Guest Author - Diane Claus
Guest author Jeanette Norman
Candy Cane Reindeer
Need: Candy Cane, Glue, Brown Pipe Cleaners, Small Wiggle eyes, Small Red Pom Pom, Thin Ribbon - optional, Small Bell - optional
Directions: Bring pipe cleaner under curve -neck- of candy cane and then twist to tighten into a V shape. Bend into a Z shape to look like antlers. Glue on two small wiggle eyes and the small pom pom for a nose. String the bell through the ribbon and attach it to the candy cane. You may need to use a hot glue gun - with adult help.
Wreath
Need: Paper Plate or Cereal Box, Glue, Crayons, Misc. Craft Items - such as fabric scraps, beads, etc.
Directions: If you are using cardboard, cut it into a circle about the size of a paper plate. Cut the center out of the paper plate or cardboard to make a wreath shape.
Use various craft supplies to decorate.
Christmas Trees
Need: Green Construction Paper, Glue, Red Paint, Misc. Collage Materials
Directions: Cut out Christmas tree shapes. Decorate the Christmas tree: you can dip a finger in in red paint and make fingerprint ornaments, you can use various collage materials, such as glitter, buttons, fabric scraps, to decorate as desired.
Gingerbread Man
Need: Paper Grocery Bag, Glue, Crayons, Misc. Craft Items - such as fabric scraps, beads, etc.
Directions: Cut a gingerbread man shape out of the grocery bag. Color or decorate as desired.
Christmas Placemats
Need: Paper, Used Christmas Cards, Glue, Crayons, Markers, or Paint, Clear Contact Paper
Directions: Cut the pictures from cards. Draw a picture on a piece of paper and this was the back. Then glue on the card pictures. Cover both sides with contact paper.
Toilet Roll Reindeer
Need: paper roll, brown paper, brown pipe cleaner (optional), crayons, red pom pom, black yarn
Directions: Take an empty toilet paper roll and place brown construction paper around it. Using a hole puncher and punch two holes on opposite sides. Place a brown pipe cleaner through each hole and twist it to for an antler. If you don't have any pipe cleaner, use brown construction paper to make antlers. (trace the kids hands on brown paper then cut them out for antlers works well too.) For the eyes, use a black crayon to make eyes or use 2 wiggle eyes. For the nose, glue a small red pom pom below the eyes. For the mouth, use a black crayon or glue a small piece of black yarn below the nose.
Tree Garland (Thank you Amanda for this idea!)
Need: Yarn, fruit loops cereal, making tape
Directions: Put tape around one end of the yarn to make a needle. (This keeps the yarn from fraying.) Then tape the other end of the yarn to the table. Have the children lace the fruit loops onto the yarn. When it is full tie off both end. Then hang the garland on your Christmas tree. When Christmas is over, take the fruit loop garland outside and hang it on the trees. The birds will eat the cereal. A few days later go out and cut the yarn into small pieces and hang back on the tree. The birds will use it for there nests.
Hand Tree added 12-2-02 Original Author Unknown
Need: Construction paper, markers or crayons, scissors
Directions: Trace 23 hands onto green paper. Cut them out. Have the tree form a triangle. Begin with a wide row across the bottom fingers pointing down (5 hands) and another row of five angled in a little. Then four, then four angled in a little.
Then 3, then 2, then 1. Put a star on top.
Have a favorite craft you want to add? E-mail me or post in the forums.
