by Kim Miller

Created on: October 29, 2010

Children love to be involved in the whole Christmas spirit. Christmas is a fun time to do things as a family and to slow down a bit from the busy hustle and bustle of daily life. A time to reflect on what is important and enjoy the simple things in life, like making crafts. Kids love to make crafts too. Two very easy and fun Christmas crafts for children can be made using their handprints.

HAND WREATH

Items needed:

Construction Paper or Crafters foam

Crayons (if using construction paper)

Scissors

Crafting Glue

Glitter

Sequins or any other bright and shiny crafting item

Christmas ribbon or bow making kit

Directions

1) Draw the child’s hand on the construction paper or crafters foam. If using the construction paper, either use colored paper or color the white paper with green before drawing the hand on it. Left and right hands can be used. The amount of hands to cut out depends on the size if wreath you wish to make.

2) Cut out the hand prints

3) Arrange the handprints into a wreath and glue them together overlapping each palm so that they make a tight wreath. Once the wreath is dry it can be decorated with the sequins or other bright item. The hands can also be

4) decorated individually before they are glued together. If using glitter to decorate the wreath it is easiestto decorate the hands before assembling the wreath.

5) Make a pretty bow for the wreath out of the Christmas ribbon or bow making kit.

HAND CHRISTMAS TREE

Items Needed:

Crafters foam or construction paper

Scissors

Glitter

Crafting glue

Sequins and other bright and shiny item

Directions:

1) The first part of this project can be done just the same as the Hand Wreath. Draw the child’s hand on the construction paper or crafters foam. If using the construction paper, either use colored paper or color the white paper with green before drawing the hand on it. Left and right hands can be used. The amount of hands to cut out depends on the size if wreath you wish to make.

2) Cut out the handprints

3) Arrange the handprints to make a tree. Start at the top with one handprint with the fingers pointing up. The next row use two hands, fingers pointing up again, the next row use three handprints and continue on until the tree is the desired size.

4) Glue the handprints together.

5) Once the tree is dry it can be decorated using the sequins and other decorations. Glitter can be added too but it is best to add the glitter before cutting out the handprints.

6) If a star is desired for the top of the tree cut one out of the construction paper or foam.

Both of these projects are very easy and fun to make. There are so many different ways they can be decorated. It is a decoration that will be treasured for many years.

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