Holiday Craft Ideas & Christmas Activities

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
(Can do as a Mom & Me Playgroup)
Look in the December Family Fun Magazine for this article. A mom makes simple graham cracker houses and invites her sons friends and their moms over to decorate them. She has them each bring over different candies to decorate the houses.


Oreo Snowmen
What you need:
White Chocolate Oreos (I've seen them at Target and Walmart)
Black or red sprinkles for mouth or use a black cake decorator gel in cake isle and make little dots for the mouth.
Orange Slices for nose just cut them on the ridges and then cut in half again. Choc Chips for the eyes and mini M&M's or cut end off gumdrops for the ear muffs. You can also use the black decorator gel to make the band for the ear muffs. (not pictured above)


Marshmallow Snowmen
What you'll need:
Graham Crackers,Marshmallows for the head and body,White Frosting for the snow/to frost the graham cracker as base for the snowman to stick to.
Gumdrops or Hershey Kisses for the hat...I think the candycane kisses would be cute if you can find them or gumdrops would be fun too.Fruit Roll Ups for scarf,Black Icing Gel for buttons, eyes, and mouth. Candy Orange Slices (you can cut in a small rectangle) to look like a carrot nose. Pretzel sticks for the arms.

Ogden Christmas Village

Saturday after Thanksgiving through January 1st.

"Lights Before Christmas" Layton City Park. Hayrides leave from Burger Stop every Friday and Saturday night and we like to warm up with their Hot Chocolate Floats afterwards.

Christmas Countdown Paper Chain-staple 24 rings together using red and green construction paper with a star on top representing the star of Bethlehem.

Homemade Advent Calendars-Just use green and red cardstock/felt on a posterboard titled "Christmas Countdown"Decorate with stickers or cutouts,number each pocket, place a lifesaver, peppermint, or red & green m&m's in each pocket everyday so kids don't eat them all. This is another cute idea I found on Stone2fox.blogspot.com using a 24ct muffin tin and scrap paper magnets to cover the holes.

Everyday under the magnet is a treat or something fun to do. Here are some of the goodies I have planned for this year:
*watch Polar Express
*drive around and look at Christmas lights
*go visit Santa
*go ice skating
*bake cookies
*I bought reindeer pens and a snowman puzzle for other treats.
*decorate the Christmas tree
*watch a movie in Mommy and Daddy's bed
Plan out the schedule for the month, then write the treat or surprise on a piece of paper, fold it up and put it under the magnet.

Here is another idea using red and green cups attached to ribbon with a clothespin. You can find both at Dollar Tree along with treats and little toys to put inside.


Winter Camp In
Set up a small tent or have kids make a hut, decorate with Christmas lights, string homemade snowflakes from the ceiling, turn on some Christmas music and eat tinfoil/hobo dinners cooked in the oven. Or you can pop some microwave popcorn and watch a movie in your pajamas.

Secret Angels/Elfs
Draw names and do something nice for that person each day. Examples: Make someone's bed, load someone's dishes, give a hug or compliment, pick up toys, help mom with dinner, set the table, etc.

Check out Christmas books at the library and read at bedtime.

Some of our favorites are: Snowmen at Night, Snowmen at Christmas, The Polar Express, Mooseltoe, The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Dress for Ellen, Christmas Day In the Morning, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey, Great Joy, Gift of the Magi, Santa's Christmas Gift, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Very First Christmas, The Other Wiseman, The Real Santa Claus, On Christmas Eve, One Winter's Night, The Little Match Girl, Christmas Oranges, Legend of the Candy Cane, Who Will Pull Santa's Sleigh Tonight, Russel's Christmas Magic, Who's That Knocking On Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear,The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,If You Take A Mouse to the Movies.

Rice Crispy/Fruity Pebbles Train-Look on the Rice Crispy/Post Cereal website.

Pinecone Christmas Trees-Go for a nature walk and have kids collect pinecones. Paint with green and white craft paint and glue on craft beads, feathers, nuts, etc. to make your own winter wonderland.

Make your own Christmas placemats using red and green construction paper. Have kids draw pictures on them, decorate with snowflakes, craft foam, cricut images,stickers, or magazine cutouts, write their names on the back and laminate.

Christmas Stencils & Colored Cellophane

Free stencil patterns at:(www.fashionera.com/Christmas/christmas_crafts_stencils_designs.htm)
Trace the stencil and cut out using a razor blade (parents only)place the cellophane behind the cut out for a stain glass look. We used to make these in elementary school, they are really pretty.

You will need:
Heavy cardboard
Cutting knife
Scissors
Clear sticky plastic contact paper
Multi-coloured cellophane
Glitter
Coloured markers

Candycane ReindeerGoogly Eyes, red craft balls, and brown pipe cleaner for antlers.


Christmas Eve- "A Night In Bethlehem"
We have done this with the whole family. My brother and sister inlaw invited us all to their house on Christmas Eve. We all wore our Christmas Attire... bathrobes and towels on our heads to look like shepherds. We read Luke 2 and then had a Bethlehem dinner: Flatbread, nuts, olives, fruit, figs, dates,and meat along with some Wassail. Then we sang Christmas carols and shared our testimonies of the Savior. It was wonderful.

Christmas Lights on Temple Square
Check out www.ldschurch.org for free concert series info. and times. When I was in Acapella Choir in high school we used to perform at the Assembly Hall every year.

"This Is the Place Park" "Candelight Christmas"
Check their website for more info and dates.