Join all our friends this year for CRAFTSMAS- a collection of Christmas projects from some of our very favourite sites! 

(See the links below)

Materials

• Paper lunch bags (You could use red ones from a party store or we will also show you how to paint kraft/brown paper bags or white paper bags that are more readily available)
• Templates poinsettia leaf template poinsettia template
• Scissors
• Items for the centres of your flowers (you could use coloured paper with a circle punch, pom poms, beads or wool felt balls)
• Glue sticks
• Paper or binder clips
• Fishing line or string
• Hole punch
• If you decide to paint your flowers, you will need acrylic paint and brushes (We used red and white to create a tint to add some dimension and green and white for the leaves)
• Velcro dots/tape (*This is an option for if you would like to re-use your project and store them in a more compacted way*)

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Count out and line up 12 paper bags with the openings at the top.

• If you want to paint your flowers we found that it was easier to do so before they were glued together. (You could also use pre-coloured bags that you can find at party stores.) Paint one side of the bag (the gusset) if you are displaying them on a wall.  If you are hanging them from a ceiling where both sides will be seen, paint both sides, allowing drying times in between.  You may have to slightly fold the bag to get a flat surface for painting (as seen in the video).  Paint your twelve sides and allow them to dry. When they are dry, fold them back flat and then if you want crisp edges, put them back into the stack and then put them under a stack of books or clip them together with binder clips.

• At the same time, paint the front (and later once dry, the back) of several other bags green.  We used green paint and then added white to the green to create a tint to add a bit of dimension for the leaves.

• Now you are ready to make your petals.  Line up your bags so that your painted edges are on the same side.  How many petals you make at a time will depend on the strength and sharpness of your scissors.  We suggest that you cut one or just a few at a time.  This is the component of this project that may require adult assistance.  Print, cut out your template and then lay it on top, cutting out your petals.

• Glue your petals together, making sure that a) your painted portions are on the same side b) you are very careful with gluing right to the edges and completely covering the surface.

• Now that you have your stack glued (as seen in the video), it is time for the exciting part!  Carefully turn your bags sideways and open your bloom!  You can put it back down and then glue the two ends if you would like it permanently together, but if you would like to re-use it year after year, we found that putting Velcro dots on the two sides allowed you to open and close your bags.  You could do the same with your centre piece and leaves, detaching them from year to year, popping them in a bag all together.  The easiest way to assure that your Velcro dots line up is to take them both off the sheet, putting them together with the sticky sides out and to then stick one side, fold and touch it to other side.  Just use care and gently pull the dots apart when you want to put it down to avoid ripping.

• Use the leaf template and cut out your leaves (or if you want, make your own shape).  You could either glue these inside of the bags or attach them with Velcro dots if you would like to re-use your poinsettia.

• You can make your centres in various ways- using a circle punch with gold paper, felted balls, wooden beads, pom-poms etc.

• Once you are done, tack your poinsettia up to the wall to display it or if you are hanging it up, punch a hole in the top and string it up with fishing line.

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• If you like this project, you are going to love these paper bag stars from our friend Ana of Babble Dabble Do which is where we drew our inspiration from:

https://babbledabbledo.com/make-paper-stars-lunch-bags/

CRAFTMAS PROJECTS

• Light Up Christmas Trees from Little Button Diaries: https://littlebuttondiaries.com/2018/12/01/craftmas-mini-light-up-christmas-trees/

• Sewn Christmas Trees from Raising Kinley: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2pmf6BeSP/

• Hanukkah Menorah from Hatch Art Studios: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq4pJ7BHA6z/

• Pom Pom Penguins from Red Ted Art: https://www.redtedart.com/pom-pom-penguin-diy-ornaments/

• Collaborative Artwork Christmas Tree from Oh Creative Day: https://www.ohcreativeday.com/christmas-tree-craft-reusing-kiddy-artwork/
• Wintery Shadow Box Ornaments from Art Camp LA: https://www.artcampla.com/new-blog/snowy-woodland-shadowbox-ornament

• Painted 3D Trees from The Blue Barn: http://bluebarnliving.blogspot.com/2018/12/3d-christmas-trees-decorated-three-ways.html

• Pinecone Mermaid Ornaments from Creating Creatives: http://creatingcreatives.com/diy-mermaid-ornament-from-pinecones/

• Painted Wooden Ornaments from Handy with Scissors: http://www.handywithscissors.com/seasonal-projects#/stacked-toy-decoration/

• Watercolour Wreath from Barley and Birch: https://barleyandbirch.com/2018/12/make-watercolor-peace-love-paper-wreath/

• Walnut Ornament from The Art Garden: https://theartgardenblog.com/2018/12/06/miniature-walnut-ornaments-craftmas-2018/

• Snow Person Play Pals from Heart Art Life: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrDlBKghsaY/ 

• Gratitude Wreath from Harmony Tree House: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrER8fchQtm/

*Check back each day for more additions!*

Purpose

• Recognizing and creating various symbols of celebrations.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and direct, adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn, fishing line etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.
• Small items such as beads, felted balls etc. can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.

