| p>Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are just | | | | be the kids table cloth for their own kids table or |
| around the corner. Crafting can create a personal | | | | your center piece. |
| touch to the holidays and make decorations | | | | Cowboy Cactus Centerpieces: |
| affordable. But, it also goes beyond cheap | | | | Take a small flower pot and fill it with rocks, sand, |
| décor. It provides the perfect opportunity | | | | clay, or dirt. Stick a dowel or stick into the filling. |
| for a family activity. So, get the kids involved! | | | | Mold green clay around the dowel to form a |
| Take an idea and run with it! Don't be afraid to | | | | cactus shape. Take other colors of clay and form |
| use your imagination... and your kids will follow. | | | | chaps, vest, hat, and face. Break toothpicks in half |
| Here is an idea to get you started: cowboy crafts | | | | (you will need to do this for the child) and use as |
| for kids. | | | | the cactus spines. |
| Cowboy Halloween Costume: | | | | You can incorporate these in your holiday table |
| Vest- Take a paper shopping bag and cut a hole | | | | décor! Depending on how big your table is, |
| (big enough for the child's head) into the bottom. | | | | you may want to let the kids make several. |
| Cut a slit from top to bottom on one of the wide | | | | Again, expand the centerpiece with your own |
| sides of the bag. Cut an arm hole in each of the | | | | cowboy crafts for kids idea. |
| narrow sides of the bag. Now, let your child | | | | Snow Poke: |
| decorate with glue/glitter, paint, stencils, stamps, | | | | Instead of a cowpoke have a snow poke. Let |
| etc... | | | | kids construct a snow man. Make a lasso from |
| Sheriff's Badge- Trace, draw, or stamp a star on | | | | craft pipe cleaner. Add a cowboy hat, vest, etc.. |
| a piece of cardboard. Cut the shape out and | | | | Substitute the smoking pipe for a strand of straw. |
| cover with aluminum foil. | | | | Cowboy Cookies: |
| Cowboy Hat- You will need a plastic party favor | | | | Give Santa cookies that are shaped like a cowboy |
| hat and 4-5 pieces of black felt. Simply cover the | | | | hat. Let the kids use a cookie cutter to make |
| hat with the felt and staple in place. It may take | | | | them. |
| some cuts to make the felt fit. Use a piece of | | | | Cowboy Christmas Tree: |
| rope to cover the rim seam. Use a black sharpie | | | | Let the kids make homemade Christmas tree |
| to color the silver staples. | | | | decorations. You can stamp a piece of cardboard |
| Expand on the idea with your own cowboy crafts | | | | with cowboy hats, cactus, horses, cows, wagons, |
| for kids. | | | | etc. Then, let them paint and cut out. Piping can |
| Cowboy Table Cloth: | | | | also be shaped for a cowboy theme. |
| Buy a plain table cloth for your Thanksgiving or | | | | These cowboy crafts for kids should get you off |
| Christmas table. Let your kids decorate it. Instead | | | | to a good start. Kids can have great fun with |
| of using paint brushes, give them small bundles of | | | | crafting. Even the sloppiest result will brighten a |
| hay straw. They can dip the straw in the paint to | | | | kids day. Imagine the pride they will feel, as your |
| form unique cactuses, cowboy hats, lassos, spurs, | | | | Thanksgiving guests brag about their hand painted |
| etc... Attach a sponge or stamp to a potato | | | | table cloth. |
| masher and let them "brand" the table. This can | | | | |