Christmas crafts for kids to make

Good Morning.  Just 13 days until Christmas morning!  Here are a few things you can do with the kids, or by yourself, for Christmas.  If you have little ones this is a great way to spend some quality time with them.  If your kids are making these be sure to stay nearby to help them out as some require the use of a hot glue gun or wire snippers, etc.

Terra-cotta Bell Ornament
Difficulty: Easy
Average User Rating: Parental supervision is recommended
Use paint, jewels and a jingle bell to turn a terra-cotta pot into a pretty homemade   Christmas ornament. Change the color and it could even become a charm on a necklace or a fun birthday craft for kids.

What you'll need:
Small terra-cotta pot
Green paint
Paintbrush
Small jewels in various colors (or braid, sequins, etc.)
Gold glitter glue
Gold cord
1/4" to 1/2" wide ribbon in red, green, gold, or silver
1 Jingle bell
Scissors
How to make it:
Paint the entire terra-cotta pot with the green paint.
Allow to dry.
Put small drops of the gold glitter glue onto the painted terra-cotta pot. Place the jewels in the drops so a small rim of glue is showing around each jewel.
Allow all of the glued jewels to dry.
Thread the jingle bell onto the gold cord. Tie a large knot about one inch above the jingle bell so that when you put the cord with the jingle bell inside the pot, it will not go through the hole in the bottom of the pot.
Pull the cord from the inside of the terra-cotta up through the hole in the bottom of the pot.
Leave a loop in the cord to hang and tie a bow at the top.

Candy Cane Ornament
Difficulty: Easy
Average User Rating: Parental supervision is recommended

Using tri-beads, you and your kids can create your very own sweet candy canes for hanging on the Christmas tree. These are also great to tie onto gifts or make a festive necklace.

What you'll need:
This will make 1 candy cane:
12" white chenille stem
18 clear translucent tri-beads (non-translucent beads may be used)
16 red translucent tri-beads (non-translucent beads may be used)
Wire cutters
How to make it:
Cut the chenille stem in half.
Put on one clear bead, turn end of chenille stem around the bead. Feed next clear bead on the chenille stem all the way down to cover the sharp end.
Feed the rest of the beads, starting with two red beads, followed by two clear beads, until all the beads are used.
After the last clear bead is added, bend the chenille stem around the bead. Feed the stem back through the second clear bead to cover the sharp end.
Hang and enjoy!

Christmas Photo Ornaments
Difficulty: Easy
Give a personalized Christmas photo ornament to the special people on your list. Kids will enjoy crafting it into the perfect thing for Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc.

What you'll need:
Clear Christmas Bulbs about 6" or larger with removable tops/hooks
Photos
Scissors
Pencil or paintbrush or Q-tips
Optional: Paint, Christmas ribbon, Potpourri
How to make it:

Take tops off of clear bulbs. Cut picture about the same diameter of bulb.
Wrap photo around pencil (photo side out).
Slip pencil and picture into bulb.
Use pencil or q-tips to straighten out picture to stand upright in the middle of bulb.
Optional: Fill up back side of picture. You can add potpourri or ribbons to the inside to the back of photo.
Then with some paint on the opposite of picture add the date, your name, your greeting etc.
Tie a ribbon around the top, put top back on.

Angel Ornament
Difficulty: Average
Parental supervision is recommended
A quick and easy Angel Ornament craft that can adorn your Christmas tree year after year.

What you'll need:
20" of 4" wide gathered lace
10" of 1" wide gathered lace
7/8" round wood bead or turning
Craft hair
1 square of white felt
Paint - brown or blue for eyes, red for lips
Craft wire
Braided cord
10" Fishing line or heavy duty clear thread
Hot glue gun

How to make it:

Gather 20" piece of 4" wide lace on wire and twist wire together for dress.
Hot glue wood bead on top of gathered lace.
Gather 10" piece of 1" wide lace on wire for collar, twist closed around base of head.
Make wings out of felt in shape of a butterfly. Trim with braided cord around edge.
Glue craft hair on the top of the bead.
Cut a piece of braided cord to fit top of head (as halo) and glue ends together. Glue on top of hair.
Knot piece of fishing line together. Lay on top of wings with the loop above the wings (to use an hanger).
Generously glue wings to the back of angel.
Paint eyes and mouth on wood bead for face.

Wooden Snowmen Ornament
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 5 and up
These snowmen are so cute and very easy to make. Provide a variety of colors and patterned fabrics as well as different colored supplies to make each snowman unique!

What you'll need:
large craft sticks
small twigs
white and black acrylic craft paint
orange toothpicks
colorful felt
Glittery chenille sticks
Shiny pom poms
Black craft foam
Buttons or sequins
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Scissors
How to make it:
Paint the craft sticks white and let dry completely.
Break twigs into pieces about 3 inches long.
Cut strips of colorful felt to make scarves, fringe the ends with scissors.
Cut the end off of an orange toothpick, about 1 inch long.
Cut a hat out of black craft foam.
Using the wrong end of a paintbrush, dip the end into black paint, then dot on an eye, repeat for the other eye. Repeat this process for the mouth. Or, use a round-tip marker.
Glue the orange toothpick nose in place.
Tie the felt scarf around the snowman’s neck, or simply fold over to look like it’s blowing in the wind, and then glue it in place.
Glue on hat. If you prefer ear muffs, cut a piece of chenille stick to fit around top of head, then glue in place. Glue on pom poms for the muffs.
Glue buttons or sequins in a line below the scarf.
Cut a piece of ribbon 8-10 inches long for the hanger. Fold in half and glue the open ends together on the back of the snowman’s head.
Lastly, glue on the stick arms and let your snowman dry in a safe place where he won’t get bumped.
Tips:
-There is a very large variety of colorful chenille sticks, pom poms, and felt available at craft supply stores. They are inexpensive and great to have on hand for impromptu crafts. Offering a variety allows children to choose their favorites and be unique.
-If you don’t have any felt, or if you prefer to use a patterned fabric, remnants make great scarves! Gingham and stripes give your snowman a country feel.
-Teach children to respect the environment by either picking dead branches off a bush or tree, or to gather them from the ground.

Those all came from a website called Kaboose.  I've been there a few times and it seems like a great site for families.  Go take a quick look!

The following ornament ideas are some that I have made in the past and have listed on my web page.  These are a lot of fun to make with the kids.  I used to mix up a batch of the Bakers clay dough and my older 3 kids and I would sit and make these.  The kids had a blast cutting out their ornaments and painting them.  After the paint dried I would spray them with a clear coat to help preserve them.

Spiced Ornaments  
1 C ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground allspice
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
Fine decorativeglitter (optional)
Unsweetened applesauce
White craft glue  
Drinking straw
Butchers string, jute twine or ribbon
Glue gun (optional)
Magnetic strips (optional)

Combine spices and glitter in medium bowl.  Stir, adding applesauce 1 tbsp at a time, as needed to make soft dough.  Makes about 1 2/3 cups dough.    Divide dough into smaller portions.  roll out each portion between sheets of waxed paper to 1/4 inch thickness.  

Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes.  Use a drinking straw to puch a hole, or holes, to thread string for hanging.    Place on lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake in 200 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes until dry.  (There is no need to turn at half-time)  Thread with string or glue magnets onto back.  

~Also thread on a long string with dried apple and orange slices to make a wonderfully scented garland.  

Bakers Clay Dough  
This dough is intended for craft projects.  Please do NOT eat it.  
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 C salt
1 C water  

In large mixing bowl combine flour, salt and water.  Mix thoroughly with spoon till all the flour is moistened.  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead till smooth, about 10 minutes.   Shape into a ball; return to bowl.  Keep covered with a damp cloth or paper towel till ready to use. 

Before beginning project, check the consistency of dough.  If the dough is too sticky, add a small amount of additional flour.  If dough is too stiff, knead in several teaspoons additional water.  
Roll dough on floured surface 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Place ornaments on lightly greased cookie sheets.  Make hole in top of ornaments for hangers.  Brush ornaments with 1 beaten egg.  Bake at 325 degrees till hard, 25-30 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.  Makes about 2 dozen.  

After we made our ornaments I let the kids decorate them with acrylic paint.  When that dried I sprayed them with clear coat . 

*Word of warning for those with pets.  Someone once told me that her dog just loved the ornament I gave her.  Although it is all natural, so perhaps it's also a good recipe for doggie biscuits if your not worried about their blood presser (sodium).  

At Kaboose, they also have a page with gifts you can make for the pet in your life.  Another great way to spend some time with the kids and make them feel involved in all the holiday preparations.  Just go to this Make Gifts For Your Pet link.

I hope you found something that perks your interest today.  If you make something, take a picture of you and the kids doing the project, send it to me and I'll be sure to post it.  Oh!  That reminds me of another ornament project for wee ones!

Pick up one of those little clear bended plastic picture frames (they cost like 99 cents).  Have your little one color a picture on an index card, or small piece of paper cut to the size of the frame.  If they are really little trace their hand onto the paper.  Take a picture of them coloring.  Put the picture on one side of the frame and their artwork on the other side.  Slide a red or green ribbon up into the top of the frame and hang on your tree.  It's not a really gorgeous ornament, but a great way to preserve a memory each year.

Have a great day & hugs to all my friends!

Tags: homemade, ornaments, crafts, pet gifts, kid projects