Holiday Crafts for Kids Under $10

Your kids want to be involved in this special time of year, just as much as you do. Why not give them the chance to give their own homemade gifts this year. It's also a great way to give gifts to your co-workers-who wouldn't love a gift from a kid? So here are some very easy projects for your kids to get busy on for under $10.00.

Card Holder

The holiday seasons brings in oodles of Christmas cards. What better way to keep them than in a homemade card holder? Just purchase a small basket, wooden tray, or wooden box that would be big enough to accommodate cards either standing up inside or lying flat. You can find these items at any craft store. It's fun to get the unfinished wooden items instead of a basket so that your kids can paint designs on the front of it with crafting paint. Make sure you use a sealer after your children have displayed their artistry so that it's sure to last. Kids can easily do the painting of the box or tray, but you should do the varnish unless your child is savvy enough to get all the bubbles out themselves. These boxes will also look great with wooden cutouts of Santa, Snowmen, or any other holiday design glued to the front or sides. You can even get a very large cut out of one of these figures, have your children paint it and then glue it to the back of the box so that it is 'peeking' over the cards that it will contain. The ideas are endless. Just package this with candy inside all wrapped up in festive cellophane, with a curling ribbon and you have a great gift.

Pincushion

This is so simple that it doesn't even involve an adhesive or stitching of any kind, and it's a great way to use recyclables. Raid your scrap fabrics for some suitable prints as the main pincushion design. Find a plastic canister, preferable the size of a Noxema Jar, but any type of lotion jar will do. Recycle the cap and make sure the insides are cleaned out thoroughly before using. Cut the fabric pieces into two circles-one that is big enough to cover the entire container and fold inside, and one that will cover the top opening with a few inches leftover. You can have your kids do this part as the accuracy of the cutting makes little difference in appearance. Take the larger piece of fabric and wrap it around the jar, folding the raw edges into the jar. Next, fill the inside of the jar with fiberfill stuffing so that the fabric edges are pushed underneath. Lastly, push the small fabric circle down into the sides of the fiberfill stuffing, securely tucking the edges in. The fabric will hold together due to the stuffing and will need no adhesives to operate as a pincushion. This construction is also useful in case a pin gets pushed down too far into the cushion, the owner can take it apart easily and fetch the pin without ruining the cushion. Kid's will love this project, and Grandmother's will love the gift.

Potpourri glass

Don't let the use of glass in this project scare you; the project is so quick that there isn't a chance of breakage. Purchase a topless glass jar from your local craft store, making sure that the top is wide. Small Vases will also work. Find some tulle circles (best found in the wedding aisles of craft stores), ribbon, and any scent assortment of potpourri. All kids need to do is scoop the potpourri into the glass jar, put the tulle on with a rubberband to secure, wrap a ribbon around it and they have sweet smelling gift.

Ornament Kits

But if you aren't that "crafty" yourself, but still want your kids to have fun, buy them an ornament kit. You can purchase them at any craft store or online for less than $10 and they come with everything you need to make several of the advertised ornament. These ornaments can be more complicated beaded ornaments for older children (probably 10 and up), or simple pom-pom ornaments for younger kids to enjoy. Either way your kids can join in the festivities with their homemade specialties.