Christmas Crafts Part 2

In my last post, I talked about easy and inexpensive Christmas Crafts that you can do with kids (or really fun grown ups).  Well, there are just so many that I decided to dedicate another post to these cheap and cheerful activities.

COFFEE FILTER SNOWFLAKES

white coffee filters
scissors

Flatten out the coffee filter.  Fold it half.

Fold it in half again.

Keep folding it half until it gets very small.

Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut out chunks from each side (including the pointed end and the edge).  You can get creative here, big, little, rounded, zig zag, any shape you like.

Once you are happy with your cuts, unfold the coffee filter to reveal your beautiful snowflake!

I love that each one you do is unique, just like real snowflakes, no two are alike.

What can you do with these?  You can hang them on your tree:

Tape them to a window:

Make a garland by stringing them on yarn and hang it up anywhere you want a little Christmas cheer.  These are super easy and a lot of fun to make!

MAGICAL REINDEER FOOD

oats
glitter
a small jar or ziploc bag

Mix the oats with some glitter.  Store it in a small jar or ziploc bag.  Sprinkle some out in the yard on Christmas eve for the reindeer.  This magical food helps them fly!

SNOWMAN POOP

mini marshmallows
small ziploc bag
paper and marker

Place some mini marshmallows in a small ziploc bag (I use the snack size bags).  Write this poem on a small piece of paper that will fit onto the bag (or print it out using your computer):

YOU BETTER NOT BE NAUGHTY OR HERE'S THE SCOOP
ALL YOU'LL GET FOR CHRISTMAS IS SNOWMAN POOP!

Snowman poop is always a big hit with the kids!


PASTA ORNAMENTS

A variety of dried pasta (ziti, shells, bowties, rotini, etc)
glue
paints
pipe cleaners
yarn or ribbon

These are really cute and easy.  Just put out a bunch of dried pasta and let your kids glue them together or string them on yarn or pipe cleaners to make ornaments.  After the glue dries you can paint them or just leave them plain.  Glue on a loop of yarn or ribbon to hang them on the tree.

I strung ziti on a pipe cleaner and formed it into a circle for a wreath shape:

Then I glued a piece of bowtie pasta on top.  Here it is plain:

Here it is painted:

I love love love these pasta ornaments!  They remind me of my Old School Italian Husband (pasta is a way of life with him ha-ha).

Anyway, I hope you make these simple Christmas crafts with your family (and make some memories while you're at it).  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Crafts

I love Christmas crafts!  They just make me happy.  I think it's because they remind me of Christmas break in school.  It was such a magical time.  You're home from school, wondering what Santa will bring, getting to enjoy all sorts of special treats.  My Mama and I would make crafts together.  It didn't take much, we usually used what we found around the house or in the yard, but it was so much fun.  We made memories that will last a lifetime.

Here are a few cheap and cheerful crafts you can make with your family (along with some special memories):

CANDY CANE REINDEER

candy canes
pipe cleaners
pom poms
googly eyes
glue
scotch tape

Tape two candy canes together to look like antlers.  Wrap a pipe cleaner or two around the middle of the two candy canes.  Glue on eyes and a pom pom nose.  Easy!  These make great stocking stuffers or hang them on your tree!

CINNAMON ORNAMENTS

1 (4.12 oz) bottle ground cinnamon (or 2 small bottles)
3/4 cup applesauce
cookie cutters
skewer or chopstick
drying rack (any rack will do)
ribbon or yarn
paint, markers (optional)

Mix the cinnamon and applesauce together to form a stiff dough.  Roll it out with a rolling pin (or a glass) to 1/4 inch thickness (if the rolling pin sticks, rub a little cinnamon on it).  Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.  Make a hole in the top of each using the skewer.  Carefully lay the ornaments on a rack to dry.  Let them dry for a day or two at room temperature, turning them over occasionally (bonus: your house will smell amazing!).  When dry, tie a piece of ribbon through the hole to hang them.  You can paint them, write on them with markers or just leave them plain.  They smell fantastic!

BAKERS CLAY ORNAMENTS

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups water
parchment paper or aluminum foil
paint or markers
ribbon or yarn
glue

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Mix together the flour, salt and 1 1/4 cups water to form a dough.  If too dry, add a little more water.  Knead on a floured surface until smooth.  Form into shapes (to make 3D characters) or roll out and cut with cookie cutters.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and bake until set and golden, about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how thick your ornaments are.  Let them cool completely.  Then, paint them or color with markers.  Glue a piece of ribbon on to hang it.

GLITTER PINE CONES

pine cones
glue
water
glitter
paint brush
ribbon or yarn

Mix glue with a little water to thin it out a bit (no need to be precise).  Paint some of the thinned glue onto the pine cones and sprinkle with glitter.  Do as much or as little as you like.  Use any color glitter you like.  Let them dry on newspaper or a rack.  Glue a piece of ribbon on to hang it.

These are just a few crafts you can make this holiday season.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!