Simple Holiday Crafts Kids Can Make and Give as Gifts

Christmas is just around the corner. Now is a great time to start planning on making any homemade gifts. There are some easy gift ideas that kids can make with some supervision and maybe a little adult help (depending on their age).

Sometimes homemade gifts are the ones that we treasure the most. Kids can make homemade gifts for their parents, teachers, friends, grandparents and other family members. Some of the gifts that I have made as a child for my parents, they still have many years later. I wonder how many store bought things they still have that I purchased them for Christmas? So sometimes a homemade gift from the heart is the very best gift of all.

Christmas Picture Frame

This can be a fun craft. It is great to give a family member or family friend, with a photo of your child or family in the frame.

For this craft you will need:

A picture frame, ideally with a wide frame (to glue things onto)
Decorative wooden holiday shapes
non toxic paint
sequins
non toxic glue

Begin by looking at your wooden holiday shapes. Some craft stores sell them pre- painted and decorated and other stores sell them ready to paint. If you have purchased the ready to paint version then your child will need to paint them and decorate them with sequins before gluing them onto the picture frame.

Start by laying down newspaper to protect the table or other surface. Lay out the wooden shapes and select colors to paint them. Paint the shapes the colors of your choice and allow them to dry. Once they are dry, decorate with sequins as you like.

Once the shapes are completely dry from both processes, it is time to glue them onto the picture frame. Glue them onto the sides of the picture frame. Try to arrange them in an attractive pattern.

Allow the picture frame to dry completely before putting a photo in it to give to someone.

Christmas Decorative Pins

This is a craft that is fairly easy to do. You will need to allow time for the craft to dry.

For this craft you will need:
small wooden shapes in wintery shapes (snowflake, Christmas stocking, tree)
pin backs
hot glue gun (parents - it is your job to glue the pin backs on!)
Non-toxic paint to paint the wooden shapes
Foam brushes to paint with
optional: sequins and non-toxic glue

Take your wooden shapes and lay down newspaper underneath them. Decide what colors you will paint them. Snowflakes are usually white, or they could be silver for example. Paint the wooden shape and paint the sides of the wooden shape. Leave the shape there to dry for at least an hour (these shapes are small, they should be dry in an hour).

When the shape is dry, it is time to add sequins to them. Decorate with sequins as you like. A snowflake would look great with sequins on it. Allow the sequins to dry.

Once the wooden shape is dry, an adult can add the pin back. These pin backs are used for costume jewelry and can be found in most large craft stores. Simply take your hot glue gun and heat it up. Add a small dot of glue to the back of the wooden shape and then press the pin back on gently. Do not touch the glue to your fingers.

These are great to give the women in the family to wear to church on Christmas.

Christmas Decorative Magnets

Another fun craft to make using the exact same steps is to make holiday magnets. Instead of adding pin backs, you would add a small amount of magnetic strip to the back of the wooden shape. You can find magnetic strips at large stationary stores and also at large craft stores.