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Easy Christmas crafts and gifts for kids to make

by Mary Ann on December 8, 2011

Kids love making gifts to give

The first year that we home schooled in our family I thougth it would be great if we made ALL of our Christmas presents. I had two children at home who each had a grandma and grandpa, 6 siblings and a mom and dad. Whew, that was an undertaking.

We had set some guidelines for choosing gifts:

They had to be usable and worth giving
They couldn’t cost a lot of money
The child had to be able to make it with minimal help

This was in the days long before every home had a computer! What I had instead was a butter colored, six drawer file which was filled with things I had collected over a lifetime of teaching children. We searched through files marked Christmas, gifts, sewing, patterns and so forth until we found the perfect items and then we went to work.

It took us all month to get them all made. My son who was eleven at the time choose to make foot stools for his grandparents and dad. I took him to the lumber yard and he asked for the correct scraps and they gave them to him. I took him to the local upholstery shop and he asked for scraps which they gave to him. In other words, I let my children choose the gifts, helped them gather the supplies for the gifts and then assisted when they needed me in making the gifts. But these gifts really did come from them.

If I was doing it again I don’t think I would have my children make ALL the gifts. That was a lot of concentrated effort! I would have them choose one or two special people and then help them to make those gifts. I thought I would help you out by giving you a list of great gift ideas that your children can make and where possible a link to the directions.

Gifts Kids Can Make for Christmas:

1. Make a book for a toddler. Just get a small photo album and have your older child cut pictures from magazines or they can even draw simple objects. Have them Glue the picture to a piece of heavy paper which has been cut to fit and then they can label the item or write a short sentence.

2. Write a story for a parent or grandparent. Buy a small notebook with unlined paper or put some plain paper into a folder. Have your child write a story and then illustrate it. If your child is new to writing you can write their story for them on the pages they have illustrated. Part of the fun with younger children is helping them come up with a story while you write. This can make for wonderfully funny and warm moments together. My Kate, when she was small, wrote two stories that I still have. One was called The Golden Tear and was a fantasy. The other was called “Glass Is Not Cement” an absolutely hilarious story of a real experience that she had. (She used an aquarium for a step stool!)

3. Another great gift idea that an older child can make is a Quiet Book. We have made these and they are just plain fun. This also works well as a project for a whole family. Each member of the family makes one page for a book for the youngest member or for a friend or other relative. Here is a wonderful site that has some darling free templates.

4. Bookmarks. Over the years we have made many, many book marks. If you google “bookmarks for kids to make and hit images, you will find more ideas than you can shake a stick at! Here is one easy idea.

Gosh you would really think that I love books!!!

5. Decorated Wooden Spoon. Here is a gift that I saw on TJEDMUSE, suggested by Debbie. I thought that it was a wonderful idea. When I was young, about 11 or 12, I got a wood burning kit for Christmas and I loved it. Choose a wooden kitchen implement such as a spoon or rolling pin. Use the wood burner to inscribe an inspirational word or picture. If you choose something like a spoon you can turn it into a great wall decoration by adding ribbon and silk flowers to the handle and then hot gluing a hanger on the back of the handle.

decorated wooden spoon as christmas gift

6. One year we made corn packs for our friends. I still have mine. I store it under the head of my bed for cold nights. I just pop it into the microwave for a minute and voila warmth. Because I had children making these they were very simple. We cut squares from flannel about 9”X9”. We sewed up three and ½ sides and then filled them with feed corn which I bought from a place that sells animal supplies. Hmmmm can’t think what they are called right now! Then we hand sewed the opening shut. I was able to teach my kids how to use the sewing machine and how to sew with a needle and thread.

We used feed corn in our rice warmers

Just a note – When I was teaching my 5 year old to use the machine I stood behind her and ran the pedal with my foot. I helped her push the material through the feed dog and keep it straight. It worked really well and as far as she was concerned she had done the sewing!

7. Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies. I know, I know, everyone get cookied to death at Christmas. However, my children just loved making them. This is a whole afternoon project. Kids make the cookie dough, roll it out, bake the cookies and then decorate them. The recipe that I am giving you is very old and uses far more flour than sugar so they are perfect for frosting. When kids are frosting cookies it is a messy business and never looks beautiful the way you would do it. But please, don’t help them too much or fix their cookies.

What we like to do id let the cookies sit for a couple of hours uncovered so the frosting crusts up a bit. Then we put them in freezer bags and write “A Christmas Gift for New Years Eve – please freeze” on the bag. Add a bow and maybe a couple of hot chocolate packets and what a great gift!

making old fashioned sugar cookies

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

2 c sugar 7 c flour
1 c shortening ½ tsp salt
2 eggs 1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla ½ c canned milk (plain works but canned makes the flavor so yummy!)

