need to be perfect, torn squares work just fine.
  • A good substitution--instead of tissue paper use crepe paper streamers you may have left over from a birthday party!
  • Add some sparkle to your wreath by putting some glitter glue on the edges of the tissue paper lights.

• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Aug. 20, 2009 at 1:23 PM

•  

  Candles are wonderful, but this one is safer! This flame lasts forever and will not burn your fingers. It would make a lovely centerpiece on your Christmas dinner table.

  For more activities, be sure to visit our main Christmas page. Don't forget to check out our Christmas crafts, recipes, printables, games, clip art and coloring pages.

  What you'll need:

  • Large cardboard spool from ribbon
  • Foam bowl (recommended: 12 oz polystyrene disposable food bowl)
  • 1 sheet green felt
  • Scraps of orange, red and yellow felt
  • 12” long piece of 1-2” wide holiday ribbon
  • 3 green skinny chenille stems
  • White acrylic paint
  • White craft glue
  • Pen
  • Scissors
    

  How to make it:

  1. Paint the spool with white paint and set aside to dry.
  2. Cut green felt into twelve 2” square pieces.
  3. Cut chenille stems into fourths.
  4. Poke the center of a felt square with your finger or a pen, gather poked end and wrap a piece of chenille around it, forming a 3D leaf. Repeat for all twelve squares.
  5. Turn foam bowl upside down so the open side is faced down. Use a pen to poke a hole on the foam side of the bowl, about ½” down from the flat bottom. Insert the pointed end of the felt leaf into the hole. Poke the next hole about an inch from the first. Repeat this step until all twelve leaves have been inserted around the bowl. Trim the rim off the bowl so that the leaves are almost touching the table.
  6. Glue the spool to the flat bowl bottom.
  7. Cut a 2” tear drop shape from red felt.
  8. Cut a 1.5” tear drop shape from orange felt.
  9. Cut a 1” tear drop shape from yellow felt.
  10. Glue the yellow felt to the orange and the orange to the red so that each color shows behind the one in front of it. Add white glue to the bottom of the felt and the opening at the top of the spool. Insert the felt flame into the top of the spool.
  11. Tie ribbon into a bow and trim ends if needed. Glue to the front of your candle base, just above the leaves.
      

  Tips:

  • If you don’t have a ribbon spool, substitute with a cardboard tube from your paper towels. Cut out a round piece of cardboard from a shoe box or cereal box and glue it on top.
  • Always save scraps of ribbon to use up in projects such as these.
  • Felt is inexpensive, so stock up by picking up five sheets each time you shop!
    

• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Aug. 20, 2009 at 1:37 PM

•  

  These cute little gingerbread boys and girls are fun to decorate and adorable to display!

  For more activities, be sure to visit our main Christmas page. Don't forget to check out our Christmas crafts, recipes, printables, games, clip art and coloring pages.

  What you'll need:

  • Brown paper grocery bag
  • Gingerbread girl and boy cookie cutters
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Acrylic paint: white, red, pink, purple, orange, green, light blue, black
  • Paintbrush
    

  How to make it:

  1. Cut a 7” wide strip the length of the paper grocery bag.
  2. Decide which side you want to be the front and turn over so that the back is facing up.
  3. Place gingerbread boy cookie cutter at the left side of the paper strip. Use pencil to trace the outline of the cookie cutter.
  4. Place gingerbread girl cookie cutter just to the right of the tracing of the boy gingerbread and trace with pencil.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you run out of room on the paper.
  6. Use scissors to cut the outlines of the gingerbread people out, keeping them connected. Do not cut the gingerbread people out separately. If need be, cut around your tracing marks rather than on them to give yourself “padding” which will make up for any gaps between the tracings.
  7. Turn paper over so that your pencil marks are now facing down. Decorate gingerbread with acrylic paints. Dot buttons on by dipping the handle end of the paintbrush into the paint and then onto your paper.
  8. Use thin paintbrush to add the “rick-rack” squiggles with white paint around wrists, ankles, and skirts.
  9. Use a thin paintbrush or black marker to add smiles them dot on pink for cheeks with handle end of paintbrush.
  10. Dot on eyes with black or dark brown and paint on red bowties for the boys.
      

  Tips:

  • Craft paper will work in place of a brown paper grocery bag. You can also use brown construction paper.
  • Cut individual gingerbreads to glue to cards and packages.
  • Glue some yarn to the back and hang as garland on your mantle or tree.
    

• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Aug. 20, 2009 at 1:48 PM

•  

  Brrrr! It’s time for building snowmen! Too cold to go outside, or no snow on the ground? No problem! Make this cute textured snowman to decorate your home.

