by Kelly Olsen

Created on: November 07, 2011

Preschoolers may very well be the most fun to do art projects with. Yes they are messy and things never look much like they are supposed to, but there lies so much of the fun! Christmas opens up little ones to a whole new variety of crafts to make.

Sock babies are cute and a wonderful way to use up all the "remaining" socks, you know the ones where it's mate has gone off and disappeared into thin air.  Thin socks work best, and those frilly lace edged socks make cute bonnets. Other then the socks, craft stuffing and thread is needed as well as cloth markers, ribbon and other little decorative tidbits you might have.  Simply fill the sock up three quarters of the way.  Tie off around the top of stuffing.  About three quarters of the way up tie a ribbon tight around the sock to make a neck.  Fold down top of sock to make a hat or bonnet.  Faces can be drawn on or googly eyes used. This ornament can easily be adapted to make snowmen as well.

Glue flakes are well, they are messy at first but very easy and fun. Needed are small Styrofoam plates or silicon mats, liquid white glue that dries clear ( a pack of small bottles works best here), blue food color, white iridescent or silver sparkles and or silver thread. In separate glue containers mix up separate colors. In one leave plain, one drip in a few drops of the blue food color, make one a little darker or lighter blue and add sparkles of choice.  In another bottle add sparkle but no color.  Next step is to let the kids squeeze glue of choice several, all, two what ever they want, all over the plate or mat. They can be filled in or have gaps. Add extra sparkles or thread pieces even spangles at this point. Also put in a a loop of thread or ribbon with just the ends in the glue as a hanger. Let dry and peel off plate or mat. No two alike and look great on tree or in windows.

Orange pomanders are a very traditional Christmas item that can be hung in closets, left in bowls or hung on the tree. Other smaller fruits can be used as well. Small apples or lemons work great. Other then the fruit which you will want to make sure has no bruises or bad spots you will need whole cloves, ribbon and a spice mix. (recipe will be below). Very simply let the children poke the cloves into the fruit to cover. roll in spice mixture and tie up with ribbon. Let dry and hang.

 Spice mix will contain :

3 Tbs. ground cinnamon
3 Tbs. ground cloves
3 Tbs. ground nutmeg
3 Tbs. ground ginger
3 Tbs. orris root powder

Kids are to be enjoyed and doing crafts with the little ones is a great way to spend the precious time we have with them.

Learn more about this author, Kelly Olsen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.