Showing posts sorted by date for query DIY ornaments. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query DIY ornaments. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

Deck the Halls with Fun! Craft a Merry Christmas with Your Kids

There's something truly magical about Christmas. The twinkle lights, the delicious treats, and the joy of giving all come together to create a season unlike any other. But perhaps the most heartwarming part of the holidays is spending quality time with loved ones.





This year, why not make some of that quality time extra creative? Crafting with your kids is a fantastic way to embrace the festive spirit and build lasting memories together. Here are just a few reasons to get crafty this Christmas:

  • Spark Creativity and Imagination: Crafting allows kids to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills. As they cut, glue, and assemble, their imaginations take flight!
  • Boost Fine Motor Skills: Many Christmas crafts involve activities like tearing paper, threading beads, and using scissors. These motions help develop the small muscles in their hands and wrists, which are important for tasks like writing and dressing.
  • Build Confidence: When kids complete a craft project, they get a huge sense of accomplishment. Seeing their creation come to life builds their confidence and self-esteem.
  • Bonding Time: Crafting provides a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for parents and kids to connect. It's a chance to chat, laugh, and work together on a fun project.
  • Personalized Decorations: There's nothing more special than a homemade Christmas decoration. These one-of-a-kind ornaments will be cherished for years to come, and become treasured keepsakes.



Here are some ideas for crafting with the kids. Click thru the links to view the full tutorials.


Pretzel Christmas Trees by Oh My Creative

Salt Dough Christmas Tree Ornaments by Messy Little Monster

3D Paper Trees by The Printables Fairy

Christmas Tree Lacing by Little Bins for Little Hands

Tissue Paper Trees by DIY and Fun

Sequin Trees by Sum of Their Stories

Pointillism Trees by Coffee and Carpool

Pasta Trees by Mimosas and Motherhood

Paper Bag Christmas Trees by Simple Everyday Mom

Cardboard Christmas Trees by Kids Activities Blog




Process Art Christmas Trees by Sweet Silly Sara

Paper Plate Christmas Trees by Red Ted Art

Christmas Tree Bookmarks by My Joy Filled Life

Christmas Tree Cones by Mom Brite

Edible Christmas Trees by Our Wabi Sabi Life 


Crafting for All Ages!

The beauty of Christmas crafts is that there's something for everyone. Here's a sneak peek at some fun ideas suitable for a variety of ages:

  • For Toddlers: Little ones will love exploring textures and colors with handprint ornaments, play dough creations, or simple collages.
  • For Preschoolers: Preschoolers can get creative with yarn wrapping, decorating pre-cut paper ornaments, or making their own construction paper Christmas trees.
  • For School-Aged Kids: Older kids can tackle more intricate crafts like pipe cleaner snowflakes, Popsicle stick reindeer, or decorating their own miniature Christmas trees.

So gather your supplies, grab your little elves, and get ready to craft a Christmas season to remember!

In the upcoming posts of this blog series, we'll be sharing a variety of fun and festive Christmas crafts that you can make with your kids. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, here are some additional tips for a successful crafting session:

  • Set Up a Crafting Station: Designate a space for crafting that's well-ventilated and easy to clean up.
  • Gather Your Supplies: Make sure you have everything you need before you start, so your little ones don't get frustrated.
  • Lay Down the Ground Rules: Set some basic expectations for handling materials and cleaning up.
  • Embrace the Mess: Crafting can get a little messy, so relax and have fun!
  • Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is a time to bond with your kids and create lasting memories. So crank up the Christmas tunes, sip on some hot cocoa, and get ready to craft a magical Christmas together!


Find some of our favorite Christmas crafts here:

Hocus Pocus Snack Ideas

 If you are planning to host a Halloween Hocus Pocus watch party, you are going to want to make these easy Hocus Pocus Snack Ideas! From a charcuterie spread that is to die for, to a life potion pudding cup recipe that will send your guests into a bubbling delight, this list has something for everyone. I can't wait to see which of these recipes you try first! 



Hocus Pocus Snack Platter



Photo credit: The Soccer Mom.

A few rounds of brie, some fruit, cookies and candy are all you need to make this adorable and delicious sweet snack platter. The Sanderson sisters are a nice touch to make this snack stand out from the others.

