Crafting is a great way to express your creativity and spend time as a family, and Christmastime presents a plethora of opportunities to create seasonal decor and lasting memories.
Christmas crafts are not just for children; the whole family can join in on projects like these.
Crafting with Pine Cones
Nature offers some of the most beautifully versatile media there is when it comes to searching for crating material. Better yet, the supplies are free! Nature walks are not just for warm weather. The winter landscape offers plenty of wonderful seasonal sights to enjoy on a family nature walk.
Take your family on a brisk winter walk and collect pine cones for Christmas worthy crafts. Glitter pine cones, pine cone garland, napkin rings, wreaths and bird feeders are just a few ideas to utilize one of nature’s most abundant craft supplies. Check here and here for more ideas on how to use pine cones to create beautiful works of art your family can enjoy.
Keepsake Ornaments
Making and hanging ornaments is a long-standing Christmas tradition for many families. Local craft stores offer a variety of materials to make a diverse selection of Christmas ornaments. You can fill plastic globe ornaments with a multitude of materials including paper, paint, glitter, confetti, pine cones and other small items.
Consider having your family write a special prayer request or things that they are thankful for on slips of colored paper. Roll the paper up and stick it inside of a plastic ornament, add glitter or seasonal themed confetti and you have an instant ornament with extra special meaning. Martha Stewart and Pinterest also offer some beautiful easy-to-make ornament ideas to decorate your family’s Christmas tree with this year.
Nativity Scene
Nothing symbolizes Christmas or captures the true meaning of this blessed season quite like the nativity scene. Many families have a nativity scene nestled beneath the boughs of their Christmas tree branches or tucked safely on a mantle.
Bring the whole family together to work as a team to create a one-of-a-kind nativity scene. Linda Standke’s book, Easy Christian Crafts, for grades PK-K offers step-by-step instructions and cutout patterns to create an adorable paper bag nativity scene. Assign each family member a piece of the scene to complete, working together to bring the Christmas scene to life. Check here and here for more creative DIY nativity projects.
Manger Crafts
It can be difficult to remain focused on the true meaning of Christmas, especially for young children who are excited about the prospect of gifts and parties. Having children create a manger for baby Jesus in the weeks leading up to Christmas is an easy, fun and tangible representation of the meaning of this blessed season.
Every time a child (or any member of the family) does a good deed like helping with chores, he receives a piece of straw to place in the manger. By the time Christmas arrives, the baby Jesus can be placed in a soft, well-padded manger made with love. Gingerbread mangers are also a wonderful (and tasty) way to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas.
Let it Snow!
Bring the outdoors indoors by creating snowflake garland or one-of- a-kind paper snowflakes. If there is not snow on the ground but your family is itching for a really epic (indoor) snowball fight, dress up in your winter gear and toss over-sized cotton balls over barricades of pillows, tables and other makeshift fortresses.
Advent Calendars
Every year Christian families anxiously await the arrival of Christmas, symbolizing the day of our Savior’s birth. Advent calendars are a creative way to help children keep track of how many days remain until Christmas. They can be a great way for family to come together at the end of each day to reveal a surprise, Scripture or story as you remove a day from the calendar each night.
The variety of advent calendars available to create and / or purchase are endless and can suit just about any family’s style. The Daily Buzz, Parents.com and Pinterest offer a bountiful selection of Advent calendar ideas and templates.
Wishing you and your family a truly blessed and wonderfully creative Christmas season!