Christmas Ideas
Homemade Christmas Cards
Make the following cards with your own fingerprints!
Christmas Ornaments
Spaghetti Ornament
Here's what you'll need...
• Spaghetti, broken in half, cooked and cool
• Glue
• Paint – Christmas colours
• Bowl and spoon
• Wax paper
• Ribbon, yarn or string
1. Mix 1 Tablespoon of glue with 1 Tablespoon of paint in a bowl. Add 1 Cup of cooked, cooled spaghetti and stir until the spaghetti is covered (if you want to use more or less spaghetti just remember, one part glue, one part paint). If you are using
more than one color just place one color on a paper plate or wax paper and clean out your bowl and mix another color.
2. Take the spaghetti a piece or two at a time and arrange it on the wax paper in what ever design you choose.
3. Let dry overnight. Peel the ornament off the wax paper, and string a piece of ribbon, yarn or string, through your ornament and hang. Add some extra sparkle by decorating with glitter glue once they've dried!
• Spaghetti, broken in half, cooked and cool
• Glue
• Paint – Christmas colours
• Bowl and spoon
• Wax paper
• Ribbon, yarn or string
1. Mix 1 Tablespoon of glue with 1 Tablespoon of paint in a bowl. Add 1 Cup of cooked, cooled spaghetti and stir until the spaghetti is covered (if you want to use more or less spaghetti just remember, one part glue, one part paint). If you are using
more than one color just place one color on a paper plate or wax paper and clean out your bowl and mix another color.
2. Take the spaghetti a piece or two at a time and arrange it on the wax paper in what ever design you choose.
3. Let dry overnight. Peel the ornament off the wax paper, and string a piece of ribbon, yarn or string, through your ornament and hang. Add some extra sparkle by decorating with glitter glue once they've dried!
Christmas Crafts
Make your own Snow Paint
Snow paint is inexpensive, easy to make, and tons of fun. To make snow paint simply mix equal amounts of white glue and shaving cream together. Cut out various winter shapes such as snowmen and snowflakes from cardstock. Allow your little ones to spread their snow all over their shapes. When the snow paint dries, it will become puffy.
Examples of Snow Paint Art
Christmas Wreaths
1. Using the pan lid, draw a circle in the middle of the plate.
Cut it out.
2. Have the child color the wreath green.
3. Pour some glue on the other plate and let the child use the stick to apply glue and stick down her decorations to the wreath.
4. Punch a hole at the top of the wreath and tie a bow.
This is the hanger.
Cut it out.
2. Have the child color the wreath green.
3. Pour some glue on the other plate and let the child use the stick to apply glue and stick down her decorations to the wreath.
4. Punch a hole at the top of the wreath and tie a bow.
This is the hanger.
Wreaths
Wreath Activities - Click on the links below:
A variety of Wreath Activities
Marth Stewart's Peppermint Wreath
Artists Helping Children Wreath Activities
Pinterest Wreath Ideas
Activity Village Ideas
A variety of Wreath Activities
Marth Stewart's Peppermint Wreath
Artists Helping Children Wreath Activities
Pinterest Wreath Ideas
Activity Village Ideas
Reindeer Decoration
1. I cut a pipe cleaner in half, and wrapped one half around the front of the pine cone for the front legs. I wrapped the other half around the back of the pine cone for the back legs. You can have an adult put a tiny bit of hot glue under
each set of legs to hold them in place, but mine have been staying in place without any glue.
2. For the neck and head I folded one pipe cleaner in half and then in half again. Then I pushed the folded side through the bead so that it’s just peaking out the other side for a nose (again you can use a glue gun to hold it in place once you get it where you want it).
3. On the side you fed it through from you should have one folded piece of pipe cleaner, and two individual pieces of pipe cleaner sticking out. The folded piece is the neck. Fold it downward and have an adult hot glue that to the pine cone body.
4. The two single pieces of pine cone sticking out are the antlers, fold them up. You can add to them by
cutting little bits of pipe cleaner and twisting them to the main antler
wire.
each set of legs to hold them in place, but mine have been staying in place without any glue.