Book

• Canadians can purchase the book here:

Chapters/Indigo:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/creative-adventures-in-cursive-write/9781631594779-item.html

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Adventures-Cursive-string-markers/dp/163159477X

• Americans can purchase the book here:

Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Adventures-Cursive-string-markers/dp/163159477X

*Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the book for review as quite like Rachelle’s work.  This is not a sponsored post and nor do we use affiliate links.*

Materials

• Burlap sack (We bought ours from Uline shipping https://www.uline.ca/BL_361/Burlap-Bags-with-Drawstrings but you can often get them at craft stores too)
• Yarn (we used wool)
• Needle
• Permanent Marker
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Pencil/paper
• Beads *optional

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Using the handy letter chart in Creative Adventures in Cursive, we practised writing out the message we wanted for our holiday sack on paper with a pencil.  We wrote, “Merry Christmas”, but you could do this for any theme- Hanukkah, birthday parties, Mother’s/Father’s Day etc.

• Once you are ready, place a piece of cardboard inside of your sack, so that the marker doesn’t bleed through and write your message on the front using your cursive writing.  Write your message with marker so you can clearly see the lines for you to sew over.  Thick yarn/wool will cover these lines.

• Cut a length of yarn (we go between the length of your hand to your elbow or from your hand to your shoulder depending on one’s age and ability- too long of a length is hard for anyone to work with!) Knot your one end (you might have to do it a few times, so it won’t slip through your burlap holes) and then thread your yarn through the other end.  You will have to use a sturdy needle with a large hole for this project- either plastic or metal.

• Start in the inside of the bag at where you started your message and sew.  We used a basic stitch, going up and down (as we are just learning), but you could be elaborate as you like!

• We kept our non-dominant hand in the bag and fed the needle back and forth so as to not accidentally sew the two layers of the bag together.

• You can add some details (such as the holly) if you like.  We also added a few beads to the drawstring to jazz it up a bit!

• Once your bag is done, pop in something special and give your personalized bag to a friend!

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Purpose

• Developing one’s fine motor skills through cursive writing and sewing.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray or table cloth and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and direct, adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.
• Beads can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.

Book

• Canadians can purchase the book here:

Chapters/Indigo:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-girl-with-a-mind/9781943147427

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Girl-Mind-Math-Story-Montague/dp/1943147426/

• Americans can purchase the book here:

Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Thought-Pictures-Scientists/dp/1943147302/

*Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the book for review as I love so many books from The Innovation Press.  This is not a sponsored post and nor do we use affiliate links.*

Materials

• Printable: SubBig
• Pencil/paper
• Thin, black marker

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• After reading the book, print your very own submarine.  How would you design the interior of the ship?  What kinds of spaces do you think would be used if you were submariner?  Sketch them out with a pencil, trace them in thin, permanent marker and then colour them in if you like!

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Purpose

• Extending reading.
• Learning about notable people and their contributions to society.

Materials

• Blank wooden snow people (We purchased ours online from Bear Woods Supply Company https://www.woodparts.ca/wooden-crafts-christmas.html)
• Acrylic paint
• Paint pens (We like Posca)
• Wooden circle plaques (We purchased ours on Amazon)
• Drill (to be used by an adult)
• Small sign picks (We have bought these at both Michaels and Dollar stores)
• Ruler
• Pencil/eraser
• Permanent marker
• Cotton stuffing or cotton balls/ glue *Optional
• Direction signs *Optional.  You can purchase these at dollar stores, craft stores or online often in wedding sections.

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Paint your snow people with a thin coat of acrylic paint,  We used paint pens for the hats, creating 5 of each colour.  You could add more colours or more of each colour if you like.  You could also add details with your paint pens should you like (faces, buttons etc.)

