Up in Lights
Hang some of your Christmas lights in a window in the shape of a star. I use cup-hooks in the window frame to hold the lights tightly. This is so easy and free/inexpensive too! We've done this every year that I can remember since we moved into our house 6 years ago. Kiera LOVES it; our light star is almost always the first thing we do for decorating. We put it up, then stand outside in the cold and dark to get the full effect.
Edible Stars
Most people make sugar cookies in the shape of snowmen, Santa and/or circles. Find a star cookie cutter and make all of your cookies star shapes this year. The same cookie cutter (or a slightly larger one) could be used to turn sandwiches, pancakes, or toast into star shapes as well.
Edible Nativity
The kids could help make some pie crust. (My mom's recipe is: 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 c shortening, and 2 Tbsp of water.) Have the kids roll the dough out flat, then cut a small amount into strips - the side or end of a spatula might work well for this so that it is cut strait. Put the strips on a cookie sheet to form a stable. Using a small circular tool such as the top of a measuring cup or medicine cup, have the kids cut out circles to form Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Add arms and legs (these will get crispy, so avoid very thin pieces.) Brush butter* over all the shapes (the back of a spoon works better than a butter knife on most projects for Kiera). Sprinkle with sugar and then cinnamon. Holding the cookie sheet at a slight angle gently shake off the excess cinnamon and sugar over the sink. Bake at 375 degrees, check often for "done-ness"; cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the crust. Enjoy! Kiera's already asking to do this one; she read it over my shoulder as I was blogging it and can't wait to try it!
*If the butter is too close to the edges of the crust it will melt onto the cookie sheet when it's in the oven and will scorch some.
Count-down to Jesus' Birthday
I've seen lots of calendars that count-down to Christmas day (usually featuring Santa), but it would also be easy to make a count-down to Jesus' birthday. On Christmas day, have a big breakfast or a birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Sock Nativity
Fill two toddler socks and one baby sock with dry beans. (Please use caution here; the beans are a choking hazard for small children...One of Kiera's friends also put a bean up her nose when she was about 5.) Close the top of each sock with a rubber band. (Stitching here would make these more secure for smaller children). Add another rubber band around the center of each sock. Fold the top of the sock down slightly. Using a permanent marker or paint pen (using caution so as not to get it on clothes, etc.) add nose and mouth to each of your sock people. Add google eyes to each. Use fabric scraps to create clothes for each sock person: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Sheppards, wisemen and animals can be added if desired. Because this nativity is non-breakable, so children can touch and move it as much as they want! We have a nativity that won't break and the kids have always loved it. I can even remember playing with my family's (breakable) nativity when we were kids!
Star Ornaments
Cut 2 same-sized star shapes out of cardboard. (I used the inside of a cereal box, which was alright, but white cardboard would be prettier.) Decorate with glitter glue. When the glitter glue is dry, glue both stars together. Add a loop of string to hang the ornament. These turn out to be very pretty and could even be used as a special gift for a grandparent, etc.
Felt Ornaments
Cut star shapes out of felt. Decorate with glitter, sequins and other craft supplies as desired. Add a loop of string to hang.
Handprint Angels
This idea isn't mine; several teachers at our church preschool do this craft each year. Spread a small amount of finger paint on a paper plate. Have the child "paint" the palm side of their hand (including fingers) with finger paint. Put one or two hand prints strait up and down on the paper; this makes the angel's body. Add one more hand print on each side of the first, placing them at a diagonal for the wings. (I would use both hands to do this so that the wings match.) Draw or paint in a face and hair for the angel. Glitter can also be sprinkled on when the paint is wet, which creates a nice affect.
Angel Ring Toss
Cut out two angels and attach them to sticks. Have the child stand a distance away and toss the rings over the angels. (I didn't have any rings when I first did this. It's easy to make your own. Put a dinner plate on a piece of posterboard or cardboard. Draw around the dinner plate, then do the same with a salad plate that's placed in the center of your other circle. Cut the "ring" out of the cardboard and you're done! I suggest about 3 rings...)
Tissue Paper Gift Wrap**
Cover your work space with a protective layer (old newspapers work well). Give each child one sheet of tissue paper. Have them choose a rubber stamp and color of stamping ink, them stamp all over the tissue paper. The stamping ink will bleed through the tissue, allowing the stamped designs to show through on both sides. This is a very cute addition to gift bags; we've also used stamped tissue to wrap gifts. I couldn't find my star stamper and I don't have any nativity-related ones, so our tissue is not religiously based, but it could easily be made that way!
If you don't have stamping ink on hand, you can use a technique called "huffing"**. Color the surface of your stamp with a marker. The marker ink will likely be drying by the time you finish coloring, so hold the stamp in front of your mouth keeping your mouth in a fairly open. Blow on the stamp as you would if you were trying to see your breath on a really cold day, then stamp.
**These techniques are ones I learned from a Stampin' Up demonstrator many, many years ago.
Door Mats
Allow the kids to paint a Biblical Christmas scent on a carpet remnant square*. I recommend using non-washable paints for this if the carpet will be near a door or otherwise exposed to possible wetness.
I did this project with a Sunday School class once. Before we started, I asked very excitedly if any of the kids had ever painted on carpets before (as though it should be a real novelty). One very active little boy explained that he had...under the dining room table. He was also quick to explain that his dad was really mad - oops! So, I'd also recommend talking extensively about not painting on other carpets...
*Carpet remnants are often available for free or very low cost at carpet stores.
"Gingerbread" Stable
This idea isn't mine, I saw it at a Christmas Fair at a local church. They used icing and graham crackers to make a stable (similar to making a gingerbread house.) Kids could add "hay" (coconut flakes possibly colored with yellow food coloring) and could construct nativity figures and animals from gum drops, hard candy, etc. depending on the ages of the children. For younger children, I would recommend letting them decorate a pre-constructed stable with icing and coconut flake "hay".
This is Kiera's "Gingerbread Nativity". Andrew was much more interested in eating graham crackers, Smarties candy, and icing; he didn't even construct enough to warrant a picture! The red circles on the left are Joseph and Mary (made from cinnamon discs and a broken jaw breaker). The pink and yellow circles are Smarties candies and represent baby Jesus. The yellow in the stable is coconut "hay". We used too much food coloring and ended up with a neon orange for the hay ~ a few drops will do! :) I'm sure I've said this quite a bit by now, but if you have small children, please use caution when choosing your candies due to choking hazards.
**There will be more ideas and pictures coming soon to this page.
Check back for updates!!
