Materials - sugar, glitter, water, cookie cutters, yarn or ribbon, glue, scissors
Instructions:
· Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of glitter.
· Stir in 1 teaspoon of water until evenly moist.
· Press mixture into cookie cutters.
· Gently tap the ornament onto a plate to dry overnight.
· Cut enough thread or yarn to make a loop and glue a hanger onto the back of each ornament.
1. Notes: Makes four Christmas ornaments depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
2. Add food coloring for a different look.
3. Make a half and half mix of water and white glue to brush over the Christmas ornament if you want a shiny surface.
Materials
Popsicle sticks,glue,glitter or salt,thread or ribbon
1. Paint or color Popsicle sticks using markers.
2. Glue into Christmas star shape (see ideas below),
3. Decorate your Christmas star with glitter glue, or glue and glitter, or glue and salt for crystal effect.
4. Tie or glue a loop of thread or ribbon for the hanger for your Christmas ornament.
Patterns for homemade Christmas Stars
colored paper or board,pipe cleaner,glitter glue,child's photo
1. Trace each foot of your child once, using white (for dress) and both hands (using yellow for wings).
2. Cut out each part.
3. Have your child glitter and glue the hand cut-outs to make wings sparkle.
4. Cut out a picture of your child focusing on their head and face.
5. Glue hands (wings) to the feet (body) and picture to the body. Add string to make it hang. Add a piece of the sparkly pipe cleaner for a halo.
6. Using a paint pen, date the bottom.
7. Select a verse for the tag.
This little angel is special you see;Because she is a part of me!!Her wings are my hands,Her body my feet!And on our tree she'll look very sweet!!!!
This little angel is special you see;Because he is a part of me!!His wings are my hands,His body my feet!And on our tree he'll look very sweet!!!!
If you are doing this project with a group of children, make sure each piece is labeled who they belong.
Scissorspaper or card boardglue
1. Cut three strips pf paper (11 inches by .5 inch).
2. Color or decorate the strips if you want.
3. Glue two of the strips together at their mid-point.
4. Glue the third strip over the first two and let dry for a few minutes.
5. Starting with the bottom strip, bring the two pieces up to form a circle and glue them together. Keep these pieces pinched between your fingers as they are drying.
6. Keep bringing up each strip and gluing until all the sides are done.
7. Pinch it between your fingers until it dries.
8. Decorate with sparkles or glitter.
Hints: Use a stapler instead of glue if you are in a hurry.
Materials - (pipe cleaners, thread, wool, water, borax, disposable container)
NOTE: Adults must supervise this project. Be sure to read the safety information on the Borax box.
1. Create the snowflake shapes from pipe cleaners.Cut one pipe cleaner in three pieces and twist them together in the center. Tie a thread or wool around each of the arms to create a circle.Take one pipe cleaner and twirl it into a spiral shape.Take two pipe cleaners and twist them together in the center. Bend the pieces to create square or rectangular sections of the snowflake.
2. Choose a container that is wide and deep enough to allow the snowflakes to float freely. Find a stick or ruler that can sit across the top of the container. Use the thread to tie the snowflakes to the stick.
3. Have an adult, heat some water to boiling and pour it into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax ( see Notes) for every 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until it dissolves. If all the borax dissolves, continue adding more borax until a bit is left not dissolved.
4. Put the stick over the container so that all the snowflakes are floating in the borax solution. Try to arrange them so that they don't touch each other.
5. Leave them over night to let the crystals form.
Notes:
· Borax is a mineral that is commonly sold as a laundry booster. 20 Mule Team Borax is a one brand found in the laundry section at a grocery store. Do not use laundry soap with borax added.
· Borax is a chemical and must be handled with care. Never leave it where young children can get to it. Don't leave the crystal solution where children or pets could accidentally drink it.
· Use in well ventilated area.
· In case of accident, follow medical treatment recommended on the package.
Hints:
1. Use colored pipe cleaners to create colorful snowflakes.
2. Try adding food coloring to the solution to get colorful snowflakes.
Learn more about how crystals are formed.
Every parent must use their own judgment in choosing which crafts and activities are safe for their own children. While Creative Kids at Home makes every effort to provide activity ideas that are safe and fun for children it is your responsibility to choose the activities that are safe in your own home.
These snowflakes are easy to make and the results can be stunning. Use them as ornaments on a Christmas tree, or hang the crystal snowflakes in your windows where they sparkle in the light.
Check out lots of kids crafts and in the free Activity Library from Creative Kids at Home.
Materials - (red paper, scissors, glitter - optional)
1. Start with any square piece of red paper. If you are using a standard sheet of paper, take a bottom corner and diagonal fold it across to the opposite side of the page. Cut off the 2.5 inch strip at the top of the page to create an 8.5 x 8.5 sheet of paper. Fold it in half. Fold it in half again creating a smaller square.
2. One corner will be all folds, the other three corners will have some open edges. Finding the fold corner is key to making a poinsettias. Turn the paper so that the fold corner is at the bottom.
3. Fold the corner on the right side over to the left side. You should now have a long, triangular paper, with the fold corner still at the bottom.
4. The dotted lines show where to cut to create your poinsettias. Throw away the two, small, triangular sections that are cut off.
5. Once you've got the right shape, cut two partial circles to create the petals.
6. If you have a hole punch, you can create the hole shown in the diagram.
7. The children can use glitter glue to decorate their poinsettias.
Find out more about poinsettias and how they became part of the history of Christmas.
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