Ten Kid Crafts for Christmas You Need to Try

The countdown for Santa's visit has begun. Here are 10 ideas to keep little hands busy during this hectic season. They are simple to make and don't require a lot of special materials. Kids will feel like a part of the celebration, especially if they present a few of their creations as gifts.

1. Glitter Pine Cone Ornaments

Materials:

pine cones

glitter

clear-drying glue

hot glue, glue gun

Directions

Put dots of glue inside the pine cone. Sprinkle with glitter. An adult uses hot glue to attach a yarn hanger.

2. Sweet Gum Ball Ornament 

Materials:

sweet gum balls (from a sweet gum tree)

white poster paint

wooden toothpicks

silver glitter

yarn

hot glue, glue gun

Directions:

Stick toothpicks into the sweet gum balls. Paint with the white poster paint. Shake glitter onto the ornament while the paint is still wet. An adult attaches a yarn hanger with hot glue.

3. Hand Wreath

Materials:

several sheets of green construction paper

red paint

scissors

red ribbon

glue

Directions:

Trace hands onto green construction paper and then cut out with safety scissors. Cut out enough hands to glue together in a wreath shape. Dip fingertips into the red paint and dab on as holly berries. Glue on a red ribbon bow.

4. Woven Mat

Materials:

red and green paper

ruler

scissors

Directions:

Use the ruler to cut one-inch strips from the red paper. Cut slits in the green paper ending one-half from the edges. Weave the red strips into the green paper.

5. Poinsettia

Materials:

red paper

yellow and green tissue paper

glue

Directions:

Make a square out of the paper. Form into a pinwheel by folding two corners into the center. Glue them down. Form balls of tissue and glue down for the flower's center.

6. Woven Stocking

Materials:

stocking pattern

yarn

bobby pins

hole puncher

Directions:

Trace and cut out two stocking shapes. Punch holes along the edges of each stocking. Thread the bobby pin with yarn and "sew" up the stocking.

7. DIY Christmas Cards

Materials:

construction paper

scissors

Glitter

Markers/Crayons

Directions:

Make a card from construction paper. Add glitter, sweet notes, and anything else the kids dream up and send them out as your 2012 Christmas cards!

8. Jingle Bells

Materials:

small paper bathroom cups

tin foil

yarn

Directions:

Cut sections of tin foil large enough to cover the paper cups. String three together on yarn to use as a door hanger.

9. Paper Plate Wreath

Materials:

paper plate

red tissue

green crayon

Directions:

Cut out the middle of the paper plate. Color the rim green. Glue on wads of red tissue for berries.

10. Stained Glass Ornament

Materials:

colored tissue paper

wax paper

construction paper

Directions:

Place tissue on a sheet of wax paper mosaic style. Top with another sheet of wax paper. An adult irons them together with a warm iron. Cut out a paper frame for the ornament.

Ten Kid Crafts for Christmas You Need to Try is a guest post by Jennie Reedy.



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