Get the recipe: Hocus Pocus snack platter


Hocus Pocus Marshmallow Pops



Photo credit: House of Nash Eats.

This simple snack idea makes a great addition to a Halloween or Hocus Pocus watch party. With layers of colorful candy over top of marshmallows, these sweet treats are fun to make, eat and share.

Get the recipe: Hocus pocus marshmallow pops


Black Flame Cakes



Photo credit: Cutefetti.

This cute idea is the ultimate easy snack for a Hocus Pocus viewing. You don’t need to do any baking; just get a package of snack cakes at the store and add a few touches.

Get the recipe: Black flame cakes


Life Potion Pudding Cups



Photo credit: Mooshu Jenne.

Dress up pudding cups to be the perfect Halloween snack. This recipe is decorated to look just like the iconic life potion from Hocus Pocus. Your family and friends are going to bubble over at the sight of these!

Get the recipe: Life potion pudding cups


Hocus Pocus Cupcakes




Photo credit: Simplistically Living.

Make some cupcakes with a cute little spellbook accent to share your love of Halloween, desserts and the iconic movie Hocus Pocus. This is the perfect treat to share at a party or to give yourself a break from candy without denying your sweet tooths desires.

Get the recipe: Hocus Pocus cupcakes


Hocus Pocus Cookies



Photo credit: Bake Me Some Sugar.

Bake a batch of buttery cookies and decorate them with Hocus Pocus designs for the best Halloween treat. This easy to follow recipe will help you create designs for all of the sisters plus the spell book for an array of enchanting options.

Get the recipe: Hocus Pocus cookies


Hocus Pocus Dessert Board



Photo credit: Homemade Heather.

With Binx the cat oreo cookies, spellbook brownies and creepy ghoul pretzel rods, this platter has a variety of treats that might cast a spell on you. Serve this at a party or as a way to sustain yourself as you hand out candy on Halloween night.

Get the recipe: Hocus Pocus dessert board


Halloween Hocus Pocus Milkshake

Photo credit: Trop Rockin’.

This vibrant green milkshake makes the perfect treat to enjoy during the Halloween season. It has big Hocus Pocus vibes with the best creamy flavor. You are going to love this lime sherbet shake with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Get the recipe: Halloween Hocus Pocus milkshakes


Hocus Pocus Punch



Photo credit: Crayons and Cravings

This orange mango punch has sparkling water and sherbet to make a colorful and delicious drink that the whole family will want to sip as they watch spooky movies or carve pumpkins.

Get the recipe: Hocus Pocus punch


Slime Filled Hocus Pocus Cookies



Photo credit: The Soccer Mom.

Chocolate cookies with gooey green slime make such a wonderful treat to bake and share for Halloween. These are great at a party, or bake them to share with the kids on a night at home. They will love the burst of green goo with each bite.

Get the recipe: Slime filled Hocus Pocus cookies



Find more fun Halloween ideas here:

Spooky Snacks and Sips for Halloween

Michael Meyers Cupcakes

DIY  Halloween Pallet Tree

Homemade Play Dough Recipes: A Fun and Easy Way to Keep Kids Entertained

 Play Dough Recipes: A Fun and Easy Way to Keep Kids Entertained

Play dough is a great way to keep kids entertained for hours on end. It's also a great way to help them develop their fine motor skills and creativity. And best of all, it's easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients.




Here are a few of our favorite play dough recipes:


Ice Cream Playdough by Bitz n Giggles

This playdough idea is perfect for a mess free ice cream play session with the kids.


Thanksgiving Playdough by Making Frugal Fun

Make this for the family feast, and give the kids something to do while they wait to have dinner!


Shimmer Makeup Playdoh by In the Playroom

Who knew you could make playdough with make up?! This is a fun idea for girls who love all things glam.


Cornstarch and Lotion Playdough by The DIY Nuts

This recipe makes for the softest playdough ever. You are going to want to squish this a few times before letting the kids have it.


Pumpkin Spice Playdough by Suburbia Unwrapped

Playdough is always fun, but when it smells of pumpkin spice, the experience is twice as nice.


Super Soft Fairy Dough by Little Bins for Little Hands

This recipe for fairy dough is so soft it feels nothing short of magical!


Glittery Pumpkin Pie Playdough by Retro Potluck

A pinch of glitter takes this pumpkin pie play dough experience to the next level.


