| Christmas memories always include the time I put | | | | Next, lay down newspapers and let your child |
| aside for my children to make Christmas | | | | paint the larger circle with green tempera paint. It |
| decorations. We love to make wall decorations | | | | will be cute to see the 'evergreen' look or their |
| and have many keepsakes of past Christmases, | | | | brush strokes when it dries. While the paint is |
| some 25 years old! Remembering the activities | | | | drying, take the 3 & ½ " square cut |
| that we shared making the decorations makes | | | | red felt and draw a bow on it. The bow should |
| the holidays more special as you lovingly place | | | | use most of the square. The bow looks like a |
| your decorations on the walls. In the last article, | | | | butterfly and the ribbon will be like an upside down |
| Christmas Keepsake Decorations - Part 1, you | | | | V, about1" wide and 1" long. You should practice a |
| saw how to make a "Rudolph Handmade Deer", | | | | few times until you get the design you like, then |
| using your child's hand for antlers. A perfect | | | | copy to the red felt square, and cut it. |
| companion keepsake to place beside it is a Picture | | | | Once the paint dries, you're ready to assemble |
| Christmas Wreath, using your child's picture as the | | | | the wreath. Turn the painted side down and tape |
| centerpiece. | | | | the picture over the hole in the middle. Turn it |
| Materials needed: white poster board, red felt, | | | | over and check to see if the picture is centered. |
| scissors (both regular and Z edged), glue, green | | | | If the placement is good, then turn it back over |
| tempera paint, red wooden beads, tape, a | | | | and glue the edges to the wreath. Cut a 5" circle |
| protractor or 2 different sized bowls, some | | | | from the white poster board and glue it over the |
| newspaper, and a picture of your child. If you can | | | | picture, on the back. |
| get your child's picture in front of a Christmas | | | | You are now ready to finish the Christmas |
| tree, then it will really be cute! Doing these kinds | | | | wreath. Attach the red bow with glue to the |
| of Christmas activities can make a family feel | | | | bottom of the wreath. Glue 5 red wooden beads |
| closer and helps make wonderful Christmas | | | | on the wreath, like holly berries. Your child's |
| memories. | | | | masterpiece is complete and ready to display |
| The first thing that you should do is draw 2 circles | | | | alone or with the Rudolph Handmade deer. We |
| on the white poster board. The largest should be | | | | enjoy making wall decorations that add Christmas |
| about 7 or 8". The smaller circle should be 3 | | | | spirit, memories and color to our home. If you |
| & ½ to 4 & ½" and | | | | and your family enjoyed this activity, then you |
| centered in the middle of the larger circle. Let | | | | can always use the remaining supplies to make |
| your child help you by cutting out the shapes. Use | | | | other wreaths, and give them as Christmas |
| craft zigzag scissors to cut the outside edge on | | | | presents from the child or family. More keepsake |
| the larger circle like small Zs. Cutting the inner | | | | memory decorations will be explained in Keepsake |
| circle might be hard for children and they may | | | | Christmas Decorations. |
| need you to start the cut. | | | | |