Christmas crafts for children

As the season approaches, try these Christmas crafts for children.

Fruity Christmas gift soaps for good clean fun. Parental guidance is necessary to enjoy these crafts to the full.

You will need:

1kg brick of glycerine soap (cut only a few slices into blocks); Microwave and microwave safe measuring jug; Red and green food colouring; Hard plastic soap moulds or silicone cupcake moulds; Any of the following: Beads, dried flower petals, small silk flowers, plastic animals, small change, fine glitter and marbles; Transparent gift box and/or transparent plastic wrap; Christmas stickers; Red and green ribbon; Toothpick; Stainless steel mixing spoon; Potpourri essential oils; (Tip: choose oils that will match your colours and your theme.) Moulds; Red food colouring with: cherry oil or strawberry and green food colouring with: apple or mint oil; Method:

Place the glycerine blocks into a microwave safe jug. Get all ingredients and moulds ready to use. Melt the soap in the microwave on setting high. Avoid boiling the soap.

Add a drop or two of the food colouring to melted soap in the jug stir. Stir in the glitter as well.

Add 5-10 drops of potpourri essential oil to the melted soap and stir gently to avoid introducing bubbles.

Pour melted soap halfway into the moulds and add the beads or chosen filling.

Pour the rest of the melted soap to fill the moulds.

Leave for 20-30 minutes till set or place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes only; ask an adult before you use the fridge as the soap is still hot enough to cause a burn. Once your soaps are set, remove them carefully from their moulds.

Fasten the plastic wrap at the back of the soap with a sticker.

Place covered soap into boxes and decorate with stickers and ribbon.

Bath salts for a hot relaxing bath at Christmas time.

You will need:

1 cup of Epsom’s salts;

½ of a cup of coarse sea salt or normal coarse salt;

Mixing bowl made of glass or stainless steel;

Food colouring red or green;

Metal spoon;

Potpourri essential oils;

Tip: Choose oils that will match your colours and your theme. Red food colouring with: cherry oil or strawberry and green food colouring with: apple or mint oil;

10 drops of glycerine;

Packaging: Little zip lock bags that can hold 2 tablespoons, decorated box to place little bags in, bottles with cork tops or unusual shapes clean jars;

Ribbons in green and red to decorate the boxes and bottles.

Method:

Place salts in mixing bowl and mix.

Add 10 -20 drops of food colouring to salt and mix well.

Add 10-20 drops of potpourri essential oils and glycerine, then mix well. Tip: mix by rubbing the mixture against the sides of the bowl.

Fill the little zip lock bags or jars. Measure two tablespoons 15ml into little bags. These little bags become convenient sachet for a luxury bath. Place the little bag in a decorated box.

Decorate the jars with ribbons, gift tag and a wooden measuring spoon.

For an extra touch add some dried rose petal and dried herbs like rose geranium to the coloured bath salts.

Christmas craft glitter globe for putting one in the Christmas mood.

You will need:

Glue that does not dissolve in water, or double-sided tape; Round or normal glass jar with tight fitting lid;

Theme related plastic figurine that fits inside the jar;

Glitter or plastic confetti;

Distilled water;

Food colouring: blue for the sea, green for a tree and yellow for an angel etc;

Teaspoon:

Silicone sealer;

Masking tape;

Stickers optional;

Method:

Make sure your bottle and lid are clean and dry. Glue the figurine to the inside of the lid. Let the glue dry completely.

Fill the jar with the water leaving about 1cm at the top.

Add 1 drop of food colouring and stir.

Add glitter or plastic confetti

Spread a bit of silicone sealer on the inside thread of the lid.

Carefully place the lid onto the bottle and close. Wait for the silicone to dry before you turn the jars upside down.

Masking tape the lid onto the jar.

Now you can decorate the bottle with sticker and a ribbon round the lid.

Click on the pictures below for more craft and decoration ideas.

Back home from Christmas crafts for children

For more holiday craft ideas, check out Mom's Holiday Craft Ideas.com. There are crafts, printables, and coloring pages for holidays throughout the year.