Preschool Education Arts & Crafts : Holidays

Need: Gallon Milk Jug, Brown Paper (or paper grocery bags), Glue, Crayons, Large Red Pom Pom - optional

Directions: Take the gallon milk jug and cut off the top section, just below the handle. Cover with brown paper. Trace the child's hand on another piece of brown paper, cut them out, and glue on as antlers. Draw eyes and mouth, and attach the big red pom pom for the nose.

Need: Large Craft Stick - or Popsicle stick, Pipe Cleaner, Glue, Markers, Wiggle Eyes, Small Red Pom Pom, Thin Red Ribbon or a magnetic Strip

Directions: Make a reindeer by shaping the pipe cleaner into a V shave and gluing it to the top, back of the stick; glue on wiggle eyes and nose, and draw a mouth. You can make this a gift tag by writing To: and From: on it; you can use the ribbon and make it an ornament; or you can make it a magnet.

Bell Cup added 11-24-99 Original Author Unknown

Need: small paper cup, aluminum foil, and construction paper

Directions: Decorate a small paper cup (we use aluminum foil). Tie a jingle bell inside. Use at end of paper chain for counting days until Christmas. Remember to work with the kids on creating patterns with their red and green loops, and counting how many they need.

How many days till Christmas
It’s mighty hard to tell
Take off a link every night
When Sandman cast his spell
And Christmas Eve will be here
By the time you reach the bell.

Poinsettia Project added 12-9-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: Construction paper, crayons, pop corn kernels

Directions: I cut out large almond shapes in red construct. paper. Each paper will have four of these shapes. These shapes will become the poinsettia leaves. The
children can add details with a green crayon. I let the children glue these
red shapes on green construct. paper. After gluing add a large drop of glue
in the center & add about 5 kernels of popcorn. This becomes the center of
the poinsettia plant. These are simple & fast. They look so cute. I made a
Christmas tree shape out of these papers for display. Add a brown paper for
the trunk of the tree.

Bottle Brush Wreaths added 12-9-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: White paper, small paper plate, bottle brush, tape, green paint

Directions: Take a sheet of white paper and tape a small paper plate in the center.
Give each child a "bottle" brush (The sponge brushes that look like * at the top.). Have them dab the bottle brush in green tempera paint, and then dab up and down on the paper--all around the paper plate. When finished, remove the paper plate from the center of the white paper and discard.
When dry add: Red tempera paint --"fingerprint" berries. Glue on small pinecones. Glue a ribbon at the bottom of your wreath.
You could also cut out the center and tape the child's picture to the center of the wreath.

Toilet Roll Reindeer added 12-9-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: paper roll, brown paper, brown pipe cleaner (optional), crayons, red pom pom, black yarn

Directions: Take an empty toilet paper roll and place brown construction paper around it. Using a hole puncher and punch two holes on opposite sides. Place a brown pipe cleaner through each hole and twist it to for an antler. If you don't have any pipe cleaner, use brown construction paper to make antlers. (trace the kids hands on brown paper then cut them out for antlers works well too.) For the eyes, use a black crayon to make eyes or use 2 wiggle eyes. For the nose, glue a small red pom pom below the eyes. For the mouth, use a black crayon or glue a small piece of black yarn below the nose.

Holiday stockings added 12-9-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: red paper or felt, hole punch, curling ribbon, old Christmas cards, wrapping paper, glue

Directions: For each child cut out 2 stocking shapes from red paper or felt. Punch holes around the edge of the stockings and have children stitch thru the holes with
curling ribbon. Cut up old Christmas cards or holiday wrapping paper to decorate the stocking.

Rudolph added 12-9-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: brown paper, scissors, crayons or markers, pink cotton ball, glue

Directions: Have children trace one of their feet and both of their hands on brown paper and cut them out. Glue the handprint antlers to the back of the footprint head. Decorate the reindeer face and glue on a pink cotton ball nose.

Fragrant Trees added 11-6-01 Submitted by: Debbie Dryburgh

Need: Pringles containers, brown paint, paper, Christmas potpourri or spices, green paper, glitter and collage materials.