2. For the neck and head I folded one pipe cleaner in half and then in half again. Then I pushed the folded side through the bead so that it’s just peaking out the other side for a nose (again you can use a glue gun to hold it in place once you get it where you want it).
3. On the side you fed it through from you should have one folded piece of pipe cleaner, and two individual pieces of pipe cleaner sticking out. The folded piece is the neck. Fold it downward and have an adult hot glue that to the pine cone body.
4. The two single pieces of pine cone sticking out are the antlers, fold them up. You can add to them by
cutting little bits of pipe cleaner and twisting them to the main antler
wire.
Reindeer Treat Bags and More!
BLOG LINK - Click here
Room Mom 101 Blog has MANY Christmas Crafts,
fun ones for parents/teachers and other gifts.
Click on the Pictures below to link to their instructions
Cinnamon Ornaments
BLOG - LINK Click Here
Makes about 30 heart ornaments using two different size heart cookie cutters
What you’ll need:
1 cup of applesauce
1 1/2 cups cinnamon (look for a big containers at $1 stores, bulk stores or amazon.)
2 Tablespoons cloves optional (grind with a spice grinder)
heart cookie cutters in different sizes
string for hanging (mine is from Studio Carta)
Mix 1 cup of applesauce with 1 cup of cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix, mix, mix. This is the kinda recipe you’ll need to use your hands to really incorporate the spices. Make sure you don’t miss any wet spots. Add the additional 1/2 cup of cinnamon, cloves and continue to incorporate. If it’s too wet add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. But be patient. It takes time to mix so don’t add cinnamon or applesauce till you’re absolutely sure it’s well mixed.
Scatter some cinnamon (like if you were rolling out cookies with flour) and roll out applesauce/cinnamon dough to 1/4″ thick. If the dough is too wet it will make a huge mess and stick to your rolling pin.
Use your cookie cutters to cut out the hearts. I noticed the first time around my dough was too wet and the edges were straggly. Once I add more cinnamon the edges were clean.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet with a silpat. The hearts can be really close together but not touching; they won’t rise in the oven. Using a skewer carefully make a hole through each heart. Stick the ornaments in the oven for an hour or more. The juice from the applesauce needs to evaporate. The range in cooking time depends on your house, humidity and climate. My house is cold so I had them in for 1.5 hours and then I turned the oven off and left them to set overnight. They should be rock hard. If they’re not, give them some more time in the oven.
The next day loop a string through each of the holes to hang on the tree, string together to make a garland or attach to a package. Enjoy!
P.S. the hearts are not edible.
Makes about 30 heart ornaments using two different size heart cookie cutters
What you’ll need:
1 cup of applesauce
1 1/2 cups cinnamon (look for a big containers at $1 stores, bulk stores or amazon.)
2 Tablespoons cloves optional (grind with a spice grinder)
heart cookie cutters in different sizes
string for hanging (mine is from Studio Carta)
Mix 1 cup of applesauce with 1 cup of cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix, mix, mix. This is the kinda recipe you’ll need to use your hands to really incorporate the spices. Make sure you don’t miss any wet spots. Add the additional 1/2 cup of cinnamon, cloves and continue to incorporate. If it’s too wet add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. But be patient. It takes time to mix so don’t add cinnamon or applesauce till you’re absolutely sure it’s well mixed.
Scatter some cinnamon (like if you were rolling out cookies with flour) and roll out applesauce/cinnamon dough to 1/4″ thick. If the dough is too wet it will make a huge mess and stick to your rolling pin.
Use your cookie cutters to cut out the hearts. I noticed the first time around my dough was too wet and the edges were straggly. Once I add more cinnamon the edges were clean.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet with a silpat. The hearts can be really close together but not touching; they won’t rise in the oven. Using a skewer carefully make a hole through each heart. Stick the ornaments in the oven for an hour or more. The juice from the applesauce needs to evaporate. The range in cooking time depends on your house, humidity and climate. My house is cold so I had them in for 1.5 hours and then I turned the oven off and left them to set overnight. They should be rock hard. If they’re not, give them some more time in the oven.
