Easy Christmas Crafts Roundup

... and a few books, too, of course! Our house is currently adorned not only in garland and twinkle lights, but a slew of projects Little Page brought home from preschool (or pre-K as she insists I call it). I was impressed by most of the crafts they did this season, and thought I would share them with you. Most use materials found around the home and would make a good time-filler for your kids as you attempt to wrap presents or bake those last-minute goodies.

The Crafts


Isn't this sweet? It was our gift from the kids. The teachers carefully pressed each child's handprints onto a piece of cloth, glued on a bow and a few fuzzy puff "berries", glued the cloth on a dowel, and hung with a ribbon. You should have seen how proudly the kids presented these to their moms at pick-up!


Another handprint project created this precious angel. It looks like they used glitter paint, but whatever washable paints you have on hand would work. The arms, hands, and head are simple shapes cut from construction paper. Yarn hair and a pipe-cleaner halo add a little dimension, and magic marker face set this angel proclaiming the good news!


Yes, Little Page's hand size is well documented. Here the hands were traced onto construction paper and she cut them out to make the antlers. She traced and cut out her foot for the reindeer's body. Yarn hair, a fuzzy puff nose, and stickers for the eyes finished it off. I'm not sure why she chose the "angry" eyes. Maybe this is when all the other reindeers used to laugh and call him names?

This one is so simple. Just have your child cover a couple paper cups in tin foil and decorate with stickers. Punch a hole in the top of each and tie together with yarn, tying a jingle bell into the inside and a bow on top. Now you just have to be prepared to listen to them jingle... all the way!

The Books

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

I think I've mentioned before that we don't really do Santa in our house. I mean, we fill stockings and we even leave out cookies, but we're very clear that it's all just pretend. (This usually gets me in trouble with the teachers and other moms in school every Christmas season! Sorry, but I refuse to teach my daughters to believe in something that isn't real.)

Despite our lack of Santa-excitement, I do love this book and read it to Little Page every year. It's a classic in Christmas literature and this particular version has such beautiful illustrations, I enjoy it as much as she does!


Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

If you like Bear Snores On, then you'll love Bear Stays Up! In this Bear adventure, Bear's friends do their best to keep their hibernating friend from sleeping through Christmas. The illustrations and story are on par with the original, which is (unfortunately) rare in children's book sequels.




You Are My Miracle by Maryann K. Cusimano Love

Beautiful and heart-warming, this simple rhyming message of love between parents and a child is a joy to read. The illustrations are lovely, and the poetry is perfect for quiet snuggly times just before bed!