Christmas Crafts for Kids to Make or Take!

Cardboard Tube Reindeer – Cardboard Tube Reindeer Template

Materials needed for each reindeer:  One cardboard tube. 2 brown pipe cleaners, brown construction paper, 2 craft eyes, 1 red pom-pom, marker, poster putty or tape, and scissors. (If you do not have the construction paper, eyes, and pom-poms, you can cut those from the template above.)

Pre-cut rectangles from brown construction paper large enough to fit around the cardboard tubes.  Have the children place the rectangles around the cardboard tube and tape together (assist younger children).  Have the children tear off small pieces of poster putty and attach the craft eyes and a red pom-pom to the front of the reindeer.  Older children can cut the brown pipe cleaners in half (younger ones will need assistance.)  Using 2 halves of the pipe cleaners, have the children make a + sign (demonstrate for the children).  Holding the pipe cleaner farthest to the right, wrap it once around the center pipe cleaner (again, demonstrate the wrapping motion for the children.)  After wrapping once, push the left and right ends of the pipe cleaner toward the center one to form a W at the top.  The children can bend the tips of the pipe cleaners anyway they desire to resemble reindeer.  The pipe cleaners can be adhered to the inside of the cardboard tube with tape or poster putty.  It is easier for the children to use poster putty, if available.  If using tape, younger children will need assistance to adhere the “antlers” to the reindeer body. Have the children use markers to decorate their reindeer, make their names, and add a mouth.

Christmas Lanterns – Christmas Lantern Template 

Materials needed for each lantern:  1 piece of green construction paper (or the printable linked above), scissors, hole punch, 1 red or white pipe cleaner, and assorted Christmas stickers or foam cut-outs.

Have the children fold a piece of construction paper in half length-wise.  For younger children, make four dots in each corner of the paper and have the children “match” the dots to fold.  Demonstrate for the children how to make a crease in the paper after matching the dots.  After folding, have the children cut lines on the fold of the paper (make sure to remind the children NOT the cut all the way to the edge.)  For younger children, dot lines along the fold (similar to those in the template linked above) for the children to use as a cutting guide.  When finished cutting, make a “lantern” by opening the paper and taping the edges of the paper together.  The lantern can be taped together either horizontally or vertically (one will make a wider lantern (pictured above) and the other a tall, thinner version).   Older children (assist younger children) can hole punch both sides of the lantern and thread a pipe cleaner through the holes for hanging.  Have the children decorate the lanterns with Christmas stickers or foam cut-outs.

 

Christmas Food Craft – Strawberry Santa Snacks

These Santas are fun to make for a cute Christmas snack.  Cut the stems off of stawberries and rinse well.  Older children can use a plastic knife to cut the bottom off of the strawberry for “Santa’s hat.”  If the strawberries are ripe enough, younger children can use craft sticks to cut the bottom portion off (if the strawberries are not quite ripe, younger children will need assistance.)  Have the children place a generous teaspoon of whipped cream on the strawberry before adding the “hat.”  The children can use miniature chocolate chips for the eyes or any black cookie decorations that are available.  Serve the strawberries with graham crackers and milk for a Christmas snack.

Reindeer Noses – Reindeer Noses Food Craft Tags

Materials needed:  Miniature Pretzels, Chocolate Bark, Rolo® candies, craft sticks, and red candy dot decorations.

Melt the chocolate according to the package instructions.  Dip the miniature pretzels in the chocolate and place on waxed paper.  When the pretzels are dry (no longer shiny), dip the bottom of a Rolo® into the melted chocolate bark and use as “glue” to adhere two chocolate pretzels together (the Rolo® then becomes the Reindeer’s nose and the pretzels resemble the antlers.)  Use a craft stick to “dab” melted chocolate bark on the top of the Rolo®.  Place a red candy dot on top of the Rolo® to make “Rudolph’s” shiny nose.  Place the “Reindeer Noses” in a gift bag and attach the printable tag (linked above).

We hope you enjoy some special moments creating crafts and food with your children this Christmas!  For MORE ideas:  see the Christmas or Gingerbread Thematic Units via this blog!