Glow in the Dark Playdough by Our Wabi Sabi Life

This playdough glows in the dark for an incredibly fun experience for kids.


Kool Aid Playdough  by The Best Ideas for Kids

This playdough is made with kool aid for such a vibrant color!


Chocolate Play Doh by Rainy Day Mum

Make a batch of chocolate play doh for kids to play with!


5 Minute Playdough by Made in a Pinch

This recipe only takes 5 minutes to make and is just the thing for a rainy day activity!


Color Changing Playdough by STEAM Powered Family

This recipe makes for a magical color changing dough that kids are going to love to play with.


Extract Scented Play Doh by The Typical Mom

This dough is scented with extracts for a sensory experience that kids are going to love.


Glittery Blue Playdough by Tikkido

This glittery blue play doh is perfect for a Frozen themed play session.


Conditioner Playdough by Sweet Silly Sara

Make this recipe with conditioner for a really soft playdoh to share with the kids.





Play Dough Variations There are endless possibilities when it comes to play dough variations. Here are a few ideas: Add glitter or confetti for a festive touch. Add essential oils for a calming aroma. Add herbs or spices for a sensory experience. Add different types of flour for different textures. Add salt dough to make ornaments or other crafts. With a little creativity, you can make play dough that's perfect for your kids. So get started and have fun!

Find more play doh ideas here:
Play Doh Food Puzzles
Play Doh Pie Counting

Playdoh Meatball Math

Are you looking for a way to make early math engaging for kids? This play doh activity makes for a fun way to master early counting skills in a manner that kids are going to want an extra helping of.



We are a play doh family through and through. Over the years I have created so many hands on lessons for my kids as well as invitations to play that started with a simple can of squishy play doh.  From a prickly cactus craft that my tween was enchanted by, to  DIY food puzzles for toddlers. I have always felt that playdoh was one of the best toys to have on hand because it doubles as a learning tool.

This idea is so much fun! It starts with 2 cans of play doh and a cute little pan. Grab a few dominoes and your little learners are ready to jump into this awesome activity.


Supplies:
Play doh. I used yellow, a little red and a little orange.
A small pan
Dominoes


Directions:
Create a pan of noodles from the yellow playdoh by rolling out into thin strips between your hands and tear them off at various lengths.
Combine a ball of red and orange dough together to make the meatballs. 
Now tear off small sections and roll them into balls.
Place the noodles into the pan.
Leave the meatballs over to the side.



Invite your preschooler to select a domino from the pile and count the dots.
This is how many meatballs this spaghetti needs. Count the meatballs as you add them to the noodles.


Repeat as desired until you have used all of the dominoes or mastered your counting lesson. I know your kids are going to love this take on early math!


Find more epic playdoh activities here.

Favorites include:

Play Doh Pie Counting

Lollipop Counting

Play Doh Pre Writing Activity

Play Doh Snails

Play Dough Ornaments 


Find more fun math ideas like these math games for kids.

Strawberry Ghosts

Trying to eat a little healthier this fall? You are in luck! With this simple recipe you can make a serving of candy coated fruit to satisfy your cravings.


I am always trying to make fruits and veggies more appealing to my kids. This recipe is a sure way to get kids excited about strawberries, while giving them a little of the candy they desire.

Supplies:
Strawberries
White candy melts
Candy eyes
Parchment or wax paper


Directions:
Wash the berries and dry them on a paper towel.
It is very important that you remove all the exterior moisture before you dip into the chocolate.
If there is still water/moisture on the berries when you dip into the chocolate; it will clump up fast.


When the berries are dry melt the white chocolate/almond bark according to the directions on the packaging.
Dip the berries into the melted chocolate, working fast.
Place the berries on the wax paper.
Before the chocolate has a chance to harden, drop 2 candy eyes on each berry.


When all of the berries have eyes, you can place them in the fridge to help the chocolate harden.
You can enjoy these within 15 minutes or so.



These are perfect for sharing at a Halloween party! What a sweet little spooky ghost!


I bet you can't eat just one!


These are delicious, easy to make, and while they do have a candy coating, they are so much healthier than some of the options Halloween is best known for!


Make a batch and stop by to share a little BOO! with a friend or neighbor!
Or maybe just eat them all by yourself! 


 You can find all of my Halloween ideas here

Reader favorites include: