It is no secret that I love a spot of crafting. Glitter and paint are some of my best friends. Ok, except when I am sat in a meeting or dropping Molly at school and am told I have glitter on the end of my nose/on my cheek/in my hair. As Charlotte kindly pointed she wasn’t sure if it was intentional and I was trying to start a new beauty trend!

Christmas is the ideal time for getting creative and I’m so lucky the girl’s have inherited my love of it. Molly constantly asks to do craft and although I probably should be doing the pile of ironing I like to make time for something. This Christmas I have got her involved in making all sorts of loveliness and we still have the festive baking to go. I wanted to share a few simple ideas that the little’s can make with you and will be lovely to give to friends or family.

I will specify here that we have a VERY well stocked craft cupboard. I’m talking numerous boxes full of paper, pipe cleaners and feathers. Basically everything we might ever need. We’ve built it up over the years and raid it on many an occasion. However, if you don’t have the contents of Hobbycraft in your cupboards all of these ideas require very little in the way of materials and can generally be made with bits and pieces from around the home or with a few cheap purchases.

Christmas Cards

I am well aware the shops stock a huge selection of Christmas cards but I do love making them myself. I used to spend hours sticking and creating but will admit that now I have kids I head down to Paperchase. Much easier and less time consuming! However, I can still get involved in the children’s card creations instead. All these ideas are super quick and cheap to do. They may get a bit messy at times and I can’t promise you won’t end up covered in glitter. That’s half the fun.

All you need to do is grab a pack of plain cards in a colour of your choice. I opted for white but kraft works really well too. I picked mine up in Wilkinson for about £2 but you can get them in Hobbycraft, WH Smiths or a lot of supermarkets now too.

  • Finger Print Reindeer – This is one of my favourite cards to make and just the cutest for your little family. Take some brown paint and carefully dip your little’s index finger in and then press on to the card. Repeat with any siblings and yourself. Quickly clean up the mucky finger! Once dry I added a red pom pom nose from Hobbycraft but you could just use a red pen if you prefer. Finally with a black pen I drew little antlers and eyes. Best family portrait ever.
  • Finger Print Fairy Lights – Using the same idea but in a variety of bright colours to create this pinterest favourite. Once the paint is dry take a black pen and draw a squiggly cable joining up the lights.
  • Hand Print Tree – This was the girls favourite to do. Paint their hand green, or get them to dip it in a plate of paint. I would advise washable paints for this! Then carefully press their hand down on the card. Once dry you can add stickers or sequins to decorate the tree. I have seen a similar thing with feet for a ‘Mistletoes’ card. I didn’t trust Alice not to run straight off through the house so gave this a miss!
  • Glitter Cards – These are super simple and effective. Using glue draw a shape or saying and then let the kids go mad with the glitter.
  • Snowman – Take two cotton wool balls and stick on the card. I added buttons and a little hat and carrot nose cut from coloured paper.

    • Wrapping

    The girls love to choose a little present to give to family now. Whether it is some lego for Daddy (big kid!) or a toblerone for Grandad. I think it is really fun for them to help to wrap them and although Molly would probably prefer Disney princess paper we have used her love of craft to create some fun wrapping ideas this year.

    I used a roll of brown parcel paper as the base which you can pick up for next to nothing in most shops.

  • Potato Printing – I have been meaning to try this with the girls for a while as its such a simple and fun craft. You will just need a couple of halved potatoes and some paint. The easiest way to make the stamps is to take some small sized cookie cutters and press as far as you can in to the potato. Whilst the cutter is still pressed in take a knife and cut in to the potato till you hit the cutter. Then peel off the slide, remove the cutter and voila. I would advise making the stamps the day before and letting them dry out a bit. Then go to town with colours and shapes.
  • Pom Poms – Seriously easy but effective. I’m actually considering this for my main presents but with white pom poms. Grab a pack of pom poms and stick away.
  • Glitter Stars – Using pipe cleaners I created some little glittery stars which I then strung on to the present. You could make any shape or letter you want. Christmas tree’s would work well.
  • Polar Bears – I have a bit of a thing for animal shaped wrapping at the moment. These polar bears will look so sweet stacked under the tree. I used standard white printing paper but you could use the reverse of a normal roll of wrapping paper if you prefer. First wrap your present all in white paper. Boxes work best for this style of wrap. Then cut out four little legs and using a black marker add the claws. Tape to the bottom of the box. Finally add a face with your pen in any design you like. Sleeping mummy and playful cub are a great combo.

    • Reindeer Pot

    This little cutie is ideal for small gifts for friends or teachers. Fill with chocolate coins, homemade biscuits or any other chosen treats.

    You will just need some plant pots in your chosen size. I opted for plastic as probably safer for the kids but terracotta works just as well. You will also need some red pom poms, googly eyes and brown card or paper. I just used the brown parcel paper mentioned above to save buying extra.

  • First draw around your little’s hands on the brown paper and cut out. Use tape or glue to fix to the back of the pot.
  • Then add two googly eyes and a pom pom nose.
  • Once dry push some tissue paper in to the base of the pot and fill with chosen treats.

    Finishing Touches

    Salt dough shapes are so much fun to make and the best thing is you barely need anything for them. Salt, flour and water. That’s it.

    We use them as gift tags writing on the reverse with a sharpie pen but you can also make pretty tree decorations or garlands from them. Just don’t let the kids eat them. They don’t taste very nice! Once baked you can go to town with the paint and glitter.

    To make:

  • Add one cup of salt, one cup of plain flour and up to one cup of water.
  • Mix until you have a firm dough adding a bit more flour or water if you need.
  • Then roll out on a floured surface and cut out your shapes using cookie cutters.
  • Use a straw to make a hole near the top of the shape.
  • Place on a lined baking tray and pop in the oven at 100c for 3 hours.

    •  
    Are any of you planning any Christmas crafts. Are there any I should know about to add to my repertoire?!