Jamie Graziani, Development and Marketing Intern
Holidays can be a very busy time of the year, especially for kids! Try out a few of these fun DIY crafts for children of all ages to help calm their stress and anticipation that comes along with the holiday season. Some of these crafts can also double as a keepsake that you and your child can remember for the rest of the holiday seasons to come! Happy Crafting and most of all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Cotton Ball Snowman
What you will need:
Shallow container- Craft glue
- Cotton balls
- Craft paper
- Scissors (optional)
- Snowman decoration ideas:
- Sticks
- Googly eyes
- Paper
- Stickers
Directions:
- Have child make their own snowman on craft paper. Give child a shallow container with some glue and have them dip the cotton balls in it and stick them on their snowman.
- Once dry, glue decorations onto their snowman!
Popsicle Stick Snowflakes
What you will need:
- Craft sticks
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Fishing line
- Clear cellophane tape
- 3/8- to 1/2-inch-wide holiday ribbon
- Red and white pain
- Round 12mm rhinestones
- Scissors
- Double-stick foam tape
- Small paintbrush
- Drop cloth or newspaper
Directions:
- Start by gluing three or six (mini or large) craft sticks in an asterisk shape.
- Glue sticks in a hexagon shape, then glue each point of the hexagon to your asterisk shape.
- Finally, depending on the pattern, add the final craft sticks to complete the snowflake.
- Using a small paintbrush, paint two coats of paint on each side, including the edges.
- Glue rhinestones onto the tips of the snowflakes. Or glue on glitter or fake snow. Let dry/cool.
- To hang them on the wall, tie a small ribbon bow to the snowflake, then tie a longer piece of ribbon to the back of the bow. Attach the long ribbon with double-stick foam tape at the very top of the wall.
Moveable Penguin
What you will need: 
- Black, white, orange, red paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
- Brads
Directions:
- Cut out the penguin’s body, wings, feet, beak, hat, scarf, and all the other parts shown in picture.
- Using brass brads press it in the penguin’s wings so they can move around.
- Finally, glue the hat, scarf, eyes, beak, and feet onto the body
Share your holiday calming crafting ideas with us!
Sources:
http://www.craftymorning.com/moveable-christmas-penguin-craft-kids/
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/12/giant-craft-stick-snowflakes/