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5 Easy Christmas Crafts

Christmas and crafting — the two go together like peanut butter and jelly. When we were younger, my mom always had fun crafts for us to do together. So this holiday season when your kids are sitting inside, probably complaining about being bored, take some time to make something.

“Making” is making a comeback — that’s why schools are pushing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and culture, and mathematics) initiatives. Research has shown that it’s good for child development.

Here are five crafts you can make with your kids (click on the name to see a photo or get more deets)!

5 Easy Christmas Crafts

1. Pine Cone Christmas Tree. Find pine cones in any size. Paint or spray paint them green. After they are dry, glue each pine cone tree to a coaster. Glue fake snow or cotton balls around the base of the tree. Glue decorations of your choice onto/around the tree: sequins, buttons, bells, miniature presents, etc. 

2. Christmas Tree Cards. Cut and fold a piece of brown (or color of your choice) card stock or construction paper into the card shape and size you desire. Trace a hand on green paper. Cut out the traced hand. Glue the hand onto the brown card (fingers up, pointing to the top of the card). Cut out a small, darker brown rectangle. Glue it at the bottom of the card, under the tree hand. Cut out a small, yellow star. Glue it at the top of the tree hand. Glue sequins onto the green tree hand. Write a message inside and mail! 

3. Birdseed Pine Cone. This craft is fun, easy, and the birds will appreciate it! First, collect several large pine cones. This is a great way to get the whole family outside. Some pine cones have sharp points, so be careful handling them. Attach pipe cleaner or string to the top of the pine cone. Use a butter knife to spread peanut butter all over the pine cone and inside the crevices. Pour birdseed onto a plate. Roll your peanut butter-covered pine cone back and forth over the birdseed. Once all of your pine cones are completely covered, take them outside. Find a good place to hang them, making they are high enough off the ground to deter dogs and cats. If you can, hang them within view of a window so your kids can watch the birds enjoy their treat.

4. No-Bake Cinnamon Ornaments. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup cinnamon, and 3/4 cup very warm water and mix well. Knead the dough, and roll it out on parchment paper. Let kids use cookie cutters to cut out their favorite shapes. Poke a hole in the top of each ornament. Lay them out and let them dry for 24 hours. Once dry, you can paint them or leave them natural. Thread a string or ribbon through the hole and hang the ornaments on the tree. They will smell wonderful! 

5. Candy Cane Ornament. Cut several pieces of white or red pipe cleaner into 6-inch strips. You can use regular white and white beads or red and white tri beads. I prefer the three-sided beads because they fit together and create more of the swirl candy cane pattern. Thread a red or white bead onto the bottom of the cleaner. You can either bend the base to close it or you can hot-glue the bottom bead into place. From there continue threading on beads in an alternating red/white pattern. At the top you can hot-glue the final bead in place or bend the last section to close it. Gently bend the beaded pipe cleaner into a candy cane shape. Hang on your tree. 

Do you make crafts at home? —Katie

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