Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 7: Glitter Glue Ornaments

Today's craft isn't done yet but I didn't want to not post something!  This morning I drew some holiday shapes on wax paper with a marker and then Eva used glitter glue pens to trace over them and fill them in.  She loved this!  We need to use glitter glue more often- all the sparkle of glitter with tons less mess!

Twelve hours later, they are still drying!  When they have completely dried we will peel them off the wax paper and use ribbon to hang them on the tree.  (Or I may get really impatient and just cut out the ornaments and leave wax paper on the backs!)  I'll be sure to post an update when they are completely done.

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 6: Paper Lantern Snowman

Today's craft was inspired by a recent trip to the Dollar Store.  I saw these paper lanterns and immediately thought they would make a great snowman.  I assembled them according to the instructions in the package and then Eva painted on a face and buttons.

When the paint was dry, I used a hot glue gun to attach the two lanterns together.  Eva picked out a piece of fleece from my scrap pile to use as a scarf (and to cover the not-so-pretty neck).  Now he hangs out by our tree.  

The lanterns can light up too but by gluing them together, access to the one switch becomes impossible so we are leaving him unlit for now.

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 5: Laced Stocking

This craft brought me back to my childhood.  I remember always making a laced stocking at some point before Christmas each year.  For this one, I cut out two stockings from red paper and then punched holes around the edge while holding them together.  I cut a length of yarn and tied it to the first hole and then Eva set to work lacing around the edge.

(Our dog Woofer was acting as quality control today.)

When she had worked her way all around the stocking, I tied it off the then looped the extra yarn back to the beginning hole and tied it there so there could be a hanger.  Then Eva used some Christmas stickers to decorate it.

She also cut out and designed a bee to glue onto the stocking (not sure what the rationale for it is but she insisted her stocking needed a bee) and now she is busy making things to put into it.

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 4: Handprint Tree

I hadn't planned on making another tree so soon after our last one, but Eva really wanted to, so here's what we did.  First, Eva traced her hands on three different shades of green paper.

I cut them out and then she glued them onto a brown paper trunk.  (Don't be alarmed- that's really Eva not a T-Rex!)

We used a leftover bow from our Day 1 wreath for a star on top of the tree.  

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 3: Sticker Ornaments

This is a craft Eva came up with on her own.  We were making a paper chain to go on her little tree when she decided she needed to make some ornaments as well.  She stuck Christmas stickers on a sheet of red paper and then cut them out.  I added the yarn for hanging and Eva decorated her tree.

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 2: Button Tree

Today's craft was a simple little button tree.  I cut out a triangle from green paper and a brown rectangle and Eva glued together a tree.  Then she used white glue to adhere buttons all over the tree for ornaments.

That in itself had been my plan for the craft but Eva knew no Christmas tree is complete without lights so she used glitter glue to make tiny dabs all over the tree.  Now it sparkles just like our actual tree does!

It's hard to see but next to each button, Eva drew the pine needle that the ornament is hanging on.  I love that she can take a simple idea and add so much of her own interpretation to it!

Craft A Day 'Til Christmas: Day 1: Bow Wreath

We have officially kicked off our Craft a Day 'Til Christmas!  Today we made a bow wreath.  To prep, I cut out a wreath from cardboard and gathered some stick-on bows.  I was just going to have Eva slap the bows on the cardboard but she insisted the wreath needed to be green so she colored it a bit first.

Then she peeled the backings off the bows and stuck them to the wreath.  If your child is as obsessed with stickers as mine is, this will be pure joy!

When she was done, I reinforced the bows with a few staples because they were starting to pop off.  (Eva squeezed a ton of bows onto the wreath.  If you do less yours may stick better on their own.)  Then I added a ribbon for hanging and now we have something festive to brighten our door!

Happy Crafting!!!