Directions: Collect PRINGLES containers a few weeks before you want to do this. When you have enough paint them brown. Then stuff them with paper till they are three quarters full. Sprinkle some spices onto paper (or anything that smells Christmassy). Then put lid back on puncture some holes and tape it up securely. You then cut 2 green sheets of card into a Christmas Tree shape and get the children to decorate using glitter etc. Now glue these shapes onto opposite sides of your container and they have made their very own free standing Xmas Tree. Yippee! Great site by the way!

Pine Branch Painting added 11-19-01 Original Author Unknown

Need: Pine branches, paint, paper

Directions: Supply the children with a pine branch, with pine needles on it, instead of a paint brush. You could use red and green for a holiday picture, or whatever colors they wish.

Christmas Tree Mobile added 12-16-01 Original Author Unknown

Need: Green construction paper, glue, tape, crayons, yarn, misc. craft items (such as fabric scraps beads etc.)

Directions: Cut a large Christmas tree shape -triangle- out of green construction
paper. Cut the triangle into one inch wide strips (starting at the top, then working your way down to the bottom) . Lay down the strips in the order that you cut them out, with an inch in-between them. Tape or glue a long piece of yarn onto the back of the strips - make sure to leave a couple of inches at the top to use as a hanger. Use brown construction paper to cut out a pot & tape it below the tree; cut off any excess yarn hanging below the pot. Decorate the tree as desired by adding ribbons,
beads, glitter, etc.! You can also make this with green fun foam instead of construction paper.

Jingle Bell Wreaths added 12-16-01 Original Author Unknown

Need: Small jingle bells (any color) (Be careful with young children and the small bells, they could be a chocking hazard.), pipe cleaners, ribbonDirections: This is an easy and cute craft for little ones to make! Take out a pipe cleaner and start threading the bells onto it. If you are using several colors - thread the bells on in a pattern. Leave about 1/2 inch on each end. Take the two ends and twist them together and bend them down. Form the wreath into a circle. Tie a ribbon hanger on the top and enjoy. You can hang these on your doorknob, in a window, on the tree, etc.!

Recycle Christmas Cards added 12-10-02 Original Author Unknown

Need: Old Christmas Cards, hole punch, curling ribbon.

Directions: Cut the cards apart. Take the front of the card & punch holes all around
it. Let the children sew or lace around the card. I like to use the curling ribbon. It can be laced w/out using a needle.

Star Santa added 11-3-03 Original Author Unknown

Need: Construction Paper, Star pattern, markets, cotton, and glue

Directions: Cut out large red stars. (5 point) Have children put the stars with 1 point
facing up - this will be Santa's head. The 2 points of the star that point out to the sides are the arms, and the 2 points that point downwards are his legs. Let children add face with markers and skin colored paper, use cotton for his fur (top of hat, cuffs of arms and legs) glue black strips across center for his belt. Color black boots on the two feet tips.

Tree Garland added 10-25-04 By: Christa J Koch of Preschool Education

Need: Yarn, fruit loops cereal, making tape

Directions: Put tape around one end of the yarn to make a needle. (This keeps the yarn from fraying.) Then tape the other end of the yarn to the table. Have the children lace the fruit loops onto the yarn. When it is full tie off both end. Then hang the garland on your Christmas tree. When Christmas is over, take the fruit loop garland outside and hang it on the trees. The birds will eat the cereal. A few days later go out and cut the yarn into small pieces and hang back on the tree. The birds will use it for there nests.

Ornaments

Christmas Ornaments added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Wax Paper, Glue, Glitter, Yarn - various colors

Directions: Cut yarn into various lengths. Dip yarn in glue and lay on wax paper, over lapping each piece. Let dry. Pull yarn off wax paper, attach a string to the top, apply glue and add glitter. Hang to dry.

Plaster Ornaments added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Faster Plaster, Christmas Candy Molds, Paint or Markers

Directions: Use the Faster Plaster and Christmas candy molds to make ornaments. Decorate them with paint or markers. Attach a hanger, pin backs, or magnets to the plaster mold.