  What you'll need:

  • 3 – 3” Styrofoam balls
  • Hot glue gun
  • Piece of thick cardboard for base
  • Snowtex paint (see Helpful Hints, below)
  • Child sized mismatched sock or mitten
  • Two glitter pom poms
  • 5” piece of ribbon
  • 10” strip of felt for scarf
  • 2 tiny black pom poms
  • Orange toothpick
  • Three buttons
  • 2 sturdy twigs
  • Kitchen knife

  How to make it:

  1. Cut one end of one of the Styrofoam balls off flat with a kitchen knife, just enough so that it will rest flat on the work surface and won’t roll away. This will be the head of your snowman.
  2. Cut both ends of the other two Styrofoam balls, making flat ends on both. These will be the center and bottom of your snowman.
  3. Cut the cardboard into a square big enough to serve as a base for your snowman.
  4. Take one of the Styrofoam balls that have both ends cut flat and hot glue it to the cardboard square.
  5. Take the second Styrofoam ball with two flat ends; hot glue it on top of the bottom Styrofoam ball.
  6. Take the last Styrofoam ball and hot glue the flat side on top of the center ball.
  7. Paint entire snowman and base generously with Snotex paint.
  8. Before the Snotex dries, press the buttons onto the body and the tiny pom poms on for the eyes (no glue necessary).
  9. Break or cut the orange toothpick in half and insert into the face, pointed side out.
  10. Insert stick arms on each side of the body.
  11. Let Snotex dry completely.
  12. Once it is dry, tie the felt scarf over the snowman’s neck, and fringe the ends with scissors if you like.
  13. Cut foot end off sock or hand/fingers off mitten so that all you have is cuff and maybe some extra material. Roll the cuff up once or twice, and then place on snowman’s head. Take in place with hot glue.
  14. Use ribbon to tie the top of the hat closed. Trim excess ribbon.
  15. Decorate top of hat with glitter pom poms.

  Tips:

  • Have baby wipes or wash cloths handy as this project can be pretty messy
  • Snow-tex is a paintable textured medium that looks like snow when applied. It is readily available at craft supply stores and many discount department stores.
  • Don’t throw away mismatched mitten, gloves or socks, especially colorful ones! These are idea for making snowman hats and can be kept in your craft supplies until ready to use.

• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Aug. 20, 2009 at 1:57 PM

•  

  If you have any puzzles that are missing pieces, they can be turned into fun craft projects! Take this cute wreath ornament for example. Turn spare puzzle pieces into a cute ornament for your Christmas tree.

  For more activities, be sure to visit our main Christmas page. Don't forget to check out our Christmas crafts, recipes, printables, games, clip art and coloring pages.

  What you'll need:

  • Puzzle pieces
  • Green acrylic paint
  • Colorful buttons
  • Thin white ribbon
  • White craft glue or hot glue gun
  • Green glitter glue
    

  How to make it:

  1. Grab a handful of puzzle pieces (middles, no straight sides) and lay them out in the shape of a wreath. Overlap a layer or two until you have enough, put any remaining pieces back for another project.
  2. Paint the puzzle pieces with green paint. Let dry and repeat for a second coat.
  3. Paint dry pieces with green glitter glue and let dry.
  4. Glue pieces together in the shape a wreath, overlapping to give your wreath thickness and strength.
  5. Tie a piece of ribbon into a bow and trim the ends. Glue to the front of the wreath, centered at the bottom.
  6. Glue buttons to the front of the wreath, varying the colors as you go around.
  7. Glue a looped piece of ribbon to the back of the wreath for a hanger.
     

  Tips:

  • Don’t throw away puzzles just because some of the pieces are missing. There are tons of craft projects that can be made from puzzles. You can also donate them to a local daycare or elementary school art department.
  • You can substitute the buttons in this craft by using pony beads or other colorful beads. 
  • If you don’t have glitter glue handy, spray the puzzle pieces with acrylic sealer spray so that the paint doesn’t rub or peel off.
    

• 
• by
  • Brookesmommy525
  on Nov. 6, 2009 at 8:44 AM

•  

  These chilly little penguin pal ornaments are the perfect pair to dress up your holiday tree. Make several, one for each member of your family!

  Decorate your whole home with festive Christmas crafts! Create homemade cards, your own Christmas ornaments, tasty Christmas recipes, or just snuggle up together with printable Christmas activities.

  What you'll need:

  • 2” wood circle
  • 8” piece of yarn
  • Acrylic paints: white, black, orange
  • Scraps of felt
  • Scissors
  • White craft glue
  • Toothpick

  How to make it:

  1. Paint circle white and let dry.
  2. Paint a border around the outside of the circle with black paint. It will look like a letter “C” if turned sideways (see image).
  3. Use the handle end of a paintbrush dipped in black paint to dot on two eyes.
  4. Use a toothpick dipped in orange paint to draw on a triangle for a beak. Let dry completely (see image).
  5. Cut a bowtie (or a hair bow for a girl penguin) out of some scrap felt and glue to the penguin.
  6. Loop yarn by folding in half and gluing both ends to the back of the wood circle.

  Tips:

  1. To protect this project for years to come, spray the painted circle with acrylic sealer spray before adding the felt bow.
  2. Instead of felt, you can use a piece of festive ribbon tied in a bow.
  3. Wood circles are available at craft supply stores.

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