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- "Crafting with your child is the perfect way to take a break from the busyness of the season, and share some special one-on-one time together," says Heidi Boyd, author of "Fairy Crafts" and "Pet Crafts" instruction books.
For indoor fun that can't be beat, try these entertaining craft projects that will spark your child's imagination and turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure. From personalized gifts to creative gift wrapping, our guide to creative craft projects is your family's ticket to holiday fun.
Handprint Snowflake Wreath
What you'll need:
Three sheets of white construction paper
Three sheets of light blue construction paper
Three sheets of dark blue construction paper
Blue and white water-based paints
Three paper cups
Three aluminum pie pans
Scissors
School glue
What to do:
 | Using three paper cups, make dark, medium and light blue shades by adding white paint to blue base in increasing amounts. | |
| Pour into pie pans. | |
| Have your child press hand lightly, palm down, into paint. | |
| Have your child make handprints, in contrasting colors, on the construction paper (white on dark blue paper; light blue on white paper), two hands per sheet. | |
| Let dry. | |
| Cut out the handprints and glue together at angles, overlapping for a snowflake effect. |
Juice Lid Ornaments
What you'll need:
Tin lids from cans of frozen juice (as many as you like)
Old holiday cards
School glue
Scissors
Glitter
Yarn
Paintbrush
Hammer
Wooden block
Large nail
What to do:
| Place lid on wooden block. | |
| Hammer the nail through the lid near the top to create a hole. | |
| Have your child cut up holiday cards. | |
| Glue the images onto juice lids. | |
| Let dry. | |
| Water down more glue and gently brush on images. | |
| Sprinkle with glitter and let dry. | |
| Slip yarn through lid hole and tie. |
Glass Globe Ornaments
What you'll need:
Clear glass ornaments
Acrylic paint (in a variety of colors)
What to do:
| Gently remove the metal hanger from the ornament. | |
| Add several drops of different colored paints into the ornament. | |
| Rotate the ornament and watch the pattern the paints make inside the ball. | |
| Let dry. | |
| Replace the metal hanger. |
Tip: Your final result will be a marbled appearance of swirled colors. For best effect, use only a few drops of paint — a little goes a long way! Less paint also speeds drying time. Remember, this project is best done with older children.
Pinecone Bird Feeder
What you'll need:
Pinecones
Peanut butter
Knife
Wild birdseed
Twine
Aluminum pie pan
What to do:
| Tie section of twine to top of pinecone for hanger. | |
| Using knife, coat each pinecone with peanut butter, taking care to fill all the crevices. | |
| Pour birdseed onto pie pan, about 1½ inches deep. | |
| Roll pinecone in birdseed to coat. | |
| Hang outdoors near a window where you can enjoy watching the winter birds. |
Don't forget that while these projects are fun to make and keep as mementos, they're also wonderful to give as gifts. Grandparents in particular just love them!
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