by M. A. Gallant

Created on: September 14, 2010

Christmas is a magical time of the year; just perfect for spending time with the kids. A great way to get the whole family involved in the holidays is to do quick craft projects. Here are some simple ideas for making Christmas ornaments that even the youngest (and young at heart) can enjoy.

Framed photos made from old Christmas cards

This is very simple project, and it is a great way to recycle last year's Christmas cards. All you need are some pretty Christmas cards, glue and construction paper. First, cut the sheets of construction paper in half. Then, glue the Christmas cards to the construction paper. The Christmas cards will still open so that you can read the message inside, and it will have a nice colorful frame. You can spruce them up with glitter, stickers, or small gems. When the glue is dry, punch a hole in the top and run a string through for hanging on the Christmas tree.

Pine cones dipped in glitter

You can make sparkling pine cones that will shine in the light of the Christmas tree. All you need is several small to medium pine cones, glitter, a small craft paint brush and glue. Put the glue in a small dish. Put the glitter on a paper plate. Use the craft brush to spread glue on the pine cone, and then roll it in the glitter. When the glue is dry, tie a string to the top and hang on the tree. Easy!

Paper Chains

Decorating the Christmas tree with paper chains is an old tradition. This quick decoration project only requires construction paper and a stapler. Cut the construction paper into strips about six inches long. Start by wrapping a strip of construction paper and stapling the ends together to make a circle. Next, stick the next strip of paper into the circle, wrap it around and staple the end. Follow this procedure until your chain is the desired length.

It is fun to make a chain to hang on the wall for counting down the days until Christmas. Calculate the number of days until Christmas is here, and then make a chain with that number of links. Each day, let the kids remove a link until Christmas. Small children can practice counting by seeing how many links are left each day.

Snow Flakes

Making snow flakes is long-time Christmas favorite. All you need is a pair of scissors and white paper. You may need to trim the paper so that it is square instead of rectangle shaped. Fold the square diagonally to make a triangle, and then fold the triangle over to make a smaller triangle. Cut shapes all around the triangle. Cut squares, semicircles and triangles. When you have cut pieces all around the outside, unfold and view your masterpiece! You can also use Christmas wrap to make colorful snowflakes.

Pretty Bells

Bells are a traditional Christmas tree decoration. You can find plain bells in the craft or Christmas area of just about any store. Let the kids use glitter, gems, stickers, or sequins to decorate the outside of the bell. You can also glue family photos to the bells to make personal Christmas decorations.

These are all quick and simple craft ideas that you can do with your kids. You will treasure these creations for years to come as your children grow older.

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