Cream the sugar and shortening. Add eggs, vanilla, salt and soda. Mix well. Add flour and milk alternately. I always end up mixing with my hands. Works so much better! Dough must be just stiff enough to roll out and handle nicely. Flour your table before you roll it out. It also helps to dip your cutter into the flour before cutting the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. The longer baked, the crisper, the shorter baked, softer.

Merry Christmas and happy gift making. : ) By the way, what about making a village of small gingerbread houses as a family? Really fun!

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Easy Gingerbread Houses for Kids to Make

by Mary Ann on December 6, 2011

Mary, Diann and Jack making their gingerbread houses

How do you thank a group of friends for supporting you, helping you and being there all year? Well, if you are me you give their families a party and show their children how to make a gingerbread house. That is what I did this week for grandma school.

little girl making ginger bread house picture

It was so much fun. The terrible wind kept some home but those that were there had a wonderful time. I have done this project every year for well over 30 years with children of all ages. I helped two kindergarten classes every year for over 20 years. It was a looked forward to tradition in our town. Maggie, who needs help got to practice a lot of things – letting go of small things, squeezing a bag, picking up small things…she had a great time!

Macy having wayyyyyy too much fun!

This is a project that any family can do. What you need are a few tips and the right recipes! Trust me, the recipe makes all the difference.

steps of making gingerbread house

How to make Gingerbread Houses for Kids:

• Call your local school and get some empty milk cartons at lunch time
• Buy graham crackers and lots of small candies, raisins and marshmallows
• Snip off the top of the carton (where it is sealed) and tape it shut. Now it looks like a house
• Lay carton on its side on a sheet of paper and trace
• Lay carton on its front on a sheet of paper and trace
• Lay pattern on graham cracker and using a serrated knife (plain will not do!) cut out the sides and front and back (if you need a tiny trim use scissors)
• The left over pieces of cracker should make a fine roof
• Cut a door and three window from the scraps
• Make the frosting and put into disposable decorating bags or the corner part of a sturdy Ziploc. Cut off tip
• If using a decorating bag rubber band it shut so the frosting stays inside : )

A rubber band keeps the frosting inside

• Using frosting glue carton to a Styrofoam plate or square of waxed paper
• Using the frosting glue the sides and front and back to the carton. Add roof pieces. Use plenty of frosting.
• Put the door and windows in place
• Cover the seams one at a time with the frosting and add candy
• Finish decorating the house any way you want

Tips to help parents have fun making gingerbread house:

• Mentally prepare for a messy table, fingers and shirt fronts
• Kids will suck on the decorating bag. Get over it!
• Some kids will put NO candy on their house, it will all go inside them. Just accept it : )

Remember it is the process and the fun not the end result that count!

• One child will always put their windows or door on the roof. Let them!
• Most children under 5 do not cover all the seams. They don’t care. Let it go : )
• Most kids under 5 do not place their candy on the house in an even manner. It is usually on one side and on one side of the roof. Just accept it.
• I have never had a child who didn’t love their house, no matter how it looked, even the ONE child who put NO candy on the house. They all love their work! Don’t spoil it!!
• If you fix their house so that all the seams are covered or so it looks “good” it is no longer their house. It is yours. Don’t be selfish.

Little kids sometimes do need some help. Help as little as possible. don’t take over.

Only help as much as is needed. Don't take over.

Even the "littles" want to do it themselves

I hope you have a wonderful time making a village for your home and just plain enjoying one another’s company. When you are done with the houses add some pop corn, hot coco, a good Christmas story and lots of hugs for a perfect family activity.

Frosting for Gingerbread Houses:

Royal Frosting (Egg White)

Bear in mind that royal frosting made with egg whites lasts only a few hours and breaks down with the least hint of oil or grease. All utensils, bags etc. must be grease free for this to whip and hold its shape. It cannot be re-beaten for later use. Not my choice for use with kids!

3 egg whites 1 pound powdered sugar
½ tsp cream of tarter (optional) can be purchased in the spice aisle of your grocery store.

In mixer add sugar slowly to egg whites. When entirely mixed turn on high and whip until it looks like marshmallow cream in a jar. (Takes about 10 minutes with a hand mixer, a bit less with a larger mixer)

Royal Frosting (Meringue Powder)

This frosting is much easier to make and handle. Grease does not break it down as easily and it can be re-beaten for later use. It can be stored in covered container for up to 6 months. Meringue powder can be purchase at some craft stores and any store that sells cake decorating supplies. Worth the extra cost!