Tic-Tac-Toe 

• Paint your wooden circle plaque to look snowy.  Allow it to dry.

• With your ruler and your pencil, sketch out 9 squares (3 X 3), trying to get them relatively the same size.  Trace the lines with a permanent marker.

• We decided to glue some artificial snow on ours with some cotton stuffing, but this is optional.  You could outline the lines with glue and silver or white eco-glitter if you wanted too.

• Using your snow people, pick 5 of one colour for each person and then start playing!  Take turns, trying to form 3 in a row.

Sorting

• Paint your wooden circle plaques to look snowy.  We went with 4- one for the main area with all the snow people and 3 to sort the colours onto, as we had 3 colours of hats. Allow them to dry.

• We wrote the directions for the activity on a little sign, using a paint pen.

• Place your snow people on your main base and see if your students or children can figure out how to sort them.

• Once the children have mastered one attribute to sort by, you could use more complex ideas such as putting different numbers of buttons on the snow people that they sort them by, the direction of the snow person’s nose etc.  See what your students might come up with to challenge each other!

Counting 

• Write the numbers that you would like to work on your little sign picks with a paint pen.  (We went with 1-10)  Allow them to dry.  We popped them into a jar for storage, so that they could be easily changed.

• In one of your wooden plaques have an adult drill a hole (we didn’t go all the way through) the same circumference as the picks on your signs.

• Have your child/ student select the number that they would like to work on, out it in the hole and then challenge themselves to count out that number of snow people.  Use your voice as you count to articulate one-to-one correspondence.

• You could extend this into addition using different colours of hats (how can numbers be represented (4 +1=5 and 2+3=5 for example), you could also represent the numbers on the signs in written form e.g., Two if you wanted)

Patterning 

• Write the challenge, “Can you create a pattern?” on your directional sign and see what the kids come up with!  We used colours in a basic ABC form, but you could extend this into AABB etc. types of patterns, increasing the complexity.  You could also use size if you purchased different sizes of the snow people or various other attributes if you added them.

Stacking 

• Use your motor skills, hand-eye coordination and ability to balance to see how high you can stack your snow people in different ways!

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See the mushroom version

http://make-it-your-own.com/magical-mushrooms-for-learning-and-play/

More Snow People Ideas

• Snow people ornaments (You could make these into necklaces too!)

http://make-it-your-own.com/silvery-snow-snow-person-ornament/

• Snow people cards 

http://make-it-your-own.com/handmade-cards-make-your-own-snowperson/

• Snow ball gift bags

http://make-it-your-own.com/silvery-snowballs/

• Peg Doll Snow Globe 

 http://make-it-your-own.com/silvery-snow-peg-doll-family-snow-globe/

Purpose

• Developing one’s math skills (representing numbers, developing patterning etc.), fine motor skills and ability to strategize and take turns within a game.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use a glue gun  with care and direct, adult supervision.
• A drill is intended for adult use.  Be sure to store safely when not in use.
• Small items can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.

Materials

Christmas Tree

• Wooden mug holder
• Acrylic paint
• Wooden curtain hooks
• Wooden star (we used a Christmas ornament that we removed the loop from)
• Wooden bead or dowel cap
• Paint brush
• Floral foam
• Wood glue or glue gun

Nesting Dolls

• Blank Nesting Dolls (we got ours at Michaels craft store)
• Acrylic paint
• Paint pens (we like the Posca brand which are available on Amazon)
• Pencil/eraser
• Paint brush

Bowling Set

• Blank bowling set (we got ours at Bear Woods Supply Company: https://www.woodparts.ca/mini-wooden-baseball-bats-bowling-pins.html)
• Acrylic paint
• Paint pens (we like the Posca brand which are available on Amazon)
• Pencil/eraser
• Paint brush

Stacking Present Blocks

• Blank wood blocks (we got ours at Michaels craft store)
• Acrylic paint
• Paint pens (we like the Posca brand which are available on Amazon)
• Pencil/eraser
• Ruler
• Cake stand, wood round or flat surface
• Paint brush

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

Christmas Tree

• Unscrew the pegs out of your mug holder.  These will form your branches for your tree.  Insert them into your floral foam and give them a few thin coats of acrylic paint, allowing them to dry throughly in between.

• Paint your wooden circular curtain rings with a few thin coats of acrylic paint, allowing drying in between.  These will form your ornaments.

• Paint your star, allow it to dry and have an adult glue to your bead, making sure that it is on the opposite side of the flat portion of your bead, so that it will be able to stand on the top of your tree.

