Old Fashioned Christmas Crafts for Kids

Homemade ornaments add a sentimental flavor to a Christmas tree

Many Christmas crafts are easy to teach to children. Choosing crafts that you learned when you were young or learning to make old-fashioned crafts with your children are great ways to get into the Christmas spirit. Crafts can be made throughout the year and enjoyed once the Christmas holiday approaches.

Snowflakes

Many adults enjoyed making paper snowflakes when they were young, and this is an easy tradition to pass on to kids. Use white construction paper or any unlined paper. Fold the paper in half and once more so when you open the paper there are two creases, one vertical and one horizontal. Refold the paper and cut a hole in the middle of the paper. Continue to cut out shapes in the paper, both along the edges and at various points in the folded paper. Open up the paper to reveal the snowflake. Experiment with different sizes of paper to create bigger or smaller snowflakes. Tape to windows or glue together to hang across a fireplace mantel.

Popcorn Strings

Stringing popcorn on a tree has been a long-standing tradition and is an inexpensive decoration. After popping popcorn, cut a piece of white thread the length that you'd like your popcorn string to be. Knot one end of the thread and thread a needle with the other end. Insert the needle into the center of each piece of popcorn and move the piece to the end of the thread. Continue until you have filled the line with popcorn, allowing enough room to tie off the end with a knot.

Styrofoam Ball Ornaments

Ornaments made out of Styrofoam balls involve just a few materials such as remnant pieces of fabric, yarn, ribbon and straight pins. Cut enough fabric to cover the Styrofoam ball and leave a couple of inches of material to overlap the top of the ball. Wrap the material around the ball and use either ribbon or yarn to tie a bow around the extra material at the top of the ornament. Cut out designs from other pieces of material and place the designs on various parts of the ornament using straight pins. Glue a piece of ribbon to the top so the ornament can be hung from the tree, or display the balls in a bowl on your table.

Aluminum Foil Icicles

Icicles add a sparkling touch to a Christmas tree and are easy to make. Using aluminum foil, cut a piece about three to four inches in length and two inches in width. Beginning at one end of the foil, roll the piece lengthwise. Pinch both ends of the foil and insert a wire hook to hang your icicle from the tree.

Candy Cane Pipe Cleaners

Twist and turn ordinary pipe cleaners into candy cane ornaments. Pick two different colors of pipe cleaners, preferably red and white. Beginning at the top of each piece, twist the two colors together until you reach the bottom. Fashion the top into a hook. Tie a piece of ribbon in a bow and attach it to the middle of the cane to add pizzazz.

Paper Plate Candles

Before stringed tree lights, candles were displayed on Christmas trees. Using a paper plate, draw an outline of a candle on the plate. Cut out the candle. Using vibrant magic markers, color in the candle on both sides. Wrap a piece of plastic wrap over the candle and hang on the tree.

References

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Resources

• Disney Family Fun
• One paycheck at a time