Homemade Holiday: Stamped Gift Bag

Putting up our Christmas tree is one of our favourite holiday activities- especially looking at all the kid’s ornaments from years gone by!  In honour of that, a little bag to pop in a gift card or a small present.

This activity was featured on the children’s craft collective site, The Crafty Crow!  Check them out for developmentally appropriate, engaging fun for both families and educators!

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

Materials

• Muslin bags (you can purchase these at craft stores or on Etsy)
• Fabric paint
• Cardboard
• Glue
• Paintbrush
• Fabric glue
• Mini pom poms
• Ribbon
• Safety pin
• Smock
• Craft tray
• Pencil/pen
• Scissors
• Shallow tray

Directions

• Draw a simple shape on your cardboard.  We went with a triangle for a Christmas tree.  Cut it out.  (Depending on the thickness of your cardboard, you may need an adult to assist you with this.)

• Cut some small squares of cardboard and glue them together and on the back of your shape to make a little handle.  Allow to dry overnight. (You could also use a glue gun for a speedy version of this.)

• Cut a piece of cardboard a little smaller than your bag and slide it inside.  (This will prevent your bag from being “glued” together with your fabric paint.)

• Don your smock.  Put a bit of paint into your tray.  We used a brush and brushed the paint on the stamp for an even coat, but you could also try dipping your stamp if you like.

• Apply it carefully to your bag.  Allow to dry overnight.

• Once dry, apply little dots of fabric glue to your pom poms and stick them on your tree.  Allow to dry overnight.  Remove your cardboard insert.

• Once our bag was dry, we switched out the tie for a sturdy piece of ribbon (using a safety pin clipped to one end to push it through the channel of the bag).

• Insert a little present and give it to a friend, loved one etc!

Purpose

• Experimenting with various stamp making and painting techniques.
• Recognizing symbols of various holidays and celebrations.

Safety Notes

• Pom poms can be a choking hazard.  Please keep them out of reach from children 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things in their mouths.
• Exercise care with scissors. Use with adult supervision.
• String, cord etc. can be a strangulation hazard, thus they are not meant for play and should be used with supervision.
• Be sure to wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect surfaces and your clothes.