by Joan Collins

Created on: November 01, 2009   Last Updated: January 08, 2010

Choose Christmas crafts for teens very selectively.  While almost anything appeals to the younger crowd, the teen is not so easy to engage with crafts.  Say goodbye to crayons and construction paper.  These crafts will have your teenager involved and enjoying themselves, creating some truly cool Christmas crafts.

Christmas candles: Melt paraffin wax in a double boiler which can be made by placing a smaller pan inside of a larger pan filled with water. Add red or green candle colorant or crayons. Clean out a orange juice carton. Tape a candle wick to the bottom of the carton in the middle. Fill the carton with crushed ice. Let it set until the wax has completely hardened. Pour out the water and remove the candle from the carton.

Kissing ball: Attach a sixteen-inch loop of thin Christmas ribbon to a five-inch foam ball with hot glue. Then pin in into place for extra support. Cut various lengths of silk holly and silk ivy. Attach the holly and ivy to the ball using U-shaped floral pins. Attach a three-inch bow with hanging ends to the base of the loop and thread the ends down through the holly and ivy. Hang it is a convenient spot over a doorway.

Christmas shoes: Stencil holly onto the toes of white canvas tennis shoes. Trace the design with fabric paint. Write "Jingle" on the left shoe and "Bells" on the right shoe. Once the paint is dry, glue sequins on the top stitching on the front and back of the shoes. Use Christmas ribbons to create new laces. Add clear nail polish to the end to keep it from fraying.

Stationary: Buy plain paper, stamps and ink. Choose the spot on the paper you want to put the stamp. Work carefully so nothing transfer except the picture. Add regular envelopes and stamp them on the front or on the side below the postage stamp area.

Cards: Teens can make elaborate or simple cards, either to send at Christmas or to have as a gift. Stickers, stamps, ink or thin-tipped markers can be used to create a unique card on regular card-sized card stock paper.

Tee shirts: Trace a dark line over a Christmas coloring book picture. Transfer it to the tee shirt. Trace the light design with fabric paint or markers. Using fabric glue, add rhinestones and sequins. Messages can also be added.

Eggshell ornaments: Blow the egg out of its shell. Once the egg is dry, make a hole in the side of the egg with a needle. Carefully remove the shell, forming an oval-shaped opening the about size of a half-dollar. Smooth the edges as much as possible. Cut

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