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Keeping children entertained, creatively inclined, and developing their fine motor skills can be accomplished by doing crafts together as a family. Here are some step-by-step instructions for two projects you can do with your child.
Reindeer Ornaments
Supplies Needed
Wooden spoons -- 1 for each ornament
Wooden 1'x 1/8' Wooden hearts -- 2 for each ornament
Small jingle bell -- 1 for each ornament
Red satin picot ribbon
Red ribbon
1 cm wiggle eyes -- 2 for each ornament
Red 1 cm pom pom -- 1 for each ornament, I used the sparkle ones
Brown paint
Paintbrush
Glue -- I used a hot glue gun, but Aileens tacky glue would work as well
Step by Step Instructions
1) Paint hearts and spoon brown. Be sure to paint all surfaces including sides and backs.
2) Cut a six inch strip of satin ribbon for hanger.
3) Make a bow out of the picot edge ribbon; about an inch and a half across.
4) When paint is dry glue the two hearts above the bowl of the spoon with the points at the bottom of the heart touching.
5) Glue bow on top of the two hearts (the hearts are the antlers).
6) Glue jingle bell to middle of bow.
7) Glue red pom pom (nose) onto the tip of the bowl of the spoon.
8) Glue two wiggle eyes a bit above the nose.
9) When all is dry turn over and glue the 6 inch strip of ribbon, formed into a loop, to the back of the spoon. This is your hanger.
They are quite inexpensive to make; you can use them as gift tags on packages. Write the two and from either on the handle of the spoon or on the hearts (antlers).
The perfect item for children to give their classmates at Christmas time. Write the child's name (recipient) on the left heart and the year (2000) on the right side, using a gold paint pen.
You could substitute green or white for the ribbon for a different look.
You can skip the ribbon hanger and make them into magnets or pins.
Placemats
Supplies needed
Clear contact paper
Poster board
Scissors, both regular and decorative edged
Glue
Confetti
Construction Paper, Wrapping Paper, Lace, Ribbon, Sequins, Tissue Paper, or any other scrap item you can find around the house
Rolling pin
Instructions
1) Cut a piece of poster board the size you want your place mat to be. Decorative edge scissors can be used for this.
2) Cut two pieces (same size) of clear contact paper about an inch larger than the poster board. Do not use decorative edged scissors for this step.
3) Use the other supplies you've gathered to decorate the poster board. You can decorate both sides of the poster board to have a reversible place mat.
4) When the poster board is decorated to your child's (and yours, don't forget you are making one, too) satisfaction, remove the backing from the first piece of clear contact paper, lay on a firm flat surface, sticky side up. Lay the poster board on top of the clear contact paper, centering carefully. Lay the second piece of clear contact paper, sticky side down, on top of the poster board, lining up the edges with the bottom piece of clear contact paper.
5) Use a rolling pin, or other device to smooth out the bubbles and to adhere the pieces together. Be sure to take extra measure with the edges of the clear contact paper that frame the poster board, making sure that all the clear contact paper overlay is stuck to each other.
There you have it, you can do this for any special occasion or holiday to make it extra special.
Make a practice sheet for you child to practice numbers and alphabets, following the steps above. A dry erase marker can be used for practicing.
Enjoy!
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