Holiday Napkin Rings
2 empty paper towel
tubes
(makes 8 - 10 napkin
rings)
Scissors
Holiday fabric
or thin ribbon or felt
Glue
Sequins, glitter
or beads
Cut paper towel
tube into widths to match the width of the holiday
fabric, ribbon
or felt. Wrap fabric, ribbon or felt around tube and glue in
place. Add
smaller ribbon trim, beads or sequins and glue to outside
edges in any decorative
fashion. This activity is fun for the whole
family.
Note: Adult
supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
Picture Perfect Ornaments
Old holiday
cards or magazines
Scissors
Glue
Hole punch
Yarn
Cut out pictures
from last year's holiday cards (circular pictures work
best). Put two
back-to-back and glue them. This also works well with
last year's school
pictures if you have some left over.
Take a hole punch
and punch holes evenly around the edges. Run the
yarn through the
holes, looping around the ornament in a circular
fashion.
Go around the picture
twice with the yarn and then tie it off. Put an
additional large
loop thought the top of the ornament - this will be used
to hang the ornament
from the tree. The ornaments give the tree an
antique charm.
This is an activity that the whole family can participate in.
Note: Adult
supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
Cards
These cards are
easy for kids and adults to make.
And everyone loves
to receive mail. So dazzle your friends and family
with your personal
cards!
White or colored
paper 81/2 x 11
scraps of wrapping
paper
Pointed scissors
Rubber cement or
glue stick
Fold top to bottom
keeping edges even. Fold side to side keeping
edges even.
Now you have your basic card -- lightly draw your design
on the front of
the card. Cut a piece of wrapping paper just
slightly
smaller than the
size of the card and put glue on the back side of the
paper. Open
the card to the full size of the paper and paste the
wrapping paper
in. Cut out your design carefully with the pointed
scissors, put a
dab of glue in corners, fold your card and view your
masterpiece.
Personalized Cards and Letters
Either use a favorite
store bought stamp, or make your own.
To make your own:
You'll need either
a piece of dense foam or an art gum eraser
(available at art
supply stores) or a potato cut in half and an ink pad or
poster paints
First draw your
design on a piece of paper. Remember that simple
designs transfer
more easily! Next draw the design on your "stamp".
With parental help,
use an X-acto knife, making deep, smooth incisions
on the outline
of your design. Turn the "stamp" to one side and cut so
that the new incision
intersects the cuts made from the top. Continue
cutting until the
surrounding material falls away from the design. The
finished design
should be raised above the base. Then press your
stamp into the
ink pad or paints and create your personalized
stationary, cards
or envelopes. Keep in mind that paint takes longer to
dry. Also,
foam and erasers can be kept forever while potatoes cannot.
You can also use
these stamps to make a variety of personalized
wrapping paper.
Just use brown paper bags or butcher paper.
Don't forget to say "Thank-you"!
Are you stumped
about what to include in a thank-you note? Here are
some suggestions:
-Tell the gift-giver
how you felt when you opened the gift.
-Explain how you
plan to use the gift, or how it has already been used.
-If you receive
money, tell what you plan to buy or what you are saving
the money for.
-After thanking
your gift-givers, you can explain how you celebrated the
holidays.
A "CD" Christmas Wreath
An old, scratched,
bad or AOL CD
Mylar confetti
(most stationary stores carry this)
or holographic stickers
"Reflective" mylar
ribbon
White glue
Glitter
Velcro with self
adhesive on the back
Glue star, tree
or whatever shape mylar confetti you want to the "shiny"
backside of the
CD. Swirl patterns and dots of white glue and sprinkle
with glitter. Tie
a bow out of reflective mylar ribbon and glue to the CD.
Use a piece of
self adhesive velcro to attach the CD Christmas wreath
to a computer,
door, or where ever! This project is very easy to do,
even for younger
children, and makes a great gift for a computer
enthusiast.
Easter Mosaic
dyed hard boiled
eggs (use Easter egg dye or food coloring)
white glue that
dries clear
paper
paper towel
Advanced
Prep:
5 minutes
to gather materials -- 90 minutes if you have to hard boil
and dye the eggs
Activity time: 45-60 minutes. Drying time: Depends
on the amount of
glue used, 1 hour to overnight.
Peel the eggs
and place the egg shells on a piece of paper
towel.
Press the eggshell pieces out flat -- place a paper towel
on top and
then a heavy pan or cookie sheet on top of that --
leave to
dry. Meanwhile, lightly draw with a pencil the picture you
want to make into
a mosaic design. When the eggshells are dry break
them up into the
size pieces you would like (try using different sizes).
Create your mosaic
by placing glue on a small section of your picture
at a time and pressing
the eggshell firmly into place. When you are
finished, allow
the picture to dry flat
Variations: Try using colored glue. Mosaic a juice can or small box.