Christmas cooking with the kids...
Homemade Christmas Cards
There are so many craft stores out there now you simply have to take you pick to find any christmas card making kits.
Make sure you get ones that are ready made shapes, anything from a snow man to angels and that's the hard part done.
Just make sure there are plenty of pencils, pens, paints, glitters and all sorts of bits and bobs lying around the house so the kids can whip up their personal cards for family and friends. They're bound to have lots of fun and you can sit quietly with a brew watching them find their creative side.
Home-made mince pies
Every child likes to bake so why not cook up a lovely batch of homemade mince pies this school holiday.
If you don't want to make the pastry from scratch - a shopbought shortcrust pastry is all you need and a jar of fruity mince meat. Just get a baking tin with the little 'muffin' sections, not too deep, and you're away
. Just cut a circle slightly bigger than the baking tray you are using to make the base of the mince pie and pop in it, add a spoon full of the meat mixture into the case cut a lid of pastry to place on top.
The kids can get a hefty dose of that christmas cheer and you can even have a little doodle if you fancy it too!
Or...if you're little ones are feeling creative, why not make your own little pastry toppers to sit on top of the pies instead. The possibilities are endless - from holly to christmas trees, simply sprinkle on some icing sugar and you've even made the snow! Yum!
Making your own wrapping paper.
One of the best activities that can be done with children this christmas is making your own wrapping paper.
All you need is a roll of wallpaper liner and some pens and paints to start decorating.
This also allows children to be as creative as they wish, ranging from squiggles to stencils and glitter even writing the name of the recipient for that extra touch! This adds a lovely personal touch to the giving and receiving of presents, the kids can get a hefty dose of that christmas cheer and you can even have a little doodle if you fancy it too!
Christmas tree cut-out decorations
To make some long lasting christmas tree decorations get in the kitchen and whip up an easy to make dough from plain flour, mixed with water and a bit of salt until it is a stretchy dough consisancy.
Using some christmas shaped biscuit cutters i.e. christmas trees, stars and hearts etc, cut the dough about 1-2cm thick and pop a whole in the top of the shape with a cocktail stick and bake in oven until 'cooked.
Whilst cooling find some paints, glitter-glues and stick ons that could be used on the decorations and get cracking as soon as you can. You should end up with some sparkling pieces to add to your tree or the unique, perfect christmas present for Grandparents or Aunties and Uncles.
Decorating a yule log
Who needs to buy a yule log, when there is the much easier, mess-free not to mention yummy shopbought alternatives.
For a hassle free but fun activity you can do with the children simply pick up a large swiss roll at the shop, preferably without chocolate. Get a big bar of your favourite chocolate and plenty of edible decorations (silver balls, sweeties, hundreds and thousands etc) and a cake centre piece if you fancy too.
Melt the chocolate, and without eating apply as liberally as you want to the a swiss roll - it doesn't have to be neat, the messier it is, the more it resembles an actual log!
For extra effect, lightly scrape a fork down the melted chololate, leaving the lines of a wood effect.
Then as the chocolate is hardening up, start to decorate however the children want to and then when done just likely sprinkle with some icing sugar for that all important snow fall fluster.
Have a happy, creative Christmas =)
FemaleFirst Jenna Fordie