Christmas Craft For Kids

Why not use some of the Market Special to get creative with your kids during the school holidays? Here are three ideas for kids crafts which will add a sweet decorative touch to your home, tree or wrapping, or make lovely homemade Christmas gifts.

Cinnamon Stick Tree Ornaments

What you’ll need

• Cuttings of Pine (use fresh from your Market Special or tree, or fake – the fake will last forever)

• Cinnamon Sticks (from your Market Special)

• Buttons (or miniature bells, pom poms, sequins, glitter)

• Twine

• Craft Glue (or Glue Gun – adult use only!)

• Scissors

Step One

Prepare all your materials and work out how many decorations you are making

Cut your pine into three different lengths – 5cm, 3cm, 2cm

Cut your twine into roughly 10cm lengths

Step Two

Glue the pine to the cinnamon sticks, placing the shortest 2cm piece at the top, followed by the 3cm in the middle and then the 5cm at the bottom.

Glue the twine to the back of your cinnamon sticks. Knot it at the bottom before attaching

Step Three

Decorate your tree with your buttons and/or the other decorations you have chosen, placing them at the top of your tree and the sides of the branches

Felt & Pine Cone People

These make lovely mantelpiece décor, or special homemade gifts for teachers or grandparents!

What You’ll Need

• Pine Cones (from your Market Special)

• Felt Squares – two or three colours

• Wooden Craft Balls

• Miniature Pom Poms or Bells

• Craft Glue (or Glue Gun – adult use only!)

• Red and Black Marker Pens

• Scissors

Step One

Gather your materials

Step Two

Cut your felt pieces: for each doll: a long strip for the scarf, a rounded-edged triangle for the hat and x2 heart shapes for the feet

Step Three

Wrap the triangles into cone shapes and use glue the edges together and the bell on top

Step Four

Glue two hearts together and then glue them onto the bottom of the pine cones for the feet

Step Five

Glue the hats onto the wooden balls and draw dots for eyes and mouth

Step Six

Glue the heads onto the pine cones. You might have to cut some of the top of the pine cone off to make a flatter surface for the head. Tie the scarf, and glue into place

We also made a pine cone girl on skis, using lolly sticks for the feet and skis, cocktails sticks for the poles and arms made from cuttings of pipe cleaners. We also painted the tips of the pine cone in white for a snowy effect and gave her some embroidery thread hair!

Cinnamon Reindeer Tree Ornaments

Great on the tree or as gift toppers

What You’ll Need (for each Reindeer)

• 3 Cinnamon Sticks

• 2 Google Eyes

• 1 Small Red Pom Pom

• Red Ribbon

• Craft Glue (or Glue Gun – adult use only!)

Step One

To form the reindeer, place two of the cinnamon sticks in the shape of a ‘V’. Place the third cinnamon stick horizontally on top of the ‘V’, towards the top. Glue all the cinnamon sticks together.

Step Two

Glue on the google eyes and pom pom for the nose.

Step Three

Cut a piece of ribbon for the hanger and glue it on the back of the reindeer.