Lost In Pizzaland: Here Comes Santa Claus: Part C: Week 16: December 20-December 26H

Here Comes Santa Claus: Part C

Crafts:

Shooting Star

Supplies Needed: Yellow Construction Paper, 2 Gold Sparkle Pipe Cleaners, Tissue Paper, Gold Glitter, Scissors, Glue, Hole Puncher, Nylon Thread.

Cut out each star.
Paint each star cutout with water-thinned glue. Sprinkle glitter onto the glue; then set the stars aside to dry.
Cut one pipe cleaner into two different lengths. Cut the other pipe cleaner in half.
Glue the stars together along the back edges, leaving an opening between two points of the star.
After the glue dries, stuff crumpled tissue paper into the opening.
Insert the pipe cleaners between the two stars to create the shooting star "streaks". Then glue the open edges together.
Punch a hole in the star; then tie a nylon hanger onto the star.

"Hand-Y" Holiday Ornament

Supplies Needed: Cookie Sheet, Knife, Oven, Small Photo of Child, Green Felt, Tiny Sequins, Green Tempera Paint, Glue, Red Ribbon, Round Film Container, Drinking Straw, Clear Acrylic, Cornstarch Dough(One Cup of Cornstarch, Salt, Water; Makes 8).

In a large pot, mix one cup each of cornstarch, salt, and water. Stir over low heat until the dough is the consistency of firm mashed potatoes. Let the dough cool, covering it with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
Press a portion of the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Have a child press his hand into the dough to make a handprint.
Cut out the handprint with a knife. Use the film container to cut out a hole from the center of the hand. Use the straw to cut out a hole near the edge of the palm.
Bake the dough hands on an ungreased cookie sheet at 200 degrees for three hours. Then set them aside for a day to harden completely.
Paint each hand , and them glue on colorful sequins as desired.
When the project is dry, spray the hand with a clear acrylic; then let it dry.
Glue the photo to the back of the hand so that it shows through the opening. Then back the photo with a piece of felt.
String a length of ribbon through the small hole and tie the ends together to create a hanger.

"Ginger-Bag" House

Supplies Needed: Small Brown Paper Bag, 6" Brown Square (Cut from a paper grocery bag), Assorted colors of construction paper, White Paint Pen (Or White Paint and thin brush), White Ribbon, Glue, Hole Puncher, Newspaper

About halfway down, fold the top of the bag back.
Use the paint pen(or paintbrush) to paint a decorative edge around the sides and bottom of the front of the bag. Also paint an edge around the brown square(roof).
Cut out a white window and door; then glue each piece onto the house.
Cut out paper candy shapes and glue them onto the house.
After the paint and glue dry, unfold the paper bag and stuff it with newspaper. Then fold down just the top two inches of the bag.
Fold the roof in half; then place the fold on top of the bag
Punch two holes through all thicknesses near the fold. Thread a length of ribbon through the holes and then tie a bow in the front.

Gingerbread Friends

Supplies Needed: Large Bowl, Red and Green Food Coloring, Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, And Cloves, Gingerbread people cookie cutters, rolling pin, coffee stirrer, cookie sheet, oven, white paint pen, fine-tipped permanent markers, small pom-poms, craft glue, thin ribbon, baking dough(2 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, 1 cup of water; makes 12 gingerbread people)

Baking Dough: Mix together 2 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water. Add flour as needed to form a firm dough.
Mix into the dough about 20 drops each of red and green food coloring and one teaspoon each of cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
Roll out a portion of the dough to about 1/4 inch thick; then cut out three people shapes.
Place the cutouts on an ungreased cookie sheet. Use the coffee stirrer to poke a hole near the end of the arms of each dough person.
Bake the dough people at 200 degrees for three hours; then allow them to air dry for about three days. (If desired, eliminate the baking by air-drying the cutouts for about seven days.)
Decorate each gingerbread person with the paint pen, markers, and pom-poms.
Tie the gingerbread friends together with ribbon. Tie a longer ribbon to the two outside arms.

Toy Soldier Mask

Supplies Needed: 9" Paper plate, Black, red, yellow and blue Construction Paper, 6" Length of Yellow Ribbon, wide craft stick, regular craft stick, chalk, scissors, glue, black marker or crayon, clothespins, stapler

Fold the plate in half; then cut out an eye opening in the top third of the plate as shown.
Use chalk to trace the hat onto black paper; then cut it out.
Trace the circle two times onto both red and yellow paper; then cut out all four circles.
Trace and cut out several feathers in the desired colors; red, yellow and blue. Or use craft feathers.
Glue the ribbon, yellow circles, and feathers onto the hat.
Glue red circle cheeks onto the inside of the paper plate; then draw a mouth and nose.
Squeeze a line of glue along the plate rim above the eyehole; then attach the hat to the mask. Use clothespins to hold the hat in place while the glue dries.
Glue a wide craft stick handle to the mask.

Candle Pencil Topper

Supplies Needed: 3" felt Squares, orange felt, fabric marker, glue, pencil, scissors

Cut out an orange felt flame.
Draw a glue line along three edges of the felt square. Fold the square in half, inserting the flame into the glued top of the resulting candle.
After the glue dries, write your child's name ( or initials) on the candle.
To use as a pencil topper, simply slide a pencil into the opening at the bottom of the candle.
Add sparkle to the candle by gluing gold glitter onto the felt flame.

Fancy Filter Angel

Supplies Needed: 2" round coffee filters, white milk jug lid, half-length of gold pipe cleaner, glitter, cotton, glue, black permanent marker

Fold one coffee filter in half and glue the edges together.
Fold the other coffee filter in half; then fold it half again and glue the two folded edges together.
Glue the folded coffee filters together to create the angel's body.
Draw a face inside the milk jug lid; then glue the lid onto the angel's body to resemble the head.
Shape the pipe cleaner into a halo. Glue the halo to the back of the head.
Glue cotton hair onto the angel's head.
Draw a glue design on the angel's body; then sprinkle it with glitter. When the glue is dry, shake off the excess glitter.
If desired, attach a piece of magnetic tape to the back of the angel to create a decorative magnet.

Holiday Windsock

Supplies Needed: 4 1/2 x 20" card-stock strip, 8-10 wrapping paper strips, red, green, yellow, and blue tempera paint, ribbon, hole puncher, stapler, set of sponge printers(trace christmas shapes like tree, candy cane, bell, star) on sponges and cut out.

Sponge-print holiday shapes onto card-stock strip. Allow the paint to dry.
Staple eight to ten wrapping paper strips along the bottom of the card-stock strip.
Staple the ends of the card-stock strip together to create a windsock.
Punch a hole near the top of the windsock; then punch another hole opposite the first one.
Tie on a ribbon hanger.

Drinking Straw Art

Supplies Needed: Drinking Straws, Poster Board, White Glue, Scissors, Pencil, Tape, Pipe Cleaner( for hanging)

Design a Scene or Word.
Sketch it onto poster board.
Cut straws and glue them onto the design.
Glue more straws around your child's picture to form a frame.
Glue or tape a pipe cleaner on back for hanging. Could also thread cut straws onto the pipe cleaner to add style.

Checkbox Camera

Supplies Needed: Cardboard toilet paper tube, acrylic paint, check box, construction paper, craft knife, double stick tape, foil or other shiny embellishment, markers, pencil, scissors, small viewfinder-like embellishment, transparent tape

Cover outside of the check box with construction paper and tape into place.
Cut toilet paper tube to 3" long.
Paint the toilet paper tube. Let dry.
Using the toilet paper tube as your guide, trace a circle in the center of the check box, then cut it out with craft knife.
Slide the toilet paper tube in to the circle cut from the check box, making sure most of it is sticking out.
Cut a small square of foil and tape to the upper, right hand corner of the check box to create the flash.
Tape small viewfinder-like embellishment next to the flash.
Using markers or construction paper, create other camera buttons and features as desired.

