Holly Jolly Craft Ideas

Washi Tape Ornament

Winter weather has descended and as the temperatures drop, my little natives are getting very restless. I'm hearing comments like "I'm bored!" or "Why can't we go outside?" If I want frozen snowmen I'll let them out to play in the 20 degree outdoors (at my house during the day). 

But sometimes the littles need to stay inside for their own good - here's a round up of holiday craft ideas to keep hand busy and minds engaged!

Washi Tape Monogram Ornament
This is a fun and simple ornament to create with scrapbooking supplies and washi tape from our sister site, Craftown.

Swirled Ornament Balls
Create pretty painted ornament balls with this simple swirl technique. These easy-to-make ornaments would make thoughtful grandparent or parent gifts and are quick enough for a classroom projects.

Clay Pot Angel
This craft takes a little more planning and a few special supplies. But the result is well worth the effort on your part. Your little elves will be delighted with their clay pot angels!

Glitter Dreidels and Stars
A super easy way to create dreidel and star shapes using glue and glitter, this simple activity could also be used to make your own holiday ornaments to hang up or give as gifts.

Hanukkah Mobile
Use craft foam, a hanger and some string to create a sweet mobile featuring the Star of Davis and other Hannukkah shapes such as dreidels or candles.


Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, snacks and activities for Christmas and the holidays! 

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Happy Hanukkah Crafts!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happy Hanukkah coming up on December 8th - 16th! If celebrating Hanukkah is part of your family's beliefs and heritage, we have some creative Hanukkah crafts, games, songs and recipes for you to enjoy with your kids.

Or if you are a teacher with a diverse group of students looking for some holiday activities from different ethnic or cultural groups, we have some cool stuff for your class too! Below are just a few of the Hanukkah holiday crafts and recipes from our site. Enjoy!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pipe Cleaner Star of David

Dreidel Felt Magnet or Felt Pin

Dreidel Fun Foam Magnet or Fun Foam Pin

Glitter Dreidels and Stars

Hanukkah Mobile

Latkes



However you celebrate this holiday season, be sure to visit The Idea Box for all kinds of fun holiday activities and crafts. Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite crafts or family traditions!

Friday Activity: Hanukkah Mobile

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Hanukkah Mobile

Fun foam dreidels
string
hanger

Make several fun foam dreidels and a Star of David. Attach string hangers to all these. Cover a wire hanger with blue ribbon, and then tie the dreidels and star to the hanger and enjoy!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

Thursday Games: Menorah Race

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Menorah Race

(for each team)
8 toilet paper rolls
1 paper towel roll
paints
block

Ahead of time, have children paint eight toliet paper rolls and one paper towel roll in hanukkah colors (blue, yellow, gold, white). Attach construction paper or tissue paper "flames" with tape or staples. The day of your Hanukkah party, after sitting through stories, candle lighting, playing dreidel and eating latkes, the crowd will get fidgety. Have a menorah race. Divide group into fairly even teams. Set a long block at the farthest point of the race, with the paper towel roll "Shamesh" (helper candle) in the middle. Each child gets a candle. Each team would have 8 candles and a menorah block base with Shamesh in the middle. The race starts. It is a relay. One by one, children on a team run to the menorah, add a candle and run back to give their next teammate a turn. The first team to build the menorah wins.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Dreidel Felt Magnet

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Dreidel Felt Magnet

felt
glue
glitter
magnet
fabric paint

Cut out a dreidel shape (basically an upside down house shape) from light blue felt. Cut out a slightly smaller dreidel shape out of white felt. Cut a small rectange out of black or brown felt for the handle. Glue at the top of the blue felt. Glue the white felt onto the blue felt, so that part of the handle is inbetween them, and the other part is sticking up. Now, draw a dreidel symbol in the center of the white felt with either white glue or fabric paint. Sprinkle with glitter, let dry. Finally, glue a small magnet to the back and let dry.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Edible Dreidel

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Edible Dreidel

Hershey's Kisses
large marshmallows
pretzels and peanut butter

Begin by spreading a little bit of peanut butter on the top of one marshmallow and the flat part of one Hershey's Kiss. Next, take one pretzel stick and push it through the marshmallow continue pushing the pretzel through the flat part of the Hershey's Kiss. Once you have pushed the pretzel through both the marshmallow and the pretzel, you have an edible dreidel!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas

Monday Music: I Have a Little Dreidel

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

I Have a Little Dreidel

(make up your own tune)

I have a little dreidel,
I made it out of clay.
And when it's dry and ready,
Oh dreidel I shall play.

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
I made it out of clay

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas

Friday Activity: Hanukkah Memory Book

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Hanukkah Memory Book

Brown paper grocery bag
6 - 12 zipper-closed gallon plastic bags
red black and green construction paper
hole punch
scissors
pipe cleaner
markers

1. The plastic bags will be the pages of your book. Stack them so that the bottoms of the bags are on your left.

2. From the brown paper bag, cut a cover that folds around the plastic bags to form both the front and the back of the book. (The cover should be a little larger than the pages.)

3. Make sure all the pages are lined up inside the cover. Then punch a hole near the top and the bottom of the fold.

4. Use pieces of the pipe cleaner strung through the holes, with the ends twisted together, to hold the book together.

5. Use markers to color a picture on the front of your memory book.

6. Cut pieces of red, green, or plack construction paper to fit inside each of the plastic bag pages of your book. Then you can tape photgraphs, drawings, and other small memories of your Hanukkah celebration to the front and back of each construction paper sheet, and they will be protected by the plastic pages. (This idea can also be modified for vacation memory book, Birthday memory book, etc.)

Visit The Idea Box for all of our activities for kids

Thursday Games: Holiday Present Surprise

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Holiday Present Surprise

several boxes
wrapping paper
tape
gifts
candy
tape player

This game is based on the "cake walk" concept.

To prepare for the game, get several boxes incremental in size (they fit inside each other). You can use anywhere from 3 boxes and on up. Fill the smallest box with the prizes and candy, then wrap. Place it inside the next box and then wrap. Place that one inside the next box and wrap. And so on. Put a pretty bow on the last box to finish it off.

Now for the game: Have all the children get in a circle. (optional you can have picture or number markers for them to stand on). Play the music and have them walk around the circle - placing the present in the center. When you stop the music, pick one child (either by picking one of the numbers that they are standing on, or having a specially marked one on the floor). That child gets to go to the center and start unwrapping the present. (Most won't realize that there will be another box inside and it will get them excited!) Then start the music again and repeat the process.

Try to pick a different child each time. When a child opens the last box it contains the prize. That child can share the candy/prizes with the group. If you are doing a class party, you could fill the last box with little baggies of candy and prizes for each child. Have fun!!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas

Monday Music: Here's a little Candle

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Here's a little Candle
(sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

Here's a little candle dressed in white,
Wearing a hat of yellow light.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be.

Here's a little candle straight and tall,
Shining it's light upon us all.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be.

Here's a little candle burning bright.
Keeping us safe all through the night.
When the night is dark, then you will see
Just how bright this light can be!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas