It’s Almost Christmas

Are you looking for inexpensive Christmas decorations you can make with your children? Here are a few different crafts that can be easily created with materials you can find around your home or buy for a few dollars.

Craft Idea One: Cinnamon Ornaments
Ages: two through adult

Ingredients:

• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup ground cinnamon
• Elmer’s glue (optional)

Combine the applesauce and cinnamon and knead into a thick dough. Roll it out about one quarter of an inch thick and cut out in a variety of seasonal shapes, either by hand or with cookie cutters. Make a hole for ribbon or an ornament hanger with a toothpick or straw. Allow to air dry, then hang on the Christmas tree. White glue can be used as icing or snow if it will enhance the shape. These make beautiful, deep brown Christmas tree ornaments, but they also can be strung on a window and hung across mantels and windows.

Craft Idea Two: Terra Cotta Bells
Ages: three through adult

Ingredients:

• 1 inch or 1 1/2 in terra cotta flower pots
• Ribbon
• Paints
• Shellac

Turn the pots upside down and paint them in beautiful seasonal designs. Once dry, spray with shellac to water proof the paint. Use a ribbon as a hanger. These make great Christmas ornaments, but they can also be used as decorations for a mantel or even in a bouquet for table centerpieces.

Craft Idea Three: Recycled Christmas Card Fans
Ages: four through adult

Ingredients:

• Used Christmas cards
• Thin ribbon
• Scissors
• Elmer’s glue (optional)
• Embellishments (optional)

Cut off the back of the card. Fold the front half in accordion-like pleats along the longest side. Trim the last fold so it is the same as the rest of the card. Pinch one end of the card and tie with the thin ribbon. Add embellishments such as sequins and sparkles if desired.

These three activities should keep your kids busy for a few days of Christmas break and fill your home with beautiful seasonal decorations without costing a ton of money. If you need more ideas, you can find ideas at your public library, on the internet, and in homemaking magazines. Even craft stores can be a great place to find low cost ideas, just look at the displays and imagine ways to make them with materials you have on hand.