Picture Frames

Supplies Needed: 4 Craft sticks for each frame, Cool-temperature Glue Gun/glue sticks, Photograph, Embellishments, Ribbon

Put a dab of glue on both ends of 2 sticks. Glue these to the top of 2 additional sticks.
Put a tiny bit of glue on the photograph side of each corner of the photograph and place it behind frame window.
Glue a ribbon to 2 corners at the back of the frame for hanging, or add embellishments for a designer touch.

Sun Catchers

Supplies Needed: 3 medium notched craft sticks, cool-temperature glue gun/glue sticks, rhinestones, ribbon or string for hanging

Glue sticks on top of each other to form a star pattern.
Glue rhinestones to star one at a time.
Hang in a window so the sun will catch and reflect light from your sun catcher.
Use can also try using pom-poms or beads.

Table Craft Sticks

Supplies Needed: 5 small craft sticks, 11 jumbo craft sticks, cool-temperature glue gun/glue sticks, paint

Place 4 jumbo sticks on the table so they have a slight space between them. Put a dab of glue on each stick and stick 2 small sticks on top of glue dots
Glue 1 jumbo stick on each long side of tabletop and 1 small stick on each end of tabletop.
Cut legs desired length, glue legs in place underneath table in each corner.
Glue jumbo stick in place as table support, underneath table slant ways.
Glue a small stick in place to resemble drawer.
Paint table and glue bead for drawer handle.

Chair Craft Sticks

Supplies Needed: 3 jumbo craft sticks, 11 small craft sticks, cool-temperature glue gun/glue sticks, paint

Front legs of chair; Cut 1 jumbo stick into 2 pieces rounded on 1 end.
Put a dot of glue on either end of 1 small craft stick and place on straight end of one stick. Put a dot of glue on second small stick and place slightly below first stick.
Chair back and back legs. Place 2 jumbo sticks next to the 2 sticks in step 2, align rounded bottoms, and repeat step 2.
Chair seat: Glue 5 small sticks together with a thin thread of glue on one side of each stick.
Glue the front legs to the front of the seat and back legs to the back of the seat.
Glue 2 small sticks to the underside of the chair as support.
Paint chair.

Bed Craft Sticks

Supplies Needed: 4 medium craft sticks, 8 small craft sticks, 13 jumbo craft sticks, cool-temperature glue gun/glue sticks, paint

Footboard --- place 1 medium stick on hard surface. Place a jumbo stick on each end of medium stick.(Do not glue in place). With a dab of glue on the end of 4 small sticks, glue the small sticks to the medium stick, in the space between the 2 jumbo sticks.
Repeat with bottom medium stick.
Glue jumbo stick under each end of medium stick.
Headboard--- repeat Steps 1-3 only turn opposite way so the small sticks are at the top.
Bed---Glue 6 jumbo sticks together with a thin thread of glue on each side of stick.
Bed support--turn bed upside down and glue 2 jumbo sticks on each side.
Glue footboard to bottom of bed headboard to top of bed.
Glue one jumbo stick diagonally across bottom of bed for support.
Paint.
Decorate with miniature linens and pillow or cover the bed with roses--you now have your own "bed of roses"!

Photo Jars

Supplies Needed: Jars with lids, favorite photographs, metal paints, paintbrush

Paint lids and let dry.
Cut pictures to fit exactly from top to bottom of jar.
Place photograph in jar.
Use in place of picture frames.

