Need an inexpensive gift to give? How about something homemade from the little ones? Try these great ideas for loads of fun for the whole family!

Christmas Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Make these quick and easy ornaments. This one was made by Sarah when she was three.
For ages 3 to Seniors

Salt Dough
Ingredients 2 cups (500 ml or .5 liter) flour
2 cups (500 ml or .5 liter) salt
About 1 cup (250 ml) water Mix flour, salt, and water to make a stiff mixture. Knead mixture for about ten minutes
to dissolve salt. Clay is ready to shape.

Materials Needed:
Salt Dough Recipe or Cornstarch Clay Dough
Christmas cookie cutters
permanent color felt tip markers
glitter, sequins, white glue ribbon, yarn or colorful string
Directions:
Make the dough recipe above. Roll out dough on a floured surface about 1/4" thick cut with cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes make a hole in the top of the shape for stringing a ribbon place the shapes on a cookie sheet. Bake the shapes at 225 degrees F (107 degrees C) for two or 3 hours. Turn them over occasionally to keep them from curling. Remove shapes from oven and allow to cool for several hours. Decorate the shapes with the felt tip markers, glitter and sequins. Many other materials can be used to decorate the shapes. Use your imagination. Thread the ribbon, yarn or string through the hole at the top and hang!

Christmas Place Mats

Materials Needed:
Scrap material (you sew together) to the size of a place mat permanent magic markers
fabric paint
paint brushes
fabric glue fabric to cut out scissors templates of Christmas shapes - could be cookie cutters to trace glitter, sequins, ric-rac etc.
Your children can make Christmas place mats easily. Use sturdy scrap material sewn double, preferably a solid color. Provide each child with the materials above and let them go to it. You will be surprised at how creative they can be.


Easy, Easy Christmas Ornament

This craft is a great one to do with your kids.

You will need...
2 different pieces of scrap material one plain and one
patterned sheets of fusing material
pinking sheers and scissors
light cardboard
iron
narrow ribbon
Use a can or juice lid to make a circle on the plain material
(it could be any shape), cut 2 pieces. Cut out the same size circle of cardboard. Look in a coloring book for Christmas or magazines for a shape to trace for the middle of your ornament (both sides). Trace the shape on to the patterned material. Cut out shapes and circles. Cut fusing material just a bit smaller than the shape and circle. Cut a length of ribbon to use as a hanger. Fuse each circle to the faces of the cardboard circle with the one end of the ribbon between the fusing material and the material at the top of the ornament on each side. Fuse the shapes to each side of the circles. Hang your creation on the tree!

Fridge Magnet Christmas Gift

This can be an inexpensive way to remember people at work, church, or other group that you belong to. Also a good gift for children to give to their teachers, friends, grand parents etc.
Items Needed:
L light Cardboard
Christmas wrapping paper
glue or tape adhesive magnets (can be bought in strips or individually)
cotton string or narrow ribbon
piece of white paper cut an inch smaller then the cardboard pen, typewriter, or computer

Cut out cardboard 3 inches x 4.25 inches (size is up to you) wrap your "gift" with the wrapping paper type or write out a message on the white paper for example:
"May the wonder of Christmas fill your heart with peace. "
"Joy and love Thinking of you at Christmas and all year long "
"Remember the night when love was born and wishing you a Christmas peace now and throughout the year."
"Roses are red fruitcake is edible hope that the new year is truly incredible! "
"In this most magical season may you find peace, love and joy. "
Something personal like you are a wonderful person or I promise to think of you each day throughout the year. Don't forget to sign your name! Glue your message on the back of your package, leave enough room for the magnet affix a small strip of magnet to the top/back, above your message. Tie the string or ribbon around the package and tie a bow (you can secure the string with a little glue. Your Gift is ready to give!

Tin Can Toys - A Walker

Here is a craft for the holiday season to amuse your child at home while you are preoccupied. Balancing on the tin cans, the children pull on the handles as they lift their feet and take steps.

Materials Needed
2 tin cans (open at bottom end) wire or string hammer nail

Directions:
Punch 2 nail holes in the top of each can, close to the rim.
Thread with wire or string, adjust to the child's height.
Tie or twist inside can.
Now your child has a new inexpensive toy to help distract them from the big event that is coming. If you have more than one child, suggest that they race or see who can stay on the longest.

Tooth Pick Ornament

(For ages 5 & up)

Materials:
Box of rounded tooth picks
Scissors
Pencil
White glue
Old Christmas cards
1 sheet of cardboard
Spool of thread
Directions:
Cut out a square of cardboard 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" - this will be your stencil. Pick out a favorite Christmas Card (or favorite picture) and position your stencil over the area you want to cut out. Trace around the stencil cut out on the lines put a small amount of glue around the edges of the cutout Christmas card (or photo) and begin placing toothpicks by 3's or 2's, first on one edge, then the next until all 4 sides make a frame. Place a "roof" at the top of the frame. Allow the glue to dry when glue is dry take a length of thread, double it and tie it to the top of the roof. .Make the loop long enough to fit on the branch of a Christmas tree.

Puzzle Wreath Christmas Decoration

Items Needed:
36 puzzle pieces from a used jigsaw puzzle
green high gloss acrylic or lacquer spray paint
small jar of high gloss red acrylic paint
small round paint brush
newspaper
glue
red ribbon
gold braid string
Directions:
Lay out the puzzle pieces on newspaper.
Spray paint the pieces with the green paint - apply 3 coats allowing each coat to dry the prescribed time listed on the can.
Next lay out a ring of 9 pieces (painted side up) making sure that each piece is touching the other then make another layer gluing 9 pieces on top of the first nine staggering them so that each top piece is over lapping two of the bottom pieces. (See illustration) Continue the process until there are 4 layers of 9 pieces. Allow the construction to dry overnight (if you are using a glue gun you can continue with next step after the glue has cooled) With your red paint, dab three little dots of color in bunches around the wreath to make it appear that the wreath has berries. (See illustration) Attach red ribbon with glue tie gold string to top of ornament and hang.

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I hope you have enjoyed these Christmas craft ideas. Please take a moment to thank Christmas Time Together for providing the above ideas. You may click here to visit their site for more great craft ideas. Christmas Time Together