The kids have a couple weeks off from school and the relatives are coming for a visit soon. You need something to keep your kids busy and happy, and you want your home to delight and impress all season long. Kids really want and value time with you and with some fun and easy crafts you can keep them occupied this Christmas!
Photo by amillionlives.net
Gingerbread House
A gingerbread house is a long-held holiday tradition. You can really bring out your children’s creativity with this project. Celebrate the season with this yummy, fun, and easy craft with your kids!
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Bake or buy the gingerbread walls and roof of your house. Do this step first if you’re baking because the gingerbread will need to be completely cool before you are able to safely work with it.
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Create the base for your house. A board wrapped in foil, or a cake stand, or even a cookie sheet will do nicely.
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Gather all of your decorative elements. Try mini marshmallows, gumdrops, candy canes, M&Ms, peppermint wheels, red hots, and more!
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Make or purchase white royal icing – for the outlines of windows and doors, as mortar to build your house, and for snow and icicles!
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Assemble the walls of the house using the royal icing as the mortar at wall joints. Repeat this process for the roof.
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Use cut gum drops and royal icing to create the door and windows of your house.
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Use candy canes to create a picket fence through the marshmallow snowy lawn.
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Go crazy with the rest of the candy and create a fantasy gingerbread house! Think Hanzel and Gretyl!
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Last, but not least, enjoy the house and then EAT IT!
Garlands
Another really fun and easy Christmas craft to try with your kids will also help decorate your tree and home! This craft is definitely old school and you should consider bringing in the oldest and youngest members of your family for the fun. Making garlands is a great tradition for the holidays!
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Decide on paper or popcorn garlands – or both!
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For paper garlands you’ll need scissors (and supervision), glue sticks, and red and green construction paper. Try leftover wrapping paper for a fun variation.
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For popcorn garlands, pop some corn and get some dried cranberries for the most classic look. You’ll also need sewing needles (with supervision) and thread,
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For paper garlands you’ll cut the paper into strips about an inch wide and four inches long. Then use the glue stick to glue them into links connected to each other.
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For popcorn garlands you’ll thread the needle and strong each kernel and berry onto the garland.
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Place your garlands around your Christmas tree, along your fireplace mantle, and up the stairway banister. Or, place the popcorn garland around a shrub or tree outside for the birds!
‘Tis the Season!
The best part of the holidays is having some time off to spend with your family. Do things together and create lasting traditions that bring everyone closer. Get crafty!
Written by: Adam Prattler. These are the same reasons he’s a fan of content marketing online for businesses large and small.