Easy Holiday Crafts

Help your kids get into the holiday spirit (as well as keep them busy as they wait to open their presents!) by encouraging them to get crafty! Here are three ideas you can help them with that will also make great gifts for their teachers and friends.

1. Fancy Holiday Eggs
The idea is simple: it’s the same concept as making a decorative Easter egg, but with festive holiday colours, as well as gold or silver glitter. It makes a great gift as well as a holiday ornament, either as a centrepiece or hung on the tree!

What you’ll need:
White eggs
A needle
A bowl
Poster paint
Thin paint brushes
Gold or silver glitter

Optional:
Coloured ribbon and aluminum foil
Glue stick or white glue
Glittery poster paint

Instructions:
1. Punch a small hole (about 1mm in diameter) through the top of the egg with the needle. Then, punch a slightly larger hole (2mm) through the bottom. Make sure to burst the egg yolk inside the egg with the needle as well.

2. Holding the egg over the bowl, blow into the top hole until all the insides of the egg (yolk and white) have come out through the bottom hole. Rinse the now-empty egg shell under a very weak trickle of water.

3. Ask your kids to decorate the eggs with poster paint, and have them sprinkle glitter on the eggs to give them more of a holiday feel. Sticking pieces of aluminum or ribbons on the eggs will also make the eggs more festive.


2. Holiday Photo Mug
Here’s a simple idea that would make a great gift for someone dear to your child.     To create a unique mug, you can use a photo you’ve taken yourself, one of a winter landscape, or even one you found online (make sure you have the right to reproduce it).

What you’ll need:
A white mug (you can easily find one at a dollar store)
A photo printed on regular printer paper (not photo paper)
Glue stick
White glue
Glitter
Coloured markers
Spray varnish

Instructions:
1. Get your child to decorate the photo (either a family photo or picture of a winter landscape) with the markers. They can draw various holiday items, like pine trees, snowflakes, snowmen, etc.

2. Apply white glue to the back of the photo and place it on the front of the mug. Apply the white glue on the top of the photo as well to ensure it stays put (the white glue will become clear once it dries.) Let dry.

3. Strategically apply some glue stick to the photo (either here and there, or frame the photo) and dust it with glitter. Hold the mug by its handle above a piece of construction paper and tap it firmly to get any excess glitter off the mug.

4. Spray varnish all over the exterior of the mug, and let dry.

Holiday hint! For a yummy treat, fill the mug with candy or chocolate, wrap it with cellophane paper and tie it up with a ribbon.

Note: Mug should not be washed in a dishwasher. Gently hand-wash only.
 
3. Fluffy Snowman Card
This cute card is great for your child to give to her friends, or even to a teacher.

What you’ll need:
Construction paper
White sheet of paper
Cotton balls
Glue stick
Coloured markers
A bow compass

Instructions:
1. Fold the construction paper in half to create the greeting card. With the help of the bow compass, draw three circles one above the other to create the snowman’s head and body. The largest circle should have a 6 cm diameter, the mid-sized circle a 4 cm diameter, and the smallest a 2 cm diameter.

2. Get your child to draw a face on the snowman using the markers, as well as draw a landscape in the background.

3. Apply glue to the bottom two circles and get your child to fill them with cotton balls.

4. Have your child write a message inside the card.