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I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Crafts and Gifts to Make
Have fun!!

Sponge Print Cards

Items you will need:

kitchen sponges
a magic marker
scissors
acrylic paints
a dish
scrap paper
construction paper
newspaper
*Variation*
glue
glitter
sequins

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Draw shapes on sponges with a magic marker. Cut the shapes out. Fold construction paper in half. Pour some paint in a dish. Dip the sponge shape into the paint. Try printing the shape on scrap paper first. Press the shape onto the front of a folded piece of construction paper. Print the shape a few times on the same card or use different shapes together on one card. After the paint is dry, write your Christmas message inside the card. You can add glitter or sequins to your cards. Use glue and trace the areas you want to add glitter or sequins to. Add the glitter or sequins. Wait until glue is dry before handling. Now your card is ready to give to a friend or family member.
You can also use this to make wrapping paper for your gifts.
This is a great family project.
I love making cards for my friends!!

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Bakers' Clay Ornaments

Items you will need:

a bowl
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
a baking sheet
tin foil
a sharpened pencil
acrylic paints
paint brushes
shellac or varnish
yarn or ribbon
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Mix the salt, water, and flour in a bowl with your hands to form the clay. Take bits of the clay and make different shapes. Place each shape on a baking sheet covered with foil. Make a hole at the top of each shape with the point of the pencil before baking. Ask an adult to set the oven at 275 degrees F and bake for one hour until brown. Let the shapes cool and then paint them. When the paint is dry, coat the shapes with shellac or varnish. When the ornaments are dry string the ornaments with yarn or ribbon and hang on your Christmas tree.
This also makes a great gift for teachers and friends.

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Cracker Cottage Centerpiece

Items you will need:

empty cereal box
paper to stuff box
tape
tin foil
6 graham crackers
construction paper
twigs for trees
evergreen sprigs for bushes
newspaper

Frosting (to use as glue)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons shortening
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Mix all the ingredients for frosting (glue) in a bowl. Stuff an empty cereal box with paper. Cover with foil. Tape the ends. Use 2 whole graham crackers to make side walls. Break a whole cracker in half to make square end walls. Use white frosting as "glue". Break off two opposite corners from half a cracker, tilt, and "glue" inside end wall with point of cracker up. Repeat for other end. Add two whole crackers to make the roof. "Glue" with frosting. Spread frosting on roof to look like snow. Use frosting to "glue" on construction paper door and windows. Spread out drifts of frosting "snow". Use twigs to make trees and evergreen sprigs to make bushes.
What a nice centerpiece for the table!!

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Tissue Paper Wreath

Items you will need:

paper plate
scissors
sharp pencil
tissue paper
white "tacky" glue
food coloring
yarn or ribbon
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Cut center out of a paper plate. Punch a hole on the edge with th pencil. Cut tissue paper into 1 1/2 inch squares. Fold each tissue square around the eraser end of the pencil. Dip in glue. Press tissue onto paper plate. Keep adding tissue until the plate is covered. Let dry. Leave the wreath white or add drips of food coloring. Add bow made from yarn or ribbon if desired, glue in place. Let glue dry before hanging. Use hole to hang wreath.

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Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Items you will need:

cookie cutters (various shapes)
construction paper
pencil
scissors
string
"tacky" white glue
ribbon
sequins
fine tip marker
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Fold construction paper in half. Place cookie cutter on folded construction paper and trace around it with a pencil. Cut out the two shapes together. Glue a 6-inch loop of string on inside edge of one shape. Apply glue around entire edge. Press the two shapes together. Let dry. Glue bits of paper, ribbon, glitter or sequins on the ornament for decoration. Use a fine tip marker to add names or details. Let dry before hanging.

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Coupon Book

Items you will need:

construction paper
ruler
pencil
hole punch
scissors
felt markers or crayons
ribbon or yarn or string
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Measure and mark 9 retangles on construction paper measuring 3 inches by 4 inches. Punch holes in the upper left corner of each rectangle. Use markers or crayons to write a chore you will do on each coupon. Draw a picture on each coupon. The picture can be of the chore or a Christmas tree, or a flower. Use your imagination. Stack coupons together with the holes in the upper left corner. Thread ribbon, yarn or string through the holes and tie in a bow.
Makes a great gift for mom or dad!!

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Printed T-Shirts

Items you will need:

t-shirt
shirt board
fabric paint
magic marker
kitchen sponges
dish
scissors
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Place shirt board inside t-shirt so paint won't soak through. Draw shapes on sponges with a magic marker. Cut the shapes out. Pour some paint in a dish. Dip the sponge shape into the paint. Try printing the shape on scrap paper first. Press the shape onto the front of the t-shirt. Print the shape a few times or alot of times, what ever you want. Use different shapes together on one t-shirt. Use your imagination. You can decorate the whole shirt, or just the sleeves and neck line, or make stripes. You can even use your handprints to decorate the t-shirt. Let paint dry completely.
Mom or grandma would love this t-shirt!!
A wonderful gift for someone special!!

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Colored Tissue Vase

Items you will need:

clear glass bottle
colored tissue paper
white glue
brush
ribbon or yarn
several silk flowers (optional)
newspaper

Directions:

Spread newspaper out on your work area. Wash and dry a clear glass bottle (remove the labels by soaking in warm water). Tear tissue paper into pieces about 1 by 2 inches (two different colors will overlap to form a third color). Brush white glue thinned with water onto the bottle. Apply tissue piece and brush again with glue. Add tissue until the bottle is covered. Tissue can be smooth or wrinkled. Let dry. Give bottle another coat of thinned glue. Let dry completely. Use ribbon or yarn and add a bow around the top of the bottle. Put flowers in the vase.
This is a lovely gift!!

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