christmas crafts - 2/2 - The Idea Room

Today I am happy to be able to share with you some simple and fun Christmas Crafts for kids…and well…anyone!

Yesterday was a bad day! Nothing too serious, but I was all to happy to crawl into bed last night and end that very long, no good, very bad day. You guys know the kind I am talking about right?

{I shared some of this and a pic with my FB fans last night}Long story short…Post Office, stubbed my toe (the same toe every.stinking.time), had to unpick and redo a sewing project, spilled soup inside my sparkling clean fridge and on newly mopped floors…but perhaps the worst was when I dropped my camera and BUSTED my favorite lens…BOO!

I know things could be much worse and these are just trivial things, but do you ever sometimes want to crawl back in bed and just check out for a little while? Good thing the hubs came home and recognized my need for a little S P A C E! Now I feel much better and ready to face a new day.

Anyways…just had to share…

on a much happier note…I have something fun to share with you…Christmas Finger Puppets.

As you know, I have a hard time sitting still and watching tv or a movie without keeping my hands busy. Drives my family crazy sometimes. So, the other night, while the family was watching Shrek 4 (which we loved), I whipped up these little guys.

And since Christmas is all about giving, I thought I would share the patterns with you.

These would be fun little gift for the little kids in your life. Or to go along with some of your favorite Christmas books or movies.

They are pretty quick to make and all you need are a few scraps of felt, hot glue and google eyes, and you are on your way.

*Click here for the free download.

Magic Reindeer Food

A few years ago my daughter came home from her Pre-school class with some magic reindeer food. She was instructed to sprinkle it on the front lawn on Christmas Eve so that Santa and his reindeer could find her home. She was so excited and my other kids wished they had some reindeer food too. It worked just like magic. Santa definitely came! We have continued the tradition every year since to ensure that Santa can find his way to our house.

The food has special “glow in the dark” crystals that are illuminated by the moon and as my daughter pointed out today, Rudolph’s Red Nose! I wish she would have said that before I got them all printed out :). That is so much more fun than being illuminated by the moon. (I will have to change it for next year as I have already made ours up).

This would be so fun to make for your kids friends as a small, inexpensive gift, an elementary school party, your neighbor’s kids or your grandkids! Be sure to make it edible so that the birds don’t eat something that is not good for them…like glitter.

Here is our simple recipe.

Reindeer Food

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)

**I have seen some recipes that call for glitter, but I have heard that it can be dangerous for any birds who might eat it, so we just use colored sugar. Colored sugar can be made so easily. Just take some sugar and drop a few drops of food coloring in the sugar. Then take a fork and stir it until the sugar is colored evenly and there are no lumps.

Here is a fun poem that you can give along with the reindeer food to let people know what it is and how to use it.

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon (Rudolph’s Nose) will make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.

I filled a cellophane treat bag (6 in. x 3.75 in.) with the reindeer food and attached a label by stapling it to the top. The writing on the label is upside down so when you fold it,the writing will be right side up.

There are two different downloads if you are interested. I would love to know if you end up making some! I love to see the projects my readers are enjoying and making for themselves.