There are literally endless creative ideas I can share from my head and cool things I found on Pinterest, some of which I will do now, and more will comes through out the holidays.
I will also have a blog dedicated to budget gift recommendations (not from my own range).
RECOMMENDATION:
Hobbycraft is paradise for all things cheap and amazing quality of arts and crafts materials. So many mums haven't been ever there. You MUST check out this link: http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/christmas/christmas-kids-craft?resultsPerPage=100
Remember, Hobbycraft have literally hundreds of blank festive things kids can paint from ages 3 onwards. There are blank baubles, shapes, from polysthyrene or cardboard, ornaments to paint like stand alone solid card raindeer, trees, snowmen, snowflakes, stars, you name it. Not to mention endless ribbons, paints, glitters, buttons, stick ons, diamonds, beads and all at super super cheap prices!!
So let's crack on with my top 5 arts and crafts activities for the season:
1. DIY CANDY DECORATIONS
Christmas candy is always a winning item on the tree or hanging decoratively out of a stockings.
So for this easy one, all you need is:
Hobbycraft do fantastic deals for few quid on each item pack.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Take out a few green or red pipe cleaners and start threading and twisting on the white and red beads in alternate turns.
2. Bend the candy stick into a curve at the top and either hang it as is on the tree or..
3.You can tie a knot from the middle of the curve and the remaining 2 string pieces tie around the tree branch.
The beads should stay put on the pipe cleaners no problem.
2. CHRISTMAS TREE TOP DISPLAY.
I love this idea I found on Pinterest and think it's a great bit of decoration for the festive season.
Here are a few easy (but slightly messy)materials needed and steps to follow:
A collection of random colourful beads or beads from old jewellery lying around the house.
Green glitter.
PVA or Tacky glue.
Plaster of Paris mixture, or for an alternative to the classic paper mache fixative try two parts white all-purpose glue to one part water or 2 parts flour to one part water.
Baking paper.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Paint on a protected area, the pine cones a good forest green and while wet throw on some green glitter all around it for a good cheery festive feel.
2. Mix the plaster of paris mix by following the instructions and put a big blob on the greased baking paper. In it, fix the tree once its dry enough to touch.
If you are using the Plaster of Paris alternative method, mix that together and do the same.
3. Next, put a little blob of Tacky Glue or PVA on some of the edges of the pine branches and as it starts to dry a little and get stickier, place gently the bead, one by one on each designated branch.
4. Leave to dry and then remove from baking paper and place around the room or on even a silver cake base.
IDEAS: Once totally dry, you can sift icing sugar and white glitter all over the base, covering some of the trees for a truly snowy winter feel.
You can also buy from Hobbycraft a snow creating tube for £2 by the counter. You mix with some water and it turns into pretend snow.
3. FESTIVE PENGUIN
I know so many kids who are crazy about penguins, not to mention the madness of 'Penguins of Madagascar'. So what better hook to engage kids this festive season in home made penguins they can put on their walls. Here's what you will need:
Black paint.
Black, orange and white scraps of paper
Glue
Scissors
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Begin by folding in the sides of the paper plate and folding down the top. Glue in place
2. Paint the folded in/down portions of the plate black and allow to dry.
3. Cut a beak and feet from scraps of orange paper. Glue those in place.
4. Cut eyes from scraps of black and white paper. Glue those in place.
Vwallah!
4. GINGERBREAD FESTIVE HOUSES
These last two I LOVE. Any kid will go absolutely potty for this no matter how old.
The varieties are simply endless, and with the ever increasing abundance of variety at the big supermarkets like Asda and Waitrose, even you will be able to invent 20 different versions.
You will need as the basic:Biscuits, preferably square. I also recommend the Leibniz variety.
A big box of icing sugar
Warm water
Dessicated coconut bag
Edible white glitter
A variety of little baking sprinkles and sweets. There are plenty Christmassy themed ones if you go to the bigger supermarkets
Icing tube either bought of created with strong paper rolled into a sharp cone. Snip the top slightly.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Lay out a sheet of grease proof paper on a tray.
2. In a bowl pour a good amount of icing sugar and start adding tiny amounts of warm water till as you keep stirring you produce a thick gooey white paste. Make sure not to have it drippy at all. If you do, keep adding more sugar.
3. Now apply some icing in the paper marking where you will place your house/s.
4. Stick in the 4 biscuits in shape of a house. If you want, for example with the Leibniz variety you can use only 2 per house and make it into a wintery hut.
5. For the roof squeeze gently the icing across the tops of the biscuits and seal on the rood. For the Leibniz kind, just stick the two at the top together.
If the icing leaks it doesn't matter, looks more wintery!
6. Now start sticking on tiny blobs of thick icing the decoration on the roofs and walls. Let the child use their imagination on this one.
7. Once the house is completed, you can paint the ground with icing and sprinkle dessicated coconut over it.
7. Lastly, sprinkle some icing sugar with a sift over the whole scenery to create a snowed on effect and top with a sprinkling of white edible glitter.
5. PINE TREE ICE CREAM CONES.
I don't think any EDIBLE village scene is complete without this last activity.
Here is what you will need:
Smarties (the small variety)
Variations of the baking toppings and sprinkles.
Icing sugar
Green colouring or Spirulina
Dessicated coconut
Edible white or green glitter.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. On a baking paper, line a few ice cream cones.
2. Mix a thick consistency of icing sugar and warm water. Start with a little water and mix gradually till it comes as you need it. It needs to be able to be strong and hardly drip at all.
3. Now is the fun part. Either throw in some Spirulina powder to turn the icing forest green or put a few drops of green food colouring.
3. You can either cover the whole cones with green icing or do one base layer green, wait for it to dry and then a white coat on top to imitate snow.
4. You can now decorate by sprinkling some dessicated coconut and white edible glitter so it covers evenly the tree.
5. Lastly stick in the sweets around.
If you now put these in the fridge they shall solidify properly and the sweets will hold for a long time. I would store them in the fridge through out the holidays.
And that's my top 5 easy peasy and yummy holiday arts and crafts activities to keep the kids fully entertained and happy!
Will throw in some more in the next few weeks so stay tuned and meanwhile don't forget to share with your friends!
Siggi x
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