Jigsaw Ornament added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Popsicle Sticks, Glue, Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces, Child's Picture, Light Weight Cardboard, Ribbon

Directions: Glue popsicle sticks together to form a triangle. Glue the puzzle pieces onto the triangle to make a frame. Glue the picture behind the frame, and then glue the cardboard behind the picture. Add a ribbon for hanging.

Pipe Cleaner Ornaments added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Pipe Cleaners, Tri-cornered beads, Ribbon - optional

Directions: Thread the beads onto a pipe cleaner so they nest together. You can bend to shape a candy cane, a wreath, a star, etc. You can also punch holes in ribbon and weave it onto the pipe cleaner, between each bead.

Glue Ornaments added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Glue, Glitter, Paper, Wax Paper, Tape

Directions: Draw a Christmas shape -such as a bell- onto the paper; tape the paper onto the table. Lay wax paper over the design, and tape it to the table. Trace design with glue, you will want it to be kind of thick. Sprinkle glitter over glue. Allow to dry over night and then peel off of wax paper.

Styrofoam Ball Ornament added 11-30-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Styrofoam Ball - about 2 and a half inches, Glue, Paper Clips, Paint, Misc. Craft
Items - glitter, jewels, ribbons, etc.

Directions: Put some glue on one end of a paper clip and push it into the ball, this will be the hanger. Paint and decorate as desired.

Santa Ornament added 12-11-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: White paper, crayons, cotton and yarn

Directions: Every child got a piece of white construction paper 6 X 6. Then each child traced his/her hand like it was a mitten. Fingers together, thumb sticking out quite far. This was cut out, and turned upside down...fingers pointing down, thumb sticking out. The top was colored red, to look like Santa's cap. They drew on eyes, nose, mouth with crayons. Then cotton was added on the tip of the hat, across the forehead and for a beard. We punched a hole in the top and added a yarn loop.

Clothes Pin Ornament added 12-11-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Cookie cutters, felt, glitter, and clothespins

Directions: You can use cookie cutters to cut holiday shapes out of felt, let kids decorate with glitter, etc, and glue to clothespin. Makes a great little ornament to clip on their trees.

Candle Ornament added 12-11-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Toilet paper roll, construction paper, glitter, sequins, markers, and clothes pins

Directions: Take a toilet paper tube and cover it with colored construction paper. Glue a cut out flame to the top inside of it. Decorate the construction paper with glitter, sequins, markers, whatever... Then, hot glue a cardboard circle to the bottom of the
"candle" Finally, glue a clothespin horizontally to that circle. This will allow the "candle" to clip onto the branches of the Christmas tree.

Crayon Ornament added 11-30-00 Original Author Unknown

Need: Glue, crayons, ribbon

Directions: Buy inexpensive crayons, have the children glue them together in bunches of 5 or so. Let them Dry over night. Tie a bow around the bunch and then hang them with additional ribbon or string.

Gingerbread People Sand Paper Ornament added 10-29-01
Original Author Unknown

Need: red paper or felt, hole punch, curling ribbon, old Christmas cards, wrapping paper, glue

Directions: Cut gingerbread people out of sand paper. Scrape with a cinnamon stick. Add some white frosting (white paint) around the edges. Then decorate with eyes, nose, mouth, etc..

Applesauce Ornaments added 12-16-01 Submitted by: Lauie Johnson

Need: 1/2cup cinnamon, 1/2cup applesauce, 2 teaspoons glue, straw, string

Directions: Mix all ingredients together. Let children mold into a shape or you could use cookie cutters. Poke a hole at the top of ornament with a straw for string. Let air dry for 2-3 days. The smell great for a long time!!

Hand Tree added 12-2-02 Original Author Unknown

Need: Construction paper, markers or crayons, scissors

Directions: Trace 23 hands onto green paper. Cut them out. Have the tree form a triangle. Begin with a wide row across the bottom fingers pointing down (5 hands) and another row of five angled in a little. Then four, then four angled in a little.
Then 3, then 2, then 1. Put a star on top.

