There is a reason so many of us claim Christmas as our favorite holiday. Yes, it can be a busy and stressful time of year, but even the most Scrooge-like among us will admit to liking something about the holiday. For those of us who are lucky enough to celebrate Christmas with children, we know that the joy of the season is multiplied by their presence. There is something really special about sharing your holiday traditions with your children, and what better way to create memories than by making decorations together? If you’re wanting to start a family crafting tradition but don’t know where to begin, fear not. Here are some ideas that will have your home feeling festive in no time.
1. Make snowflake suncatchers.
Suncatchers are a great way to brighten up your space, especially in winter. This activity is well suited for school aged children because it provides a good balance of creativity and precision. The only materials needed are glitter glue and precut snowflake templates.
2. Make an ice wreath.
Your Christmas decorations don’t have to be limited to the inside of your home. Why not bring some cheer outside? This beautiful ice wreath could not be easier to make, which makes it suitable for all ages. Use a bundt pan, or two round containers that are differently sized, and fill with water. Let your kids have fun dropping leaves, evergreen stems, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, or whatever else you have on hand, into the water. They will love seeing how it has changed once it is removed from the freezer.
3. Make little Christmas trees from ribbon scraps.
If you are already the artsy-crafty type, then the odds are good that you have bits of ribbon lying around. This simple ornament makes great use of those scraps. If your children can tie simple knots, then they can easily make a few of these in one afternoon. By cutting the pieces of ribbons into various lengths, and tying them around a stick shortest to longest, you end up with a sweet little decoration for your real Christmas tree.
4. Make decorations from drinking straws.
This is a really fun decoration that is great for older children and teens. All that you need are plastic straws and zip ties. This project can be made in various sizes, and would look great on the Christmas tree, hanging from the ceiling, or anywhere else you might want to add some color.
5. Make stockings from paper sacks.
If you’ve been holding onto your paper bags from the grocery store, certain that you are going to use them for something, you are in luck. These cute stockings are appropriate for children preschool aged and older, and can be as decorative or as simple as you like. You need paper bags and yarn to get you started; however you decide to embellish them is entirely up to you.
6. Make your own tinsel tree.
If you have always liked the retro look of aluminum trees, but didn’t want to shell out the money for one, make this miniature version instead. School aged children will have no problem wrapping these sparkly wires around a skewer and decorating it with tiny “ornaments.” Don’t be surprised if one tree isn’t enough!
7. Make a garland of buttons.
Who doesn’t love a project that can be stopped and restarted at any time? This simple and cute button garland is perfect for younger children mastering their fine motor skills, and easy enough for older kids to be able to work quickly. Buttons can be inexpensively purchased at most craft stores, and this project has the added bonus of being completely mess free.
Featured photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/donhomer/ via flickr.com
