Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids

For many people, Christmas is a favorite holiday. Kids usually enjoy arts and crafts throughout the year and Christmas time brings on new craft ideas! Get out your craft box and strap your imaginations in place-it is time to get creative! Because kids have varying abilities and interests when it comes to art, adjust the craft to the skill level and attention span of your child.

To make a very simple Christmas tree, cut out a large tree from a sheet of green 12x12 cardstock paper. Use a circle punch to punch out small circles of various colors. Kids will have fun using a glue stick to attach the "lights" to the tree. You can also add some glitter or sequins to the "lights" or directly on the tree. Cut a star from yellow felt for the tree topper. Get even more creative and use pine needles as the tree trunk. Your child can make presents from wrapping paper scraps and glue them around the tree.

To make a stocking, cut a large sock shape from a sheet of red 12x12 cardstock paper. Gle cotton balls around the top of the stocking. Have your child look through magazines or toy books to find pictures of items on their wish lists. After the pictures have been cut out of the magazine, use a glue stick to attach them to their Christmas stocking.

Snowmen are easy to make from styrofoam balls of varying sizes. Purchase three different sizes of styrofoam balls at your local craft store. Using a hot glue gun, glue the balls together in the shape of a snowman. Add wiggly eyes, a nose and sticks for the arms. You might also choose to add a hat or a scarf for your snowman.

Making ornaments can be alot of fun for children. Buy a clear round ball ornament from your local craft store. Allow your child to use paint to paint the ball. Let the ornament dry completely before adding to the tree. Many craft stores also carry wooden ornaments that are perfect for painting.

To create homemade link garlan, first cut several strips of red and green paper. Fold one strip of paper in half and glue or staple it in place to make links. Attach another strip of paper to the first and secure it with glue or a staple. Continue creating links of rotating red and green until your garland is as long as you would like for it to be.

Christmas placemats are fun for kids to make a nice way of remembering special people. When you receive a Christmas card with pictures inside, save the picture. Glue the pictures onto a sheet of cardstock. Use contact paper or laminating film to cover the pictures and paper. Save the mats and you will be able to look back over old pictures for years to come.

Handprint wreaths can be a nice craft for the entire family. On red and green paper, trace the hands of everyone in your family. Cut out the inside of a paper plate so that a ring is left. Use red fingerpaint on your fingertips to add holly berries to the wreaths. Instead of paint, you can also use red pom pom balls, beads, glitter or sequins. Glue the colored handprints around the ring. Hang the wreath on the front door or on the wall.