CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

Candy Necklace

I have made this many times will all age children.  Younger children will need a bit of help but kids all love it!

I would recommend that you make a sample so that you can judge how much candy and ribbon you will need to purchase.  That is the most difficult part of this project if you are making it for a group.  Also, you can vary it for different holidays by changing the color ribbon and candy used. 

Supplies

Plastic wrap (Saran wrap)
Individually wrapped Christmas candy.
Red/green color curling ribbon cut into 6 inch strips

Instructions

Lay out three feet of plastic wrap, cutting it in half lengthwise.  Place a few pieces of candy every three inches.  The exact number will vary based on the size of the candy.  You want each section to look full.

Roll the plastic over the candy to cover completely and seal the candy in the middle.

Tie ribbon (knotted) between each section of candy.

Tie the two ends of plastic wrap together and cover the knot with another ribbon.

Finished product will be a great hit!

Snowman Ornament

I did this project with my girl scout troop and the girls gave it to their parents as a holiday present.  It turned out great and I still have mine on the tree each year.

Items Needed:

1 dark blue ball tree ornament. 

White acrylic paint

Sharpie markers in a variety of colors (black is necessary)

Paint  palm and fingers of the child's hand with white paint. Place the ornament in the palm of their hand.  Have them hold the ornament like a baseball so that all parts (palm/fingers) touch the ball. Hand imprint should be on the ball.  Let dry.  Add snowman features to each fingerprint.  Give each finger eyes, nose, mouth, arms, buttons and a hat using the sharpie.

Attach the following poem

These aren't just 5 snowmen,

As anyone can see,

AI made them with my hand,

Which is a part of me,

Now each year when you trim your tree,

You'll look back and recall

Christmas of  "ADD YEAR"

When my hand was just this small!!

Reindeer Dust

This recipe for reindeer food is sure to be a hit!  I have made it for years and distributed to my kid's classmates.  Each year on Christmas Eve it was a big event for us to go out on our back deck to pour half of the reindeer food and then to run to the front to pour the remainder.  So give it a try your kids will love it too!!

You can either layer the ingredients in a baby food jar or simply mix the ingredients together and put them into a zip lock bag.  Tie either with a ribbon and attach the poem below

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dry oatmeal
1/8 cup granulated sugar 
1-2 tablespoons colored sugar    

Reindeer Dust Poem for Tag

The sparkle in this MAGIC DUST  is used for many things, but most of all it is a special dust that only reindeer see.

It will brighten the sky above your house in a magical way, to help guide Santa and his sleigh.

So sprinkle it outside your door on Christmas Eve and you too will see how magical this dust can be!     

Christmas Face Paint
 

1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
2 drops red or green food coloring

In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well

Jingle Bell Hat and Gloves

Materials needed:

Purchased Hat and Gloves set (color to match ribbon)
24 inches of 1 inch wide plaid holiday ribbon
1 yard of 1/4 inch wide plaid holiday ribbon
4 jingle bells in each color: red, green and blue
Nylon thread to match the ribbon
Needle

To make gloves:

Cut the 1 inch wide ribbon in half.  Tie each piece into a bow.  Sew one of each color of jingle bells in the center of each bow.  Sew onto cuff of glove.

To make hat:

Thread three jingle bells onto the 1/4 inch wide ribbon.  Make three even loops in ribbon, sliding a jingle bell to the bottom of each loop.  Sew the tops of the loops together and take to the point of the hat Sew remaining jingle bells to the top of the hat.

Dangling Snowman
Compliments of FamilyFun.com

Materials Needed

3 round objects (we used a spice jar lid, the bottom of a yogurt container, and a mason jar lid)
Scissors
Craft foam, white and orange
Glue dots
Monofilament
Buttons
Permanent marker
Ribbon

How to Make it

1. Using the round objects as patterns, cut out 2 white foam circles in each size.

2. Place one set of the circles on a flat surface, spacing them 1/4 inch apart. With glue dots, glue a 12-inch piece of monofilament across the circles as shown, then firmly press the matching circles on top.

3. Use more glue dots to attach buttons and an orange craft foam nose. With a permanent marker, draw on eyes and a mouth. Finally, tie a ribbon scarf around the monofilament at the neck, and then knot the line above the head to create a loop for hanging.