DIY Christmas Crafts

Looking back towards childhood, some of the fondest memories come from the Christmas season. From going to the local shop on a cold early December night to pick out the Christmas tree, to the stringing up freshly made popcorn with a thread and needle to adorn the tree as everyone sings carols and laughs about the silly decorations put up around the house. Aside from the intoxicating smell of pine needles and the fluffy marshmallows that sat atop the hot cocoa, the fondest memories of Christmas came after all the decorating of the house was done.

Each day of December starts with creating Christmas craft. At the time, every mother becomes a queen who is always ready with freshly baked cookies and some creative ideas to keep the little ones entertained as well as away from the television set for as long as she could. Now when you grow up, it’s amazing to think that this woman was actually doing two jobs and simultaneously taking care of kids. But the time spent in creating the craft and decorating the whole house is really fascinating. The experience everybody gets is really unique and equally cherishing.

DIY Christmas crafts have been a long standing tradition in American households and is a time for families to enjoy each other’s company away from the rushed after hour homework sessions and post-school activities that eat up time year round. With all the holiday parties and gift giving approaching, making crafts at home with your kids can be not only fun but a cost efficient way to say “thank you” to the teachers, friends, role models and others you appreciate each day of the year.

Here are some DIY ideas for this holiday season:

The Classic Gingerbread House:

Every American child has memories of “gluing” gum drops, peppermint candies, jelly beans, gummy bears, M&M’S and other favorite colorful candies to their freshly made gingerbread houses. The squares cut from the gingerbread are “glued” together via white, red, or green icing. Windows and doorframes drawn on the front of the house and candies attached for bright, vibrant, and tasty looking table decoration all season long.

Christmas Tree Ornaments:

Everything from name plates, picture frames for family pets to adorn the tree, or ball and snowflake designs that will look beautiful set among the brightly lit branches. A great way to start is to invest in Styrofoam balls, paint, glitter, and jeweled accents in order to make shatter-free and break-free designs that will last a lifetime. For a more sophisticated approach, use wire or string to create snowflake designs that can be strung in windows, along fireplace mantels, on trees, or even doorways for an extra holiday flair.

Gift and Wrapping Accessories:

Santa Cinnamon Sticks are fun to make with kids; you take cinnamon sticks and jute (twined strings, available in most craft stores) and with red and white paint, create a Santa hat and beard that emulates Chris Cringle. Also, reindeer’s can be made out of clothespins with brown and red paints, as well as snowmen made out of cotton balls or Styrofoam. Simply create the piece and attach a ribbon or string to build unique ornamental gifts or gifting ribbons that can’t be bought in stores.

Reindeer Dessert Pops:

Put a marshmallow on a stock, cover it with dipped chocolate and stick a pretzel in the top to mirror as antlers. Draw a face on the front with icing and you have yourself a holiday friendly treat that is sure to delight guests, adults and children alike, at your holiday dinner.

Remember that the holidays are meant as a time to send with family. Turn off the TV, turn up the Christmas carols, and sing along to your favorite tunes as you give your children the gift of holiday cheer with creative DIY crafts to come home to in December afternoons.