| Starting family traditions is all part of Christmas, | | | | construction paper cut into thin, even strips. You |
| and creating simple and fast Christmas crafts | | | | can also cut up used Christmas gift wrapping |
| should be a family tradition in all homes, especially | | | | paper from last year. The kids can decorate the |
| when you can recycle at the same time as | | | | paper strips with Christmas writing and glitter glue. |
| creating thoughtful stocking filler gifts and | | | | Form the strips into connecting circles and glue |
| decorations. | | | | each one closed. Once the glue is dry, hang the |
| These creative Christmas crafts only require | | | | circle within easy reach of the child. Each day that |
| materials you will have lying around the house | | | | passes until Christmas, the kids get to tear off |
| already, and if you buy a big pack of digital | | | | one of the links of the chain. |
| royalty free Christmas clipart graphic images to | | | | Candy Cane Reindeer: |
| download, you will always have instant Christmas | | | | This craft is an oldie but a favorite among children. |
| pictures whenever you want them, and can get | | | | All you need are candy canes, jiggly eyes, pipe |
| amazing results with a bit of cut and paste | | | | cleaners, mini pom-poms and glue. |
| imagination! | | | | At the top of the candy cane, glue a pipe cleaner, |
| Christmas Placemat Craft: | | | | twisting it into the shape of antlers. Glue jiggly |
| Using recycled Christmas cards, tear off the | | | | eyes on either side of the reindeer 'head' and add |
| backs where the writing is. Or to make it simpler | | | | the nose to the end of the candy cane. |
| just print out your choice of royalty free | | | | Cookie Cutter Ornaments: |
| Christmas clipart graphic images. You'll need about | | | | To do this craft, you'll need an assortment of |
| three regular sized Christmas card sized images | | | | cookie cutters in various holiday shapes. The ones |
| to make each placemat. | | | | that work the best are snowmen, Santa, trees |
| Have the kids glue the cards decoration side up | | | | and bell shapes. |
| down on colored construction paper. When the | | | | Place each cookie cutter on colored construction |
| glue dries, cover the craft front and back with | | | | paper. Trace around it. Cut it out. Have the kids |
| clear contact paper, making sure there are no | | | | decorate each cut out with glitter and mini |
| open ends or gaps. | | | | pom-poms for Christmas balls on the tree. |
| Kids love setting their plates on their own special | | | | You can also just print out your selection from |
| Christmas place mat. | | | | your set of royalty free Christmas clipart graphic |
| Santa Ornament: | | | | images in the exact size and theme combination |
| This makes a great little gift for kids to make and | | | | that you want for your decorations, and just cut |
| give their friends or teachers too. Pick up large | | | | out around their design. |
| plastic ornaments at the craft store. These | | | | For the snowmen, use mini black pom-poms for |
| ornaments will open for you to put items inside. | | | | his buttons. You can use jiggly eyes on the |
| Open the ornament and fill it with peppermints. | | | | snowmen and Santa. |
| Secure it closed again. Using a medium sized | | | | Once each ornament is finished, use a |
| wooden ball, glue on jiggly eyes. Once the eyes | | | | hole-puncher to punch a hole at the top. Thread |
| are set, glue the wooden ball onto the top the | | | | thin ribbon through the hole and let the kids hang |
| plastic ornament. | | | | their special ornament from the tree. |
| Next, add cotton hair for the head, mustache and | | | | You can save yourself an absolute fortune by |
| beard. Glue a red felt 'hat' on top of the hair. At | | | | making your own Christmas cards, decorations |
| the base of the ornament, glue a long piece of | | | | and little creative gifts for the family this year, |
| black felt for Santa's belt. | | | | using simple materials lying around the house, |
| Glue the front bottom of the ornament to a thin | | | | recycling your old Christmas cards and gift wrap, |
| wooden heart that's been painted black. The | | | | and adding the images from the amazing royalty |
| curves in the heart will be Santa's feet. | | | | free Christmas clipart graphic images that you can |
| Christmas Countdown Chain: | | | | find on the internet. |
| For this popular craft, you'll need red and green | | | | |