Lone Star Nannies Blog: Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Hello, from Lone Star Nannies!
We know this is a busy time of year for most families. Whether you’re scrambling for last minute gift ideas, looking for keepsake crafts, or thinking about establishing new family traditions, you’ve come to the right blog! There are so many ways to fill the weeks before Christmas, but we don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. Instead, we hope the projects below give you a little creative inspiration for everyone on your Christmas list! Handmade crafts are priceless. You’ll never get tired of using them to decorate your home or surprise friends and family. If you’re a nanny, we hope you find the perfect activity to do with your kids. There’s a lot of pent up energy and excitement this time of year, but you’re masters at channeling restless hands into something memorable.
To all the parents and nannies reading this post, you bring the joy of giving every day into the homes you serve. It’s a gift to come alongside you in this meaningful work. Check out our website to learn more about how we can support you in that journey, but first, skim through these adorable Christmas crafts…
SNOW
Since we don’t get a lot of snow outside of the panhandle, you’ll have to bring a white Christmas into your home! The following crafts all have to do with snow…including this two ingredient fake snow recipe from Montessori from the Heart. You can find the recipe here.
This traditional craft requires a few pairs of socks, rice, and whatever you’d like to dress your snowman, such as buttons, pompoms, or ribbons. Michelle, the writer of the blog, is a mom herself who tried out this idea on her son. She points out that this would also be a great idea for classroom or birthday parties. Watch her instructional videos here on her website. With a little help, this craft is great for elementary kids of all ages!
Want to take your paper snowflakes to the next level? Then check out this blog post from Apartment Therapy that promises nine new ways to advance yourself in one of the oldest classroom activities in America. You remember getting a pair of scissors and chopping up paper hoping your snowflake would turn out cool (pun intended). Now it’s time for the next generation to test their hands at snowflake making. Find nine ideas here on the blog.
If your kids love science, this next project could turn into a full blown experiment! According to Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of Low Mess Crafts for Kids, you don’t have to be an artist to succeed at making these watercolor snowflakes. Check out the video here. The process is elementary level, but the end result is definitely something you’ll want to put on your fridge for the rest of winter. The same website also has instructions for how to make pasta snowflakes. They’re so beautiful we couldn’t leave them out! You’ll find a video tutorial and pictures here.
SNOW GLOBES
There’s something about snow globes that captures our imaginations. With so many variations floating around the internet, we’ve compiled a few age appropriate examples that make great Christmas gifts. The first (and easiest) example from Crafty Morning is made completely from dollar store items. This snow globe does not include water and was made into an ornament, but the cut out picture of a family member adds a humorous and personal touch. Click here for pictures and more information. Another option (with water) are themed snow globes from Welcome to Nana’s. Who wouldn’t want to try a new craft from someone named Nana? Explore more on her blog post.
CHRISTMAS TREES
Have any cardboard boxes lying around your house? They can easily be repurposed! Check out this Q-tip Christmas tree using a cardboard box from Happy Toddler Playtime. Their website has a lot of great craft ideas for nannies! You can even search for craft ideas by material so you can use what you already have at home.
To cut down on screen time, blogger Cassie Scroggins decided to do 31 crafts with her kids from Thanksgiving to Christmas. She posted a calendar of all her activities on her website, but we’re interested in Day 24, the Christmas Tree hand platter. She notes that this craft was a little more expensive, but it makes a great keepsake gift for family members!
If you’re looking for a craft that has no practical value but is fun to make, you’ll love these pine cone Christmas trees on Made to be a Momma. They’re just so endearing! You won’t regret spending an afternoon decorating a mini pine cone tree.
GINGERBREAD MEN & HOUSES
All those paper bags in your pantry are about to become the cutest gingerbread men you’ve ever seen. Unlike baking traditional gingerbread men, you won’t be tempted to eat your creations! Instead, spend an afternoon making an entire paper village, but before you map out any construction plans, take a look at these giant stuffed gingerbread men. The final result looks like a handmade pillow and your preschooler will be so proud! Visit the School Time Snippets blog for more detailed instructions. A similar project from Our Kid Things describes how to make bodies for gingerbread men out of paper bags. Visit this website for more information and a free template.
If you don’t want to completely abandon the idea of baking gingerbread friends, this creative food blogger has a recipe for mini gingerbread cookies and instructions for converting paper bags into beautiful gingerbread houses. Use this idea from her blog to build backdrops for a cousin puppet show or to package cookies. Don’t have room for any more sweets (but still want to bake)? We guarantee kids will love making mini gingerbread houses out of salt dough. Check out this link from Bellewood Cottage for examples of cozy cottages and a salt dough recipe.
SANTA CRAFTS
If you have some extra salt dough and a house full of kids excited for Santa, these handprint Santa ornaments posted on Pinterest will become priceless additions to your Christmas tree.
If you’re looking for ways to connect crafts with nature, get your kids outside to rake some leaves! Painting rocks has become quite popular in recent years, but have you heard of making Santa leaves? We’re convinced that a dad came up with this idea…and we love it! Painting leaves is the perfect transition from fall to winter. You’ll be sold on the idea once you see the pictures posted here on Pinterest.
If you like the idea of painting rocks, check out One Little Project for an instructional video on how to make Santa stones.
When Santa finally does come down the chimney, he’ll smile when he sees these popsicle stick ornaments. They look just like him (minus the belly)! Also posted on One Little Project, you’ll find detailed instructions here.
REINDEER
Santa isn’t going anywhere without his reindeer. Cinnamon sticks have long been a classic staple in elementary Christmas crafts, and this activity is no exception. Make Rudolph come to life with this straightforward reindeer ornament from Hunny I’m Home.
NATIVITY
…and now for the heart of why Christmas is celebrated around the world. If you’re walking through Advent with your kids, there are lots of thought provoking ideas throughout the internet for homemade Advent calendars, such as these from Simplify Create Inspire.
If you already have established traditions for Advent and are looking for other ways to reflect with your family, these nativity stones (with printable story cards) are a great way to engage kids in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The idea comes from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls, a website started by a mom with five kids that has a lot of high interest topics to explore.
If you want to remember the birth of Jesus with little instruction, check out this popsicle stick manger craft from Housing a Forest or these cinnamon stick cross ornaments, both simple and quite fitting for the humble circumstances in which Christmas begins.
This concludes our brief tour of Christmas crafts. Try them with your friends, make them for your family, and don’t forget to show love to your nanny! From all of us at Lone Star Nannies, we hope you have a Merry Christmas!
With care,
Lone Star Nannies