Christmas is just around the corner. Decorating for Christmas can be fun but often burns a big hole in our pocket. Let’s not burn our pockets any further and DIY our very own ornaments instead.

DIYΒ Silver Bird Christmas Tree Ornament.

I drew the bird template on a drawing block. We recycled the hardboard that comes on the back of every drawing block.

We used that hard board to make the bird. I got the kids to use the template to draw the outline on the hard board and cut for them. The older kids cut out their own bird.

Get them to paint the bird using silver poster colour.

I cut silver paper and fold them accordion style. Read here if you don’t know what is accordion fold.

Use the folded paper as a guide to how long you’ll need to cut a slit on the bird.

Slip the paper through and spread open the wings.

Poke a tiny hole for the thread and the Silver Bird Christmas Tree Ornament is done! π
Victoria of Reuse Craft shared with us this her kids’ lovely Cardboard Christmas Tree using painted cardboard, recycled beads,Β toilet paper roll covered with fabric scraps and a star made out of an empty coffee capsule.

Thank you Victoria for the lovely Christmas craft. Click here to check out Victoria’s entry.
You too can share your art and craft work with us. Just clickΒ hereΒ to submit. Thank you
Let’s make a handprint Christmas mitten today π

Handprint Christmas mitten

Paint your palm white

Stamp your painted palm on red construction paper

Draw the shape of a mitten and cut

Paste some cotton on the mitten and you are done π
I love Pyssla beads. We can make almost anything out of it!

Pyssla beads

The kids hard at work π

Arrange the beads according to what you want it to be

Place parchment paper on the beads

Iron the beads, moving the iron about for 10 seconds or so

The beads will be attached to each other once ironed

Let it cool before removing the parchment paper

A beautiful ladybug π
Now.. let’s see what else the kids did!

Smiley Face π

Snowflake and Christmas tree π
Let’s make a Christmas tree out of craft sticks today π

Craft stick Christmas tree

Glue 3 craft sticks to form a triangle. Let dry.

Paint it green. Once dried, decorate as you wish.
Tie a silver / golden thread if you wish to hang it as a Christmas tree ornament.
We are making a giant Handprint Christmas tree today. Well, you determine how GIANT you want it to be π

Giant Handprint Christmas Tree

Get the kids to paint their palm green or yellow

How GIANT the Christmas tree will depend on how BIG your paper is.
Lightly draw a large triangle on the paper and get the kids to stamp their painted palm within the triangle area.
Repeat until the whole area is stamped.

Paint your palm yellow and stamp on the top of the Christmas tree as the star.

Let it dry

Once dried, paint your thumb and decorate.
You may also use sponge and rollers. Just have fun and decorate! π
It’s gonna be another round of ticklish affair π

Footprint Christmas Tree

Paint your foot green

Stamp your painted foot onto a paper plate

Use craft punch and punch out various shapes using different coloured papers

Paste and decorate the tree as you wish

The footprint Christmas tree is done π Tie a string and hang it on your real Christmas tree π
Milton of Our Little Corners did some really cute Gift Box Christmas Tree Hanging Decor.

You need not spend a fortune to decorate your Christmas tree. Click here for instructions on how to make these cute Christmas Tree decor π
Let’s make a paper plate angel today π

Paper plate angel

Cut a paper plate half

Take one half and seal the ends together to form a cone

Cut hands and wings out of the other half of the plate

Paste it onto the ‘cone’

Cut a semi circle for the face and hair from coloured paper and paste together

Draw eyes on the face and glue to the body. We glued toothpick at the back to keep the head up π

A lovely angel as your Christmas decoration π
Remember the Candle Polka Dots art we did not too long ago? Today we are going to use the same technique and create a Christmas tree out of it π

Candle Drops Christmas Tree

Using a brush, paint lots multiple colours dots on a piece of art block

Light a candle and let the wax drip on the dots of colours.
Once the wax are dry, paint green over them.