The next day loop a string through each of the holes to hang on the tree, string together to make a garland or attach to a package. Enjoy!
P.S. the hearts are not edible.
Snow Globes
Almost any jar works for this project: Baby-food, pimiento, and olive jars
are good choices. Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to
rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen
tips are available at many floral-supply stores.
If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based
enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With
clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the
epoxy dry.
Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter
and a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from
falling too quickly. Don't add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom
of the jar when it's flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to
dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again -- and let it snow.
are good choices. Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to
rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen
tips are available at many floral-supply stores.
If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based
enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With
clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the
epoxy dry.
Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter
and a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from
falling too quickly. Don't add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom
of the jar when it's flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to
dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again -- and let it snow.
Survival Kit Gift
My mom recently started a new job & has been very busy working long hours nearly every day of the week. She's also got all the other responsibilities of keeping a home & taking care of family. I knew it was going to be exhausting but since I'm not there to help out & I know she won't take the little time she has to relax, I opted to whip up a New Job Survival Kit for her that would make her laugh. I'm excited to finally share it with you since she just received it in the mail today.
Here's what it contained:
Here's what it contained:
- Buttons: To help button your lip when its the best strategy
- Googly Eyes: So you can keep an eye on everyone
- Pegs: To help you "hang in there"
- Marbles: To replace the ones you'll lose
- Lemon Candy: To remind you that "When life gives you lemons you should make lemonade" (I couldn't get lemonade here!)
- Erasers: Because we all make mistakes
- A Rope: In case you get to the end of yours
- Rubber Bands: To remind you to be flexible
- Gum: To give you that "stick to it" attitude
- A Smiley Face: To remind you to always wear a smile
- Batteries: To give you extra energy when you are drained
- Paper clips: To help you hold it all together
- A Snickers Chocolate Bar: To remind you that laughter is the best medicine
- Candles: To brighten the dark days
Christmas Craft Links:
Santas Elf Crafts
Candy Cane Crafts
Colouring Pages
Christmas Bells Crafts
Christmas Tree Crafts
Penguin Crafts
Reindeer Crafts
Gingerbread Man Crafts
Christmas Treats - Click on the Photos to link to a website
Pretzles and Chocolates!
Cream Cheese Mints
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Mint Recipe 4 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
1 pound (16 ounces) powdered sugar
1/8 – 1/4 tsp. oil of peppermint (or other flavoring)
gel food coloring
granulated sugar
flexible rubber mint molds
Cream Cheese Mint Recipe 4 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
1 pound (16 ounces) powdered sugar
1/8 – 1/4 tsp. oil of peppermint (or other flavoring)
gel food coloring
granulated sugar
flexible rubber mint molds
Cornflake Wreaths
BLOG Link - Click Here
Corn Flake Wreaths Recipe
:: 3 TBS Butter or Margarine
:: 1 10-oz package Marshmallows
:: 4 cups Corn Flakes
:: 1 tsp Vanilla
:: Green Food Coloring (about 1/2 tsp or 40 drops)
:: Red Hots (approximately 50 pieces)
Corn Flake Wreaths Recipe
:: 3 TBS Butter or Margarine
:: 1 10-oz package Marshmallows
:: 4 cups Corn Flakes
:: 1 tsp Vanilla
:: Green Food Coloring (about 1/2 tsp or 40 drops)
:: Red Hots (approximately 50 pieces)
Reindeer Treats
Chocolate covered Marshmallow Reindeer.. marshmallows are dipped in milk chocolate, the pretzel antlers are dipped in dark chocolate, candy eyes, m-n-m nose (red nose for Rudolf). You can use a little melted chocolate as your glue to put the items together. Sucker sticks can be found at your local craft store in the cake/candy decor section.
Reindeer Cookies
Cinnamon Polar Bear Cookies
How the Grinch stole Christmas Cookies
1 18.25oz box French vanilla cake mix
6 T butter
2 eggs
Green food coloring (I used 60 drops)
1 C powdered sugar
1 t corn starch