We started with some restaurant kids’ cup lids that we had around.  Using the straw hole as a starting point, I cut out the center of the lid.  I tied on a piece of bulky green yarn, and Delaney got busy winding it around and around.  If she ran out of yarn, I just tied on another piece and we hid the knot while winding.

When she was finished winding the yarn, I used a little dab of hot glue to secure the end.  Then, we added sparkly bows from the craft store (found in the mini tree decorating section) and a ribbon for hanging.  Sweet!

~ decorating graham cracker candy houses with cousins ~

~ cutting lots and lots of paper snowflakes ~

~ making (and eating!) Holiday Pretzel Treats ~

I was feeling a little badly that we haven’t done many of the “new” Christmas crafts or activities that I had planned this year – but, of course, it’s the little things we always do that the girls have been looking forward to the most!  Reading The Polar Express, driving around to look at lights, night walks, opening the advent calendar, wrapping presents…. simple is good!

Hope you are enjoying some simple traditions with your kiddos in these few days leading up to Christmas!

Here’s a simple handmade gift even the littlest kiddos can do – wood block place card holders:

We started with a pack of wood blocks from the craft store and my helpful hubby cut a little groove in each one.  (By the way – my husband noted it would have been much easier to start with a long piece of wood, cut the groove, and then cut the long piece into blocks….).

Paint the blocks with watercolors:

I painted a clear sealer on the blocks when they were dry.  Pair with homemade place cards (use watercolor paper, thick scrapbooking paper, cardstock, etc.) for a lovely handmade gift!

If you still have time in your schedule for some sewing, you could include some placemats featuring your child’s artwork, too!

Happy playing and gift-making!

She is usually found with a red pom-pom taped to her nose, singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer over and over (and over!) again.  She has been begging for a Rudolph costume, so here’s my plan:  brown long-sleeved shirt and brown pants with a large white pom-pom sewed on to the bottom for the tail.  She’s already got the antlers, so we should be all set!

When we need to get some wiggles out (especially on these cold, rainy days) we’re doing The Reindeer Pokey.  Come on over and sing along!

The Reindeer Pokey

You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.

You put your antlers in and you shake them all about.

You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about!

You put your hooves in….

You put your red nose in….

You put your fluffy tail in…

You put your reindeer body in…

Good times!

Happy playing!

We used two pieces of felt, one for the cover and one for the inside pages.  Our cover piece was around 2.25″x4″ (unfolded) and the inside piece was just a little smaller.  We stacked the two pieces, folded them in half like a book, and sewed a seam down the edge on the sewing machine.  This was the girls’ first time using the sewing machine and they loved it – I need to make more time for them to do sewing machine projects!

The covers have hand-stitched wand handles (with colored embroidery floss) and sparkling star buttons.  Really simple to make, but really cute!  Both of my girls are now slightly obsessed with making little felt books.  They have big plans to outfit their American Girls and other dolls with a whole library of books….

Our ornaments were packaged up and sent on their way to five families in Florida, Washington, Texas, Maine, and Massachusetts.  We had such fun making these and sending them off – and, we can’t wait for our ornaments to arrive in the mail!

Have any fun ornament projects to share?  It’s rainy here – we need activities!

Happy playing!

Supplies:

• Cookie dough:  store bought or homemade, any flavor!  We used sugar cookies, but gingerbread would be fun, too!
• Pretzel twists
• Chocolate chips
• Red M&Ms

Start with a round cookie shape and pinch the middle gently to create the face shape.  Add eyes, antlers, and Rudolph’s shining red nose!  Bake according to your recipe’s directions.

I think we’ll make these again this year!

By the way, I googled “reindeer cookies” to see if I could find where I got the idea, and there are a whole bunch of similar style cookies for your browsing pleasure….

What are your favorite kid-friendly holiday cookies to make?

Happy Baking!

We like driving cars through paint, too – but if you’re not in the mood for paint today, try this instead!  Just tape a marker (or two!) onto each car, and start driving.

Happy Playing!

Chocolate Letters

Paper Bag Gingerbread Garland

Christmas Card Puzzle Game

Simple Reindeer Ornaments

Glittery Initial Ornaments

Jingle Bell Necklaces

Have a great day and happy playing!