Scrape away the candle wax and you’ll get beautiful dots of colours decorating your Christmas tree π

Candle Drops Christmas Tree featuring Cavan of Life Muses and Ethel of Ling in De House
Remember I did a gingerbread man using cork sheets? Well, we can always improvise and use craft foam instead. Always remember to do the same on both sides if you intend toΒ hang it as a Christmas tree ornament. Here, I use glitter pen to line my gingerbread man.Β This is yet another very simple project to be working with the kids. π

Foam Gingerbread man ornament
If you have any other gingerbread man crafts to share with us, submit it here and we’ll link it back to you. π
Our craft demonstration during the ParenThots Family Day is finally over. Here are some pictures of the event. Enjoy π

The booth before the 'crafty' touch π

Crafters at work.

Ethan's artwork for display.

Our booth with the bunting, banner and artwork π

Foam Christmas Tree and Ladybugs are the chosen crafts to be given away to visitors.

The art and craft work on display.

Kids trying their hands on origami as I guide them along..

The scorpion boy! π

The origamis kids can come out with.. Simply amazing!

Kids having fun...

Visitors filling up the blog subscription form.

Finally, the people who made it possible that day. A million thankx go out to Kimmy and family, my parents and also my Darling husband for helping me out. I can't possibly make it without you guys. π

Christmas Tree Ornament
Christmas tree ornaments are getting rather expensive these days. Why not try making some on your own? Not only will it be more sentimental, it’ll not burn a hole in your pocket.
This foam Christmas tree ornament is extremely easy to do. Try it, you’ll love it.

Foam Christmas tree ornament.

Draw a Christmas tree on a green foam. If you have Christmas cookie cutters will be great. You may use the Christmas tree cookie cutter to draw an outline on the foam.

Cut it out.

Add glitters.

Put a needle through it and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Your Christmas tree ornament is done. So simple. π
We can actually use basically anything to make a Christmas tree ornament. It need not be expensive. Here’s a simple idea of making a Christmas tree using pipe cleaner.

Pipe cleaner Christmas tree ornament

Get a green or white {or any colour as you wish} pipe cleaner. My boy finds it ticklish handling it for the very first time. π

Bend it to form the shape of a Christmas tree.

Decorate it as you wish. Tie a thread at the very top and add a star to complete it.
Click here to learn how to fold and cut the perfect star to be used for the above Christmas tree.
If you love this and want to try doing it, do share your version of the Christmas tree with us by submitting your tree here. We learn and we share. π
This Christmas, let’s make an origami candy cane.

Origami candy cane.

Fold as shown above and turn over.

Roll up.

Roll all the way until you get this.

Fold forward.

Fold backward and you are done.
You may use this candy cane as a bookmark, Christmas tree ornament or anything to your fancy.
Have other Christmas ideas to share? Submit your crafts here and we’ll share it with the world this Christmas. π
This nice little paper basket can be used to place little gifts for the little ones.

Woven Heart Basket.

You'll need two different colours of papers. Fold and cut so that each piece has 3 loops.

Starting with the bottom 1/3 loop of the green piece, weave it through the first red loop, insert the second red loop through this green piece and weave this green piece through the 3rd red loop again.

Do the opposite way for the middle loop of the green piece. First weave the right red loop through this green loop, then weave this middle green loop through the middle red loop and then weave the red loop through this green loop again.

If done correctly, your basket should be able to open this way.

Using a craft scissors, cut a red strip and weave a green strip through it as the handle of the basket.

The beautiful paper heart basket.
This Christmas, let’s do some snowflakes to decorate our house.

Snowflake crystal.

Fold in half to make a crease.

Fold half again.

Fold as shown above.

Turn over.

Fold as above.

Fold in half.

Draw the lines and cut accordingly.

You may want to paste it onto a hard board and paste some glitters on it as a Christmas tree ornament or just paste the snowflake onto your window panes.
Got some awesome Christmas ideas? Come share it with us.Β Submit your crafts here.Β π
Kimmy of “Kimmy and Julie :: Family Journal” had requested a craft on Christmas. He specifically wanted a Ginger Bread Man. So here it is, a Crafty Crafted version of the Ginger Bread Man.

Ginger Bread Man

Cut a ginger bread man out of a thin cork sheet. Paste googly eyes on it.

Trace the ginger bread man onto a white piece of paper. Cut out the strips as the 'icing' and glue them onto the ginger bread man.

Paste the necessary decorations on the ginger bread man. You may run a thread through it to make a christmas tree ornament or paste a magnet at the back as a fridge magnet.