Seasonal Craft Ideas

PAPER SNOWFLAKES
Young children love cutting paper snowflakes.

	Give your child a paper circle
	Next, show him how to fold the circle in-half three times
	Show him how to snip triangles out along the folded edges.
	Snowflakes can be made from a variety of papers.
		Doilies make the prettiest ones.
		Small coffee filters are the easiest to make for 3 and 4 year olds.
		Paper squares from the Bakery self-service department work well. After folding the square three times, round off the top edge to make a circle before having your child snip out notches.
		Other paper circles can be made from tissue paper, waxed paper, typing paper and construction paper.

Q-TIP SNOWFLAKES You can also help your child make snowflakes to hang in your window out of Q-tips.
	For each snowflake your child will need three Q-tips cut in half, some glue and a small square of aluminum foil.
	First, have your child squeeze a small amount of glue in the middle of a piece of aluminum.
	Next, show him how to arrange six Q-tip halves coming out of the glue to resemble a snowflake.
	Let the glue dry, then carefully lift the glue off the foil.
	Tie a piece of thread or yarn around one of the arms of the snowflake and hang it in a window or other viewing spot.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

COOKIE CUTTER FUN
Collect several Christmas cookie cutters. Place thin sponges in pie tins and pour on tempera paint in desired colors. Show your child how to press the cookie cutters onto the sponges, then onto paper to make holiday prints.

For gift-wrap, print on large paper, such as butcher paper or brown wrapping paper. Printing with red and green on newspaper is also fun.
Create gift bags by printing on paper lunch sacks.
To make greeting cards, print on folded pieces of construction paper.

SPICY WREATH ORNAMENT
This ornament makes a great holiday gift. Cut the center out of a small green paper plate to make a ring for a wreath base. Invite your child to glue on Christmas-scented items, such as dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks (broken into pieces), whole cloves, and peppermint candies. Add a red bow. Then make a hanger by punching two holes in the top of the wreath and tying on red ribbon.