¼ cup meringue powder ½ cup water
4 cups or 1 pound powdered sugar

Mix the meringue powder and water…beat until it peaks. Add the sugar (1/2 cup more for stiffer frosting) ½ cup at a time on low and then beat on high to desired consistency. This will beat up a bit more quickly than the egg white version.

Royal frosting dries as hard as cement and dries quickly so keep it covered at all times with a damp cloth or in a tightly covered bowl. Keep any utensils, tip, bags etc. covered also. As you use it on your house do a small section at a time because if it “crusts up” things don’t stick as well.

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Take time and find ways to recharge yourself

by Mary Ann on December 2, 2011

Taking a 10 minute walk is a great way to recharge

I took four days off at Thanksgiving time. Four days!!!! For those of you who know me well that is an absolute miracle. But I really needed those days away from work.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my work but it is fraught with hard things. I have to run a business and all that that entails – many things I just do not know how to do and am just learning. I have to work with technology that is often baffling to me. I have a blog to write and mentees to talk with. Then there are presentations to prepare and give. I sometimes just need to reboot! So to speak.

So what do you think I did for the two days after Thanksgiving? I cleaned like a crazy fool. I rearranged both my kitchen closets. I mopped and moved furniture and scrubbed and….. I know this doesn’t sound like much of a vacation to many of you out there. But I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to just do something so normal, that I am totally familiar with and very good at.

excited_woman_spring_cleaning_clipart_image

Crazy I know, but cleaning recharges me!

I did think that I might be the only woman in the world who would opt for cleaning as a way of rebooting, of recharging. Then I read an email from a mentor of mine, Leslie Householder. She said this “In my rebellious moments, I derived tremendous pleasure out of cleaning a toilet, or reorganizing a cupboard.”

Then Tuesday I read this on The Pioneer Woman – “Looking at the calendar, I keep trying to schedule a break. I want to go shopping with my Mother. I want to have lunch with a new friend in Houston. I want to get back to walking in the morning. I want to teach my children how to clean a toilet…”

Now many of you who are still in the trenches with a house full of kids, piles of laundry, dishes to do and owies to kiss may be thinking that no way would cleaning toilets or shopping, for that matter, refuel you.

The point I am trying to make is that the humdrum work of every day, both in and out of a home, can really get to you after a time. So it is really important to know what recharges your tank. Is it a late night hot bath, a good read, taking a walk, calling a friend, getting out of the house for an hour, a date, someone else cooking dinner, or cleaning a toilet?

Find ways to take regular, short breaks

In my parenting workshop I had a mom say that she just didn’t know what would recharge her. I could relate! I had been stuck in that same place just a short time before the workshop; all the things that used to work weren’t working anymore. So I did what I usually do when I am stumped for an answer to something. I asked my Heavenly Father. The answer that I got surprised me. It went something like this, “Take more breaks. Play music while you work. When it is really getting to you take a 10 minute walk.” Simple isn’t it and this from an unfailable source.

Most of us cannot take a four day break on any kind of regular basis. In fact most of us don’t know how we can take even a 10 minute break. However, it is important to find simple ways to recharge.

A few weeks ago I had been at the computer for many hours writing and learning how to do what still baffles me. I hadn’t taken any breaks except to hit the bathroom. My neck was beginning to hurt. I began to have some angry feelings build up. I felt stressed! The bad thing was that Don was due home in about an hour and you can imagine the end to this story…. except, I took Heavenly Fathers advice. I stopped! I took a ten minute walk. When I came home I put on some great music and had a glass of water. Then I went back to work. It was amazing to me how much better I felt and how much I was still able to do. I was also aware that I had derailed some angry, frustrated feelings that were going to leak out onto my unsuspecting husband!

If we take the time to know what recharges us and then take regular, short breaks we will feel less stress, less frustration; we will be happier, our children will be happier and life will just plain feel better.

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Give away – Final All Day Workshop for 2011

by Mary Ann on December 1, 2011

Mary and her clay sea urchin

I am hosting a most amazing workshop on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 for parents who want to

Renew Your Love Affair With Parenting

This is going to be a very special event – held in my home, just a handful of special couples with a hands on, simple lunch. It will not only be a information packed event but a restful day as well. Click the above link for all the information.

I continue to be madly in love with the whole topic of children. I love hearing their crazy answers to everyday questions. I love watching them “get” something new. I love listening to them phrase a new thought. I love watching them cook. What about children do you love most? Just shout out why you love parenting and you’re automatically entered to win a ticket for you and your spouse to this last, all day workshop of 2011.

The Rules:

One entry per person, please.

Winners will be selected at random and announced Saturday morning.

Good luck! Feel free to share this give away by clicking the buttons below. : )

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