Water Globes

Supplies Needed: Baby Food jar with tight-fitting lids, course sandpaper, distilled water, epoxy glue, glitter, glycerin(available at the pharmacy or hobby lobby), metal paint, miniatures, ceramic figurines, or plastic toys(do not use metal-they rust), paintbrush

Paint jar lids. Let dry.
Sand the inside of the lid until the metal is scratched.
Following manufacturer's instructions, using clear-drying epoxy to adhere the miniature to the inside of the lid. Let epoxy dry.
Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water. Add glitter and a dash of glycerin to keep glitter from falling too quickly.
Screw the lid on tightly, being careful not to spill the water or dislodge the miniature.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Supplies Needed: Fresh Cranberries, Miniature Marshmallows, Thin Florist Wire, Holiday Ribbon

Cut the wire into 16" lengths.
Begin by threading a cranberry on the wire, leaving about 1 1/2" of wire at the end.
Alternate cranberries and marshmallow.
When the wire is almost covered, twist it into a wreath shape.
Twist end pieces of wire together.
Attach a ribbon to the wire and hang it on the tree.

Greeting Card Oraments

Supplies Needed: Embroidery Floss, Used Greeting Cards, A Cup, Pencil, Scissors, A Ruler, and Glue

Fold a length of embroidery floss about 16 inches long in half and set it aside.
Use the cup to trace five circles onto colorful areas of the cards. Cut them out.
Fold each circle in half so the picture is on the inside.
Spread the glue on one of the plain halves of one of the folded circles. Press half of another folded circle onto the glued area.
Apply glue to the other half of the second circle and press on a third circle. Then glue on the fourth circle.
Run a line of glue down the center area. Place the folded floss in it so the ends are in the glue and the lopped end is free.
Glue the last folded circle in place to close the ornament. Allow the glue to dry before you hang up the ornament.

Activities :

Homemade I Spy Game

Supplies Needed: 25 sheets of Card-stock(2 Different Prints), 2 Duplicate Pictures(Around 50), Glue

Cut out 2 x 2" squares out of card-stock.
Glue each picture on the blank side of the card-stock squares.
Then divide the pictures put one of each picture in two separate piles.
Take one pile and turn upside down, so you can see the pictures.
Then take the other pile and put them out on the table or floor, with picture side up, making a square.
Then turn over a card in the pile and see who can be the first one to find the picture in the square.

Take Apart Old Machines

Supplies Needed: Old machine that is broken(VCR, Old Clock, Computer, etc. , Tools to take it apart, Cardboard, Glue

Let your child take apart an old machine. Have them look at all the parts.
If you want you can see if your child can put it back together.
You can also have your child glue the parts onto a piece of cardboard for artwork.

Shaving Cream Bath Paint:

Supplies Needed: Muffin Tin, Spoon, Can of Shaving Cream, Food Coloring(Variety of Colors)

Squirt shaving cream dollops into each section of a muffin tin.
Add a couple of drops of food coloring to each section and mix together with a spoon.
Place the tin where kids can reach it while in the bathtub.
Let them dip their fingers, hands, or sponges into the paints and create pictures on the walls and tub.
When bath time is over, be sure to rinse away the paint.

Rubbery Flubbery Dough

Supplies Needed: Cornstarch, Cold Water, Measuring Cups, Mixing Bowl and Spoon, Salt, Hot Water, Saucepan and hot plate or stove, wooden toy mallet or block of wood, wide dowel or rolling pin, items to stick into dough( birthday candles, chopsticks, craft sticks, golf tees, large pegs, plastic animals, straws), box lids, airtight container or plastic bag

Prepare: Make the dough. (Children love to help and particularly enjoy putting their hands in the soft cornstarch.) Pour 1 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water into a mixing bowl and stir with a spoon. Set it aside. Add 1 cup salt and 1 cup hot water into a saucepan on a hotplate or stove and bring it to a boil. Pour the contents of the mixing bowl into the hot saucepan mixture. Turn down the heat to low. Stir constantly while it cooks, until the mixture is dry and thick (like pie dough). Remove from the heat and put the dough on a board or counter to cool. After it cools, knead until smooth.
Put out a toy mallet or block of wood, a rolling pin or dowel, and a selection of items(in box lids) for poking the dough.
If the dough gets sticky, pour some dry powdery cornstarch on the table and roll the dough in it.
Although this recipe stores well in an airtight container, it does dry out more quickly than other play-clays.