• Screw your pegs/ branches back in, arrange your curtain hooks (ornaments and star on a tray) and decorate your tree!

Nesting Dolls

• Take your nesting doll set apart and then build each of the dolls.  Sketch your ideas onto your dolls.  We went with a family of snow people, just like the five of us!

• We then painted our background with a thin layer of acrylic paint.

• After allowing sufficient drying time, we then painted our snow people with paint pens, working in layers.  Some tips to make your painting more effective and hopefully turn out the way that you hoped:

1. Shake your pens before use.
2. Start with the larger layers which form the background of your image- so for example, the snow balls of our snow person.
3. Start with the lighter colour layers.
4. Add details and outlining with a thinner, black paint pens last.
5. If you make a mistake, allow your layer to dry and then use the corrective colour of paint pen over it.
6. Keep a scrap piece of paper handy- if the tip of your pen gets another colour of ink on it, use it on the paper until it disappears before using it again on your project.

• See if your recipient can take the dolls apart and then put them together again, enjoying the surprise within each one!

Bowling Set

• Sketch your ideas onto your pins- you could go with any holiday images.  Be sure to try to incorporate the shape of the bowling pin into your drawing.

• We then painted our background with a thin layer of acrylic paint.

• After allowing drying time, we painted our images (Christmas tree, gingerbread house, Santa and a snow person) with paint pens, working in layers.  Some tips to make your painting more effective and hopefully turn out the way that you hoped:

1. Shake your pens before use.
2. Start with the larger layers which form the background of your image- so for example, the snow balls of our snow person.
3. Start with the lighter layers.
4. Add details and outlining with a thinner, black paint pens last.
5. If you make a mistake, allow your layer to dry and then use the corrective colour of paint pen over it.
6. Keep a scrap piece of paper handy- if the tip of your pen gets another colour of ink on it, use it on the paper until it disappears before using it again on your project.

• Paint your bowling ball (snow ball) with a thin layer of acrylic paint.

• Arrange your pins and see how many you can knock down!

*Remind the bowler that the ball needs to stay on the ground and chose a spot to use this activity where damage cannot occur should your ball stray (gym, open area of a playroom etc.).  Assure that other children are not in the path of the ball as well.*

Stacking Present Blocks

• Paint your blocks with a thin layer of acrylic paint and allow them to dry.

• With your pencil and ruler draw the lines that would form your ribbon and then use your ruler and go over them with a paint pen, allowing them to dry. Create a bow on the top with your pen if you like.

• Put out your presents and see how high your friend can stack them up!

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Purpose

• Developing one’s motor skills through creating and playing with the items.
• Recognizing symbols associated with various seasons and celebrations.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Follow product directions/ cautions.
• Use a glue gun with with care and direct, adult supervision.
• Beads can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.
• These activities are intended for children over the age of 3 and those that no longer put items in their mouths.

Materials

• Rocks
• Paint pens (Our favourite brand is Posca)
• Soap/ water
• Drying rack
• Pencil/eraser
• Circular lid

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Wash, rinse and dry your rocks on a drying rack.

• Sketch your idea on your rock.  To dry the globe portion, you can trace around your lid.

• Create a base by going out, forming a trapezoid-like shape with rounded edges.

• Sketch out what you might see in the centre of your globe: a snow person, you playing in the snow, a gingerbread house, a Christmas tree, holiday images etc.

• Here’s some tips for the paint pens is to: 1) Shake them with the cap on before use 2) Work in layers allowing pieces that are beside each other to completely dry before moving to the next area.  3) Outline your area and then shade it in with the colour.  This allows for containing the paint.

• Colour in your image layer by layer and allow it to thoroughly dry.

• Colour in your background and allow it to dry thoroughly.

• Add some details- the light reflecting on your globe, snowflakes etc.

• Display your rock snow globe for the holidays!

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Purpose

• Creating with nature.
• Recognizing symbols associated with various seasons.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Follow product directions.

Materials

• Crepe paper or coffee filters or cupcake liners
• Paint or food colouring (if you go with the cupcake liners or coffee filter options)
• Scissors
• Fringe scissors (optional- you can use regular scissors too- these are just fun!)
• Floral wire
• Floral tape
• Child-safe cotton swab
• Thicker paper
• Tacky glue
• Pencil/pen
• Glue stick
• Glue gun/ glue sticks *optional

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• You can use a few different things to form your flowers and leaves- either coloured crepe paper, painted coffee filters or painted cupcake liners (you could also buy coloured ones to use).  If you paint your coffee filters or cupcake liners, lay them on a cooling rack to dry overnight so that they are really dry for your project’s glue.

• Cut out your petals.  We start with a rectangle and then refine them.  They almost look slightly triangular in shape with a slimmer bottom and wider on the top.  Then make the top a bit wavy.  Cut out 4-6.  You can cut them out individually, but after you become more experienced and if your scissors are pretty good, you could cut several out at a time!

• Cut one end off of the child-safe cotton swab and then cut that tiny part of the cotton area on the other end.  Cut a square of your crepe/ coffee liner/ cupcake liner.  Put a dot of the tacky glue in the centre of the square and put the cotton end into the dot and wrap the crepe around to form the centre of your flower.  (See the video for a clear demo).  Secure the paper with floral tape.  Floral tape seems like it is dried out- don’t be fooled by this!  The glue is activated by stretching it.  So pick the spot to start, hold it place with your thumb and finger on your non-dominant hand and then pull it taut to activate the glue while tightly wrapping it around.  It is almost a “pulling up and then over” motion.  You may need a bit of adult help with this until you get the hang of it!

• Now it is time to add the petals.  Put a line of glue on the bottom of the petal and wrap it around your flower centre/stem squeezing it in place.  Add another on the opposite side.  Secure it in place with some floral tape.  Repeat this on the opposite side, adding two more petals.  You can repeat this as many times as you like, depending on how full you would like the blooms.  When you add additional rounds, be sure to make them a bit longer.  With the last round wrap the tape down the stem (the stick of the cotton swab) a bit to blend it in.

• Look at real leaves for inspiration.  Trace around them onto two layers of crepe or draw your own leaves.  Be sure to make two identical copies.  Have an adult cut a bit of floral wire to form a stem.  Glue it in the centre of one of the leaves and then glue your copy on top.

• Now to make the crown!  Form a circle that is big enough to sit atop your head.  Tape the ends together with floral tape.  You could cover the entire length for a more uniform look.  Add your flowers and leaves to your crown.  We hot glue gunned them in place and then secured them with floral tape.

• Once your crown is ready, pop it on for beautiful Fall photos or to become a fairy!

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Purpose

• Using nature as an inspiration to create

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors and a glue gun with care and direct, adult supervision.

• This post was featured on The Crafty Crow!  Want other fun holiday ideas?  Please check them out!

 http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/12/10-favorite-christmas-crafts-for-kids.html

• It was also featured on the Fun Crafts Kids site: http://funcraftskids.com/snowman-bead-bracelet-ornament/ .  Pop by and check out this fun-filled site!

Materials

• Unfinished wooden beads (We used a variety pack with small, medium & large sizes.  For smaller children, chose larger ones than those featured)
• White paint
• Paint brush
• BBQ skewer
• Floral foam
• Cord
• Thin markers (we used permanent markers)
• Scissors
• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Put your beads on a BBQ skewer and stick the skewer into the foam, placing it on a craft tray.  This method makes them easy to paint.  However, a BBQ skewer can be sharp so exercise care or have an adult do it for you.

• Don your smock.

• Put a little paint into a shallow tray and paint your beads.  Allow them to dry overnight.

•  Once your beads have throughly dried, use your markers to add details to make your snow person.

•  Fold your cord in half, make a knotted loop (see video) and thread the two ends through your beads, starting with the small bead first, then the medium and finally the large.  Depending on your age, you may need an adult to help you with this.

•  Tie a knot at the bottom of your snow person and snip off any excess cord.

•  Voila!  A little snow person!  If you like, write your name and the year on the bottom of the large bead.

• We then formed a simple hat for our new version with a painted bead and button for the rim. What could you do to make your snow person unique?

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Purpose

• Thinking of others
• Developing fine motor skills (painting, threading beads, using a fine tip pen)
• Associating symbols with certain seasons

Safety Notes

• Beads can be a choking hazard.  Therefore, keep them out of reach from children 0-3 or those that tend to put things in their mouths.
• Cord can be a strangulation hazard so be sure not to play with it and use it with adult supervision.
• Exercise care with scissors and BBQ skewers. (We had an adult snip off the sharp end prior to use)
• Use non-toxic products.
• When painting or using permanent markers, be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothes and use a craft tray to protect surfaces.