#throwback Christmas Projects for Children

I'm throwing it back to when I used to design craft projects for children- 

just in case you are looking for some meaningful projects for this season and a way to spend creative time with your children or grandchildren!

(Follow all of the links for early blog posts with details and/or instructions)

Oh, and these posts are very old - pardon the primitiveness of my blogging! 

First up, an inexpensive and easy Advent Wreath. It just takes a little bit of time because of drying times but it's not too late to get this going for this year and the whole family could make it together.

This Advent Calendar was a huge hit. It's reusable and cost about $2.00 to make. Seriously!

I still have parents tell me that it's the first thing they pull out when they decorate and I taught their children a decade ago! Some of them are in college! 

But Christmas traditions are strong!

I wish I had a better picture - it's so cute filled with all of the ornaments and #25 is the star!
It's so, so simple. It's made from a Dollar Store cookie sheet, some spray paint I had on hand, craft paint and some foam shapes. Most people have to buy magnet tape for this but if you have some of the free advertising refrigerator magnets people send in the mail then you might have everything you need on hand. 

And here is a tiny Nativity that anyone and everyone can make! 

I've taught 3 year olds all the way up to senior adults to create these.

I used Altoid tins for a while that I spray painted black. They were free but it became difficult to collect the hundreds I needed when my craft camps were full so I switched to the little paper mache boxes and I really liked the simplicity and texture they added to the project. They are less than a dollar so it's still economical. 

You can also put the verse sticker on the back of the box, use the lid for another tiny Nativity and add a hanger to the top and hang it on the Christmas tree.

So gather up some supplies and found items, dollar tree finds and things on hand and create some Christmas crafting memories.

The Favorites of Christmases Past.

As mentioned previously I haven't done a thing toward Christmas decorating.

 Nothing.

Bupkis!

( Remember Bupkis??) 

Actually that's not completely true.

I have looked at all the blog tours of already decorated homes.

#seekinginspiration

#seekingmotivationtoo

Does decorating the dog count??
#notthrilled

But in years past I have been spot on

and accomplished Christmas décor greatness 
 (ok, at least gotten the tree up - with lights!) in a timely manner.

I also used to make cute Christmas projects and share the DIY!

Let's remember fondly and revisit my top Christmas posts.

In case you,too, are #seekingmajormotivation.

They are all simple and easy I can assure you!

This guy is and has been my number one blog post "view"

and my number one "pin" on Pinterest!

This paint stick project of the Three Wisemen

is also a top post.

It is practically a "free" green craft.

This simple outdoor Nativity that I first did with children

waaaaay back in 2011 is still a top 10 post year round.

It is made with concrete landscape pavers.

 Mine still looks like it did when I painted it four years ago!

(And we do use it outside)

A little more involved but a keeper from year to year-


is this Advent Candle Wreath made from terra cotta pots.
I made it with groups of children for a few years in a row so we painted the pots and made candles and "flames" from TP rolls and tissue paper. 
Many of their parents supervised its use and substituted real candles. 
It is equally pretty left in its natural terra cotta state and filled in with real greenery.
One of my  volunteer moms had her children craft them for their grandparents one year and it was a HUGE hit!


And I have a bunch of Snowman projects
 but this one is the second most viewed post of all time.

Snowman in a Baggie!!!
It was a simple idea I cooked up for a school party activity and it is still being used year after year.
So easy and inexpensive but everyone loves to make him and then squish that nose around!

If you are looking for more projects then check the archives!
I have several Nativity projects, more snowmen and some burlap and painted canvas projects that are 'oldies but goodies."

And maybe I'll be back soon with some actual Christmas decorating pictures -
from my actual house!!!
#icanhope

Advent Wreath!

It was a bit of an "Advent-ure" getting this project from start to finish but worth it. The kids loved it because it was big, fun and easy to paint, and it ended up in an important place when they got it home. Most families put it in the middle of the dining room table or in the entry way and it made them so happy. :)
 Again, just like the Nativity made from pavers a few post back, I was worried about breakage and the weight of the clay saucer if it landed on someone's foot. We worked on the floor on a cardboard square and lots of adult volunteers made it all happen uneventfully.

We painted the bottom of the clay saucer to look like an evergreen wreath. I had them sponge two or three green paints together as the base of the wreath. Then we used a sponge cut into the shape of a holly leaf and mistletoe. We also used a scrap of sponge to make sprigs of pine. We used a pencil eraser to dot the white mistletoe berries and the red holly berries.

We used small clay pots as the "candleholders." We painted 3 purple, 1 pink, and one white. We also painted a toilet paper tube "candle' in those colors. The adults glued the pots on after they were painted and completely dry. We used Liquid Nails. 

We put the  toilet paper tube "candles" in the flower pots. We tore strips of tissue paper to use as flames so they could "light" the candles.

The great thing about this wreath is that it is very cute and child-friendly with the toilet paper tube candles and tissue paper flames but with adult supervision you could use real candles because it is made from terra cotta pots!
** This wreath was made using a 12 inch saucer and clay pots that were about 3 or 4 inches tall. We wanted it to be a big, exciting project but you could adjust the size by simply buying smaller pots and saucer. I don't think I'd go much bigger because of the weight of the combined clay pots!