Buttermilk Chalk Drawing

Supplies Needed: Chalk in assorted colors, buttermilk, white typing paper, plastic bowls, colorful sheet of construction paper

Partially fill the bowl with buttermilk.
Dip the chalk color of your choice in the buttermilk.
Draw a design with the wet chalk on the white paper. Continue to dip the chalk as needed to keep the end wet.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each desired chalk color.
Let the picture dry; then mount it on the construction paper.

Wrapping Paper Battle

Supplies Needed: Wrapping Paper

After opening all the presents, save the paper.
Everyone grabs paper and the battle begins.
Wad up paper and start throwing it at everyone.
Toward the end you can have someone stand with a garbage bag and see if they can make a basket.

Present Pouch

Supplies Needed: Felt, Ribbon, Hole Puncher, Gift

Trace a plate onto felt. Cut out the circle.
Punch holes one inch apart along the outside edge of the felt circle.
Thread a ribbon through the holes until the ends meet. Leaving two inches extra on each end, cut the ribbon.
Place a gift inside the pouch, and pull the ribbon ends until the pouch closes. Tie a bow.

Different Ways To Gift Wrap

Supplies Needed: Use Tissue Paper, a Bandanna, or Aluminum Foil, Pinecone, Glue and Glitter, Plain White Wrapping Paper, Paint, Sponges or Stamps

Draw christmas shapes on sponges and cut out and use as stamps. Stamp on plain white wrapping paper and let dry.
Decorate a pinecone. Add glue to pinecone and place in plastic bag with glitter, close and shake the bag. Pull pinecone out and let dry. Put string on top of pinecone and tape onto present.

Sparkle Tag

Supplies Needed: Poster Board, Sequins, Aluminum Foil, Ribbon, Markers

Cut out a poster-board tag.
Glue a shaped sequin, such as a snowflake or tree, on one corner of the tag.
Wrap the tag with aluminum foil, gluing the ends in back.
Rub your finger over the sequin to make the shape appear in the foil.
Glue the tag onto poster board. Punch a hole in the corner, and thread a ribbon through it.

Bag of Cocoa Mix

Supplies Needed: 2 cups instant dry milk, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, plastic sandwich bag, piece of paper, paper lunch bag, glitter, glue

Fold a square piece of paper several times. Cut out triangles and other shapes from the edges. Open the paper, and glue it to a paper lunch bag. Decorate with glitter.
Mix together 2 cups instant dry milk, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa. Put the mixture in a zip-top plastic sandwich bag. Write the following directions on a piece of paper: Place three heaping teaspoons in a cup. Add boiling water, stir, and drink it up!
Put the sealed sandwich bag and the directions in the decorated bag. Tie it closed with ribbon.

Coaster Set

Supplies Needed: Colorful Scrubber Pads, Yarn Needle, Yarn, Small Box, Wrapping Paper, Tape

Cut large circles from scrubber pads.
With a yarn needle and yarn, stich designs into the coasters. Knot the ends on the back.
For the holder, cut the bottom section from a small box, that's slightly wider than the coasters. Cover the box with gift wrap.

Squish and Wish

Supplies Needed: Empty 16-ounce plastic shampoo bottle, 1 heavy-duty (helium-quality latex) 11" ballon, 1/2 to 3/4 cup of flour, rag or dishcloth

Throughly rinse the shampoo bottle with warm water until all soapsuds are gone. Cut off the bottom of the bottle. Dry the inside of the bottle thoroughly.
Roll down the neck of the balloon and stretch it over the bottle's neck. Make sure it fits tightly.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of flour into the bottle and shake the flour into the balloon. Continue adding a tablespoon of flour at a time until the balloon appears full. Gently press the balloon against the countertop to force any air out of the balloon. Add more flour. Continue pressing out air and filling the balloon with flour until it is the weight and has the feel you desire. (The more air inside , the more spongy the feel. Less air allows the balloon to be molded into shapes.)
When the balloon is filled, pinch it at the base of the neck and remove the bottle. Tie the neck into a knot. With a slightly damp rag, wipe off any excess flour around the outside of the balloon. Pat the balloon dry with the dishcloth.

