Christmas Crafts to Do With Kids

If you like Christmas crafts there is no shortage of directions for how-to projects both on and online. On the Internet there is lots of inspiration for crafts. Do a little surfing and you will find do it yourself projects for every type of craft imaginable. Women's magazines are also full of ideas for projects you at this time of the year.
I like to keep it simple. Try baking your own shortbread cookies, decorating them with colored icing and decorative silver balls and stringing them on shiny ribbon or fish line. I let the kids cut out the shapes.
One good shortbread recipe can provide you with loads of cheap and creative looking cookie Christmas tree decorations. You can buy shapes like Christmas trees, Christmas balls, snowmen and angels as cookie cutters from a store. Even the youngest of kids can do this. Perhaps the easiest shape to make out of shortbread is the Christmas ball. Simply cut the ball shape out of the dough with the rim of a glass and lavishly decorate it with candy glitter.
You can also make your own Christmas tree garlands. This is one of those ancient crafts that can be a group activity for you and your family. Simply stringing popcorn on a string makes very attractive garlands. You can also try stringing nuts or cranberries on string as well (but make sure your kid is old enough to handle that needle. Garlands can also be made out of gold or aluminum foil that is cut up and twisted in loops that hook into each other.
It is also fun to make your own Christmas tree decorations. These types of crafts can be made from almost anything including Styrofoam, play dough, cookin' crystals and ribbons. One clever idea is to buy a box of plain glass balls and then make patterns with glue on their sides. The idea is that you then roll them in glitter to create a sparkling yet merry pattern.
If you are really ambitious you can also try making your own Christmas candles. One of the simplest ways is to buy sheets of beeswax and then roll them up to create unique one of a kind candle centerpieces. You can also melt wax in a double boiler and make your own candles. There are commercial scents such as pine and cinnamon available on the market that is specifically created for making these types of Christmas crafts smell nice. You can also buy Christmas candle molds in the shapes of popular holiday motifs such as evergreen trees, snowmen and stars.
Sitting around with your family to make Christmas crafts together, even it if it is as simple as handmade Christmas cards is a great way to strengthen your loving bonds with each other at holiday time.

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Making Christmas Wreathes with the Kids

Making your own Christmas Wreath with the kids is very simple. There are a couple of ways to do it.
The first way to make your own Christmas wreath is without an armature. An armature is a wire frame. I always thought I had to go to Walmart to get one of these or the wreath would not turn out. This is not true. This means going outside and collecting your own branches from a pine, spruce or other type of evergreen tree. Collect some pine cones too. Just remember not to hurt any trees that you may be stripping of branches.
Once you have found the boughs that you want to use to all you need is some heavy duty wire. Bend the boughs into a circular shape and attach them in place with the wire. Attach some pine cones to the boughs with wire as well as some shiny red and green ribbons and you will have created the simplest wreath possible. Keep in mind too that you can also string this type of wreath with battery operated xmas lights to make it look more glamorous. The only caveat – don't let really young kids get a hold of wire cutters.
The second way to make a Christmas wreath is to buy a Styrofoam armature at a crafts store. You can then glue or pin any type of object that you want to these circular shapes to make your own wreath.
An easy wreathe to make is one made out of shiny Christmas balls. All you need to do in this case is buy some inexpensive glass balls and then pin them to the armature in a circle. The entire thing can be finished off with a bright big bow at the top.
One of the most popular homemade Christmas wreath ideas is the wreath made out of candy canes. This is a good one for kids, especially if they are good with tape. All you need is tiny candy canes that you can pin, tape or glue to the armature to makes a sunburst shape.
If your kids are older and can handle a needle and thread then make is one made out of popcorn. These look great decorated with green or red bows.
A good example of an easy and clever Christmas wreath to make is the one made by Martha Stewart that was constructed entirely out of gum drops. She simply pushed pins through gumdrops and then pushed them into the armature. The frost on the gum drops made the homemade Christmas wreath look as if it was frosted with snow.
A picture frame hook can be used to help hang any type of wreathe on the front door or a mantelpiece. Another option is to simply hang it on a nail and attach it with wire or looped fishing line. However this can ruin your door. They can also be laid flat on a table with a candle placed in the center to create an attractive holiday centerpiece. Don't place a candle in the center of this type of decoration unless you are absolutely certain that the materials are not flammable.

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