HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
If your kids are like mine, and probably every other child anxiously awaiting Christmas morning, they may need a little help diffusing the holiday build-up that can quickly turn into a total meltdown during the weeks before Christmas.
Keep the kids busy with Christmas Crafts! From Marshmallow Snowman to making gift-wrap, these creative ideas will occupy your children's hands and keep their minds free from too many visions of sugarplums.
Keep the kids busy with Christmas Crafts! From Marshmallow Snowman to making gift-wrap, these creative ideas will occupy your children's hands and keep their minds free from too many visions of sugarplums.
Make a sweet snowman out of marshmallows! This cute idea is from the new book Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson.
Also, in the book are recipes and craft instructions for Incredible Edible Ornaments, Ice Cream Treewitches and more to inspire kids of all ages to get into the kitchen and get creative!
Preparation
- Materials:
- 3 large marshmallows
- 3 toothpicks
- Royal icing (recipe below)
- Miniature chocolate chips
- 1 pretzel stick (small and thin)
- 8 inches skinny red licorice (or fruit leather cut into a thin strip)
- 1 Hershey's Kiss or Rollo candy
Steps
- See the photo of the Marshmallow Snowman above for reference. Connect 2 marshmallows on the first toothpick. Push the second toothpick halfway into the top of the second marshmallow and spike your third marshmallow onto the top half of the toothpick. The toothpicks should be completely hidden in the marshmallows.
- Using your third toothpick as a glue stick, add dots of icing to stick on chocolate chips to form “eyes” and “buttons.” Break the pretzel stick in half for arms, and carefully push them into the sides of the middle marshmallow. Wrap the licorice (or fruit leather) around the “neck” for a scarf, and use icing to glue the Kiss or Rollo onto Frosty’s head as a hat.Makes 1 Snowman
- Royal Icing
*An adult should prepare this icing.Ingredients:1 pound (about 4 cups) powdered sugar6 tablespoons warm water3 tablespoons meringue powderPreparation:In a mixer, beat the powdered sugar, water, and meringue powder on low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium, and continue beating until icing form soft peaks, 6 to 8 minutes. For a thinner icing, add 1/2 teaspoon additional water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Not only is this craft useful as gift-wrap, it makes great use of brown paper grocery store bags.
The design on the bag is made using a kitchen sponge, which you cut into the shape of a Christmas tree. Or mix it up a bit and cut sponges into a variety of holiday shapes.
Preparation
- To Make Gift Wrap:
- Cut along the folded edge of brown paper grocery store bags and open bags flat.
- Cut a Christmas tree shape out of a sponge using scissors.
- Pour green craft paint onto a disposable plate.
- Dip the tree-shaped sponge in green paint and stamp onto bag; repeat until design is complete.
- Allow paint to dry and then use the paper to wrap a gift.
Did you know that a five-point star can easily be transformed into a Santa craft?
All you need is a little red, white and black paint and any accents you can find at the craft store, such as googly eyes or white furry trim, to create a St. Nick star.
Preparation
- To Make Santa Stars:
- Purchase red, white and black craft paint along with a few artist paintbrushes and accents for your Santa Star.
- Use the photo for reference and paint Santa onto one of these fun star shapes:
- Starfish
- Wooden Stars
- Star Peg Hook
Baking a batch of cookie ornaments is a popular Christmas craft.
You can hang your cookie ornaments from a pretty ribbon on the Christmas tree and designate them as "décor only."
Or keep the cookies fresh by wrapping them with clear cellophane and then dangling them from the tree. Give the wrapped cookies to guests that visit your home during the holiday season. Keep cookies on the tree for a maximum of 1 week and then discard them.
Preparation
- To Make Cookie Ornaments:
- Choose your favorite "cut out" cookie dough, such as sugar cookies or gingerbread, and follow package or recipe directions to roll out the dough.
- Stamp out cookies using holiday cookie cutters.
- Use a toothpick or wooden skewer to round out a little hole in the top of the cookie for a ribbon hanger.
- Put cookies on a cookie sheet and bake according to package or recipe instructions.
- Allow cookies to cool completely and then decorate them!
- Thread thin ribbon through the cookie's hole and tie a bow at the top to make a loop.
- Wrap cookies in cellophane, if desired, and hang them on the tree.
The magic of Christmas under one little dome! Snow domes are a fabulous holiday craft with many types of kits available for purchase.
Most of these kits are plastic making them very affordable so every one in the family can create their own holiday keepsake.
Preparation
- To Make A Snow Dome:
- Purchase a snow dome kit.
- Design your snow dome scene using photos, pictures that your kids create, or little trinkets glued on to the snow dome base.
- Assemble your snow dome according to manufacturer instructions.
- Shake your dome and let it snow!
How to Prep Your
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Bathroom for a Party
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Wreaths
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Ornaments