Star Ornaments added 9-26-04 Original Author Unknown

Need: Poster board, star shape, gold glitter, picture of child, and
scissors.

Directions: Cut out 2 star shapes for each child, but cut a hole in the middle of one. Let children decorate how they want and add gold glitter. Have them glue their picture to the star with the hole, and then glue the solid star to the back.

Gifts

Angel Pins added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Camera, film, clothespins, white cardboard, and gold cardboard

Directions: Take individual pictures of the kids. The made an "angel" using a spring
clothespin and pasted a white cardboard angel shape onto it. Then paste the kid's "face" on the angel head and added gold cardboard for a halo. Put the date on the back.

Care Package added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Directions: Place everything listed below in a little baggie with a slip of paper with
the following written on it:
A STICK OF GUM - to remind you to stick with it.
A CANDLE - to give you light when you feel burned out.
A CHOCOLATE KISS - to remind you that someone cares.
SMARTIES - to help you on days when you don't feel so smart.
LIFESAVER - to remind you that everyone needs help once in a while.
A SNICKER - to remind you to see the funny side -- there is one!
A ROSE - to remind you to take time to smell the flowers.
CONFETTI - to help you celebrate the good times.
A PENNY - with thanks for sharing your thoughts.
A BAG - to help you keep it all together.

In the bag were all the items mentioned, the candle was a little birthday candle, the confetti was the glittzy stuff you spread on a table, the rose was one of a bunch you can buy at craft stores - very tiny, the smarties are those little candies that come in a roll.
" A Care Package To Help You Do ... "Whatever It Takes" "

Picture Frames added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Craft stick frames, buttons, pictures of the children, and magnets

Directions: We made craft stick frames, and glued buttons all around them, and the words "cute as a button!" then glued pics of the kids in them. Then we glued magnets to the back so they could hang on the fridge.

Votive Candle Holders added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: one baby food jar per child, different colored tissue paper, watered down glue, paint brush, votive candle or tealight

Directions: Rip paper into pieces, paint on tissue paper with watered down glue.
Allow to dry. Drop in a candle or tealight. They look stained glass. We also did these one year on salad dressing bottles for a bud vase.

Clear Plastic Pencil Holder added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Clear plastic cups, crayons

Directions: This craft has also been done by my daughter, with favorable response.
Purchase clear plastic disposable cups (not opaque, clear). The first thing you have to do is make a pattern from construction paper by cutting it until it fits along the inside of a plastic cup. (This may take you a few tries by trial and error. The finished product will look a little bit like a "U" or a semi-circle.) Once you have the pattern created, allow your child to draw, paint, glue pictures, etc. to the pattern. When dried and finished, place the artwork inside a plastic cup, then another cup inside the cup. Use a glue that dries clear to seal the cups together, taking care not to drip the glue
inside the cups. My daughter drew pictures of herself and the recipient of the pencil holder, and used stickers as well as those tiny pictures often a part of the portrait packages.

Tin Can Pencil Holder added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: A can, canceled stamps, tissue paper, or stickers, and constructions paper

Directions: Begin with a clean, dry empty can of any size. Have your child cover the can with any of the following: canceled stamps (what mine is made of), tissue paper, stickers, etc. Or you may wish to cut a piece of construction paper to cover the can and allow your child to decorate it as desired.

Car Freshener added 12-12-98 Original Author Unknown

Need: Thin piece of cardboard, felt, yarn, glue, scissors, cookie cutter and a favorite
scent such as oil of lemon, peppermint, vanilla or a favorite perfume/cologne (not a strong one.)

Directions: Use a cookie cutter or other stencil to draw a shape on the cardboard and two felt pieces. Cut out the cardboard and felt and glue the felt pieces to both sides of the cardboard. Make a hole in the top and use yarn to make a hangar. Drop about 10 drops of the scent on to the felt. I plan to adapt this idea a little by cutting a free form shape from a picture of the girls. I'll cut the cardboard and felt into the same shape as the picture. I'll scent the felt first, and when dry, glue the three pieces together as described above.