Kids will obtain pleasure from making homemade Christmas decorations via Christmas craft projects and admiring their hard work as their creations are arranged on the Christmas tree.
Edible Christmas Tree Decorations
Kids will especially enjoy the edible kind of Christmas decoration. An idea that came from Germany's Lebkuchen or "life cakes," this recipe is a variation. Christmas cookies are easy to make and provide tactile fun for kids. The recipe consists of the following:
- 2oz castor sugar
- 4.5oz soft butter
- 6oz plain flour
- 0.5 teaspoons of ginger
Items for decoration
- Coarse grain sugar or sparkly sweets
- For something different, coloured glitter, rainbow dust or crystal colours from a bakeware company such as Winsor Cakecraft, will add a seasonal sparkle
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350ºf). Ensure the children wash their hands before allowing them to handle the cookie ingredients.
- Mix the cookie ingredients together until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Knead until like dough and add a little milk if necessary.
- Roll out the cookie mixture until 1cm thick
- Cut into seasonal shapes such as Christmas trees or snowmen.
- Prick a hole at the top of each cookie.
- Bake for 10 – 15 minutes or until golden.
- Arrange the sparkling decorations of choice on top.
- Thread red ribbon through the cookies and hang on the Christmas tree.
Children may enjoy watching their cookies glitter against the Christmas lights.
Christmas Craft Projects for Children
Wooden dolly pegs can be made into small figurines derived from Christmas Panto characters, such as Cinderella, Nutcracker, Dick Whittington and Buttons. All that’s required is felt tip pens to illustrate facial features such as moustaches, eyebrows, rosy cheeks and lipstick. The outfits and shoes require mere paint and a little frill or ribbon to suggest a skirt or collar. A little paper can be glued on for a hat. The small figures can easily be pegged onto the Christmas tree.
Homemade Christmas Garlands
Simple shapes such as Santas, snowmen and Rudolphs can easily be cut out and strung together in a garland. Children will enjoy decorating the garlands with bold colours, such as red sweet wrappers for Santa’s coat or cotton wool for snowmen. Tissue paper, tinsel and recycled Christmas decorations can also be used.
Children’s Craft Kits
Kids can also enjoy making homemade Christmas streamers and Christmas ornaments to place around the tree. Further ideas can be found from Baker Ross, Yellowmoon and Making Friends, which supply all manner of craft kits for kids to enjoy at Christmas.
Christmas Craft Ideas for Making Homemade Christmas Decorations
Kids will gain creative satisfaction from making their own Christmas tree crafts, from the edible kind to the ornamental. Simple items such as dolly pegs, homemade cookies or recycled Christmas decorations can be used to create unique Christmas tree decorations for kids to make and admire.
HOL 101
Rachel Shirley - I have written and illustrated several art instruction books entitled Oil Paintings from your Garden and Oil Paintings from the Landscape ...
