Christmas Creative Kids
We all know Christmas can cost a small fortune and it's so easy to forget what Christmas should be about and go wild with the credit cards, leading to misery in the new year when the bill drops on the door mat.
So instead of trapesing around the high street with tearful, distressed children looking through endless shop rails for something for Grandad or Auntie Trish, why not make them something? Children will love doing it, it can be educational and fun and it's a truly personal gift from the heart that anyone would love.
Home movie
A great idea for relatives you don't get to see often or who live abroad, is a family movie. You could get every member of the family to talk a little about the year they have had or you could send
a montage of photographs from the year on a dvd disk. It's easy, great fun for the family and your relatives will look forward to seeing them year after year.
Why not upload it to You Tube and Email your far flung relatives with the web address if sending stuff in the post isn't possible or you have left it too late.
Personalised Christmas tree ornament
Get a clear glass ball ornament and paint your babies or toddlers hand with non toxic acrylic paint then get them to hold the ball carefully. Write the child's name and Christmas 2007 on the bottom with a glitter pen, great for a babies first Christmas, Grandparents will love it.
Budding author story book
For a child aged between 6 and 16 a great idea is a story book. Get your child to write a tale about a friend or relative, Granny goes to the moon or cousin Lucy meets Father Christmas, let their imaginations go wild. Allow them to finish it with some colourful illustrations and a bright front cover, then bind it for them by punching several holes down the side and then stitching together with a piece of wool. (Don't forget to leave your margins when writing the text.) You could laminate the front cover or scan in the pictures and type out the story to make it look even more polished, although you should still ensure your child does most of the work and you don't end up taking over and making it yours. Children will enjoy doing it, it's a valuable creative writing experience and a wonderfully personal gift.
Decorate a cushion cover
Get your child to decorate a plain cream or white cushion cover with fabric paint or pens, you could trace around their hands or feet with pencil then go over it with a permanent marker or glitter pen then write 'I love my Granny' or 'Little Star'. Then colour in the letters with bright or sparkly pens. You could
even sew in pretty buttons or make a funny face, the possibilities are endless. What about one that says 'Grandad's chair' on it with a picture of him?
Xmas factor
If your child is a budding Kylie or Robbie you could help them to record a video to send out to friends and family, you could get the whole family involved, costumes, make up, wigs.
Do your own 'Stars in their eyes' with a before and after scene and Dad playing Matthew Kelly or Simon Cowell. Your family will love doing it and you'll have a great giggle watching it back afterwards and in years to come.
Reindeer sweetie holder
These fantastic little reindeer can serve as place card holders with a treat inside for the festive dining table, a great Christmas favour holder or use a bigger pot and fill with goodies to give to friends, classmates or teachers.
You will need:
A terracotta pot (available from garden centres or craft shops in lots of sizes);
1 piece of A4 brown card;
2 stick on eyes (available
at most craft stores and ELC);
1 red pompom (as above);
1 glue stick;
Lots of goodies to put inside.
Decorate your home for Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for the whole family, why not make your home feel extra special and get the children to help you.
You can dress up many home accessories with a festive bow. Place around a lamp base or door knob
or candlestick. Glasses look great with little bows on the stem for Christmas drinks. You can also decorate a garland with bows; really simple and looks stunning.
Bring greenery in to your home, it smells and looks great. Place holly or ivy onyour table around candle sticks or napkin rings as it looks really festive.
Pile some evergreen branches (you could use the branches you trim off your tree if you have a real one) into a basket next to your fireplace for a lovely smelling arrangement.
Christmas confetti is great, you can get it in all shapes and sizes from many high street outlets. It is
inexpensive and a really effective way to decorate and embellish a dining table or place setting. Go for the larger cutouts as they look more effective and are a lot less messy.
A really simple idea is to fill a large glass bowl or vase with Christmas baubles, pine cones, candy canes or any other colourful Christmas ornaments. It looks really eye catching and fun.
Get the children to help you make a Christmas garland, you can buy an Oasis ring very cheaply from a florist or craft store. Use the off cut branches from your Christmas tree and make a ring, you can also add holly and ivy to bulk it out. Get the children to add bows, glitter, and small ornaments for a great family project to hang on the front door and welcome visitors.
