Holiday Activities You Can Do with Your Kids

As the holidays near its time to get ready to decorate your families tree. Each year me and my boys make our own ornaments. Mostly using recycled things like pop cans. Got you thinking huh. No worries I'll explain more later. We start usually after Halloween making Christmas cards to send to the family and friends. I buy card stock at our local craft shop and with scraps of paper from my scrap book bin as far as the greetings I use a computer generated program and print them out. This give the kids a chance to be creative and gives them something to do that doesn't involve a game controller.

Here's what you need to start your hand made cards.

Card stock
Scrap book paper
Glue
Glitter
stickers
Ribbon

First fold card stock in half. If you are using the computer to add the greeting print them out first. Let your kids design the front of the card to give to their favorite person. Trust me you will be amazed at what they will come up with.

Now a little more about the pop can ornaments. Here's what you will need.

Empty and cleaned pop cans
Ribbon
Hot glue (low temp if small kids are helping)
Gold string
Tacky Glue
Fabric (velvet works best)
Hammer and Nail

Before you start cut can in half. From a different can cut the con-caved part of the can out you need two cover with fabric. Using hammer and nail poke 2 holes in center of one. Thread string through the holes. This is to be able to hang form the tree. This is another part you need to do so the kids don't get cut. Slip the two halves of the cans together making a short can. When the cans are completely together they should be around a few inches tall. To keep kids form getting cut from this point apply Hot glue along sharp edge. Have the kids to decorate the cans using fabric and Ribbon. To embellish use glitter fabric glue. Once glue is dry apply the 2 bottoms you cut out earlier and apply them to the top and bottom of the can forming a ball.

Another thing you can do with your kids is bake cookies. My kids usually take cookies to their friends at school. Heres our recipe that we use

What you need

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Makes about 36

1 cup maraschino cherries
1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Drain maraschino cherries and chop coarsely. Place on a paper towel to soak up excess liquid. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, shortening until creamy. Beat in extracts and egg. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture. Stir in chips and cherries. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheets then remove to wire racks to cool completely. You can leave out the cherries for a old fashioned chocolate chip cookie.

Here's a great sugar cookie Recipe

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups Swans Down Cake Flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups Swans Down Cake Flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cream butter add brown sugar; beat one minute. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Slowly add flour and baking soda, then vanilla.

Beat well for three minutes. Bake 10 minutes.Or Try this oatmeal cookie

3/4 c butter or shortening
1 1/4 c brown sugar -- firmly : packed
1 egg
1/3 c milk
1 1/2 ts vanilla
3 c oats, rolled (raw) -- quick/ : old fashioned
1 c flour -- all-purpose
1/2 ts baking soda
1/2 ts salt
1/4 ts cinnamon
1 c raisins
1 c walnuts -- chopped

Heat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease cookie sheet with shortening. Combine shortening, brown sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla; beat with mixer on high speed to blend well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; add to shorteing mixture and combine until just blended. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-13 min., or until lightly browned. So Good!
Any of these cookies are a holiday favorite. And your family and friends will love getting a fresh baked gift.

instead of buying gift wrap or bags let your kids help make their own. All you need is some plain craft paper or butchers paper. And a few other supplies.

Rubber stamps
Ink (washable is best)
Per-ma paint
Water
Tacky Glue

Let your kids stamp their design on the paper using the ink and paint. Once dried they have gift wrap any one would love to get. To make bags from the paper all you need to do is wrap a large cereal box like you would if it were a gift leaving one end open to remove the box. Using either glue or double sided tape to seal one end. Fold top edge of the paper to form a double thickness punch hole same distance apart on both sides tie ribbon through the hole to form handles.

Any of these projects make great gifts for your kid to give to their grandparents or friends. Plus you get a chance to see just how creative they can be.