Kids Craft: Make Ornaments Out of Christmas Cards

Are you looking for a kids craft for little ones to do this holiday season? Here is one that small children will enjoy. They will need some supervision, depending on their age level, with scissor work and gluing, please use your best judgement.

This craft is also great because it uses your Christmas cards. Chances are you have extra cards leftover from sending out your holiday cards. You also have received cards in the mail. So you've got plenty of cards for the kids to work with!

For this craft you will need:

Christmas cards (most ornaments will use at least one card, if not two - so plan accordingly)

scissors

hole punch

thin ribbon (like 1/4 inch wide) in red or green, or colorful string

red or green construction paper

non-toxic glue

Christmas cookie cutters (star, Christmas tree, gingerbread man, Santa Claus)

markers or crayons

a pencil to trace with

glitter

These ornaments are simple and easy to make. Begin by cutting all of the backs off of the Christmas cards.

Then take the cookie cutters and help your child to trace around the cookie cutter with a pencil, on the Christmas card. It will probably be easiest to trace on the back side of the Christmas card. Try using great Christmas holiday shapes like your gingerbread man, Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, a star, or even your heart shaped cookie cutter.

After you have traced the card shape, cut it out. Then decide if you want to back the card shape with another Christmas card, or back it with red or green construction paper.

Now cut out the same shape in construction paper or in another Christmas card. Use the hole punch and hole punch a hole at the top of the ornament to tie the ribbon or string through.

Glue the ornament shapes together. Cut a piece of ribbon or string and make a loop for the ornament once the ornament has dried.

Your child can decorate the ornament as they wish once the ornament has dried. If your kids decide to back the ornaments with red or green construction paper, this is a great surface to draw on using markers or crayons. They can write a holiday message such as "Merry Christmas" or "Ho Ho Ho" or "Fa La La La La" or "Jingle Bells". They could also write their name on their ornaments. Another great way to decorate the ornaments is using glitter. First put glue down in the shape or lettering that you would like the glitter to be. Then tip the card to remove the excess glitter (be sure to put a piece of newspaper down before working with glitter!).

This is a simple craft that is fun to do. A great way to teach a child about tracing shapes and how to cut things out. This is perfect for small children.