Human Christmas Tree Game

Supplies Needed: Non-Breakable, Christmas Tree Ornaments, Tinsel, Garland, Pipe Cleaners, Tape

Have two teams if you want to play it like a game.
Each team tries to decorate their human tree the best they can.
You can use the pipe cleaners for the hangers or tape the tinsel and garland on.
Make sure to take pictures.
The most decorative teams wins.

Christmas Printable Activities

Christmas Games: Click Here

Child's 12 Days of Christmas

Supplies Needed: Writing Paper, Pencil, Crayons, 12 Sheets of Plain Paper, Foam Craft, Yarn

Make a book. Fold a foam craft in half and cut for the front and back of their book. Then fold papers in half for the book, don't cut. Make sure there is enough for 12 days and a front and back page.
Place foam on top of folder papers and punch 3 holes down the sides . Thread yarn through the holes and tie.
Then let your child think of something that their family members gave them. Like on the first day of christmas my brother gave to me a sock to hang on top of my tree. Write it down on the first page at the bottom or top of page. Make sure to leave enough room for your child to draw a picture of the sock on the tree. Then on second page they can say: On the second day of christmas my aunt gave to me two pairs of shoes to hang on my tree. Do this until on twelve days are done. The sillier the items received, the better. You can use grandpa, grandma, uncle, sister, friends, dog, cat, mom, dad, cousin, etc.

Food:

Campbells soup Chicken and Stars and Christmas Crackers

Trail Mix: 8 cups freshly popped popcorn, 1 cup walnuts(toasted at 350 degrees for 5 minutes), 1/2 cup maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup kosher salt, pinch of baking soda, 1 cup of dried cranberries, oil, baking sheet

Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet.
Mix the popcorn and nuts in a large, well-oiled bowl.
Bring the syrup, cinnamon, and salt to a bowl in a small pot set over medium heat. Let the mixture boil for 4 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally.
Turn off the heat and add the baking soda, stirring until the mixture is creamy.
Pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir well.
Spread the popcorn on the baking sheet and bake until its dry to the touch, about 15 minutes.
Let the popcorn cool for 20 minutes, then mix in the cranberries and serve.

Stylin' Snowmen: 1 cup white chocolate chips, 50 mini chocolate chips, 10 gummy rings, 10 gumdrops, 10 (8-inch-long) pretzel rods, orange decorators' gel, fruit leather

Place the white chocolate chips in a 2-quart bowl. Microwave them for 1 minute, then stir with a wooden spoon. If the chips are not completely melted, microwave them for 30 seconds more, then stir until smooth. Let the chocolate cool and thicken slightly.
One at a time, dip one end of a pretzel rod into the melted chocolate and use a plastic spoon or knife to spread the chocolate two-thirds of the way down the rod.
Place the pretzel on a sheet of waxed paper and press on mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. Use orange decorators' gel to add a carrot nose.
Chill the pretzels in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens, about 2 minutes.
Stand the pretzels in a mug or glass, and tie on strips of fruit leather for scarves. For each hat, stretch a gummy ring over the narrow end of a gumdrop and secure it to the pretzel rod with a dab of melted chocolate.
Makes 10.

Candy Cane Milk

Christmas Cupcakes: Cupcake Mix, cupcake liners, christmas candy decorations, decorators' gel, frosting

Have your child line the cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
Make cupcakes with your child. Let cool.
Let your child frost the cupcakes and decorate them

Holiday Oreos
Little Debbie Christmas Brownies or Cake Trees

Books:

If you take a mouse to the movies: A Special Christmas Edition by Laura Numeroff
Twas The Night Before Christmas
Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
Legend of the Christmas Stocking by Rick Osborne
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson