Christmas Crafts for Kids

Peanut butter pine cone bird feeders. We did this several years and everyone always loved them, plus they are great for the birds. It's messy and fun and it doesn't matter what they look like.

Here is a link on how to make them: http://crafts.kaboose.com/pine-cone-bird-feeder.html

We do snowmen hand print ornaments. Buy some round ornaments, any color. Paint the child's hand white and have them "grab" the ornament so their print is on the ornament. The fingers look like a snowman family and the palm looks like snow! Once dry we take colored Sharpie markers and draw on hats, eyes, carrot nose, mouth, buttons and scarfs. They always turn out super cute!

We also do foot/hand print Reindeer. Paint their foot brown and place upside down on paper. The heal is where the reindeer's nose is, and then paint the hands to place at the top for the antlers. I use a red pom pom for the nose and glue on googly eyes. These are also really cute too!

Pine cone ornament. If you get a certain type of pine cone it looks like a mini christmas tree. Put glue on tips of pine cone "branches" then sprinkle on glitter. Glue a loop of yarn or ribbon to top of cone to hang on tree. You can put a bow over the place where you glue it if you want.

Or buy a chipboard photo album and have the kids decorate the covers. They can put their photo in as the first one.

Reindeer ornaments are easy, for each one you need 3 popsicle sticks, a red pompom for the nose, and googly eyes. A site like Family Fun magazine probably has instructions, email me if you need further info.

Pomander--get an orange or lemon, stick whole cloves in. May need to poke holes with small screwdriver or pen or pencil tip first, esp. for your 2 yo. Leave plain, or wrap with ribbon to hang, or wrap in cloth to put in dresser drawers (they smell pretty).

Have fun!

K. Z.

Family Fun magazine and website generally has some good ideas for every holiday.

cinnamon dough ornaments! - try the recipe on the Mc Cormick/Schiling web site (just cinnamon and applesauce - smells awesome! http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Cinnamon-Ornaments...) or the one on http://crafts.kaboose.com/cinnamon-dough-ornaments.html that uses a bit of white glue might hold together better. You could have the older kids cut them with cookie cutters, or if you cut and dry them yourselves, glitter glue works well as a decorating medium - here's some that I made: http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/chanjung4/craft%2...

I am gonna let my kids do something festive and crafty this year as well...my kids are 7 & 5 (boys) and an almost 3 yr old lil' girl...I was thinking for sure the paper links garland thingymajig they do in school...and then maybe some popcorn balls? Other than that I just don't know?

Excited to read your responses....!

If you look at craft stores or in the craft area at Walmart or Target, they have christmas ornaments. They're white plaster? and the kids can paint them. They run under $1/ea. The kids love painting them and they make good gifts. Also found in the same place is photo frames they can decorate.

In the past my girls made hand print bags/tote bags as gifts. They painted picture frames, make plates (decorated them). We made ornaments from bread and some from an applesauce/cinnamon recipe. Photo books are another fun idea.

One of my favorite gifts to come home from school was a small wooden Christmas tree. The teachers painted them green and the kids went to twon decoarting them with magic makers, paint and sparkles. The trees can be bought at any crafts store. But there are also wooden ornaments and other shapes for decorating. Have fun!

My kids enjoy the pre packaged foam crafts that are available at Michael's, etc.

And don't forget the classic snowflakes from folded white paper or the round coffee filters.

I like the ones with pictures. Cut wreaths out of green paper and put their faces in the hole. Give them crosses, tiny bows, holly and berries, glitter, snowmen, little bells, Santa hats, stockings, or whatever to decorate the wreaths. Let them decorate the wreath first, so they don't mess up the picture.

Here are lots of ideas!! http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/index.shtml

More craft/projects/printables here (LOVE the handprint wreath and tree idea!!): http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/

I just thought of a better idea....combining mine and one I saw. Make each child's handprint wreath, let them put something on it (glitter?) and put their picture in the center! I think I am going to do this myself!!