Holiday Crafts

by Ann Svensen

Potato Print Wrapping Paper
Kids can't help but catch the holiday spirit when they're up to their elbows in crafts. You can keep them busy this season with these fun decorating and gift-giving ideas.

You'll need:

• A roll of plain white shelf paper
  
• Potatoes
  
• Cookie cutters
  
• Butter knife
  
• Different color ink pads (not always water-soluble) or
  
• Assorted tempura paints (water-soluble)

What to do:

• Cut a potato in half, then carve out the design you want (a dreidl, stars, a Christmas tree). An easy way to do this is to push a cookie cutter all the way in to the potato and cut off the excess with a butter knife. Remember the design will be the raised portion of the cutout.

• Stamp potato on ink pad then paper. Or put different color tempura paints onto individual paper-plates. Kids can either press potato into paint or use a brush to paint the bottoms. Then stamp onto paper.

Left overs? Your kids can use the extra paper to cover their schoolbooks.

Handprint Apron
You'll need:

• A plain, bright colored apron
  
• Acrylic or fabric paint (available at craft stores)
  
• A sponge

What to do:

• Wash and iron the apron (to get the starch out). Squirt a small amount of paint onto a damp sponge and rub it over your child's palm. Have her press her hand onto the apron. Repeat over the whole apron. After the paint has dried, iron over the handprints to help set the paint.

A hands-down favorite -- any family member who likes to cook would be happy to receive this personalized and practical gift.

Paper-Bag Turkey
You'll need:

• Paper bag -- lunch or grocery variety, depending on the desired size of your turkey
  
• Newspaper
  
• Brown tempura paint -- other colors optional
  
• Glue
  
• Scissors
  
• One sheet red construction-paper
  
• One twist tie, elastic band, or piece of twine

What to do:

• Let the kids go wild tearing the newspaper into strips. Use these strips to stuff the paper bag to desired plumpness. Tie-off the open end of bag with a twist-tie: this will soon become the turkey's tail. Paint the whole bag brown and let dry. With scissors make one to three inch cuts into gathered end of bag to give tail a fan-like appearance.

• To make the head and neck, fold red construction paper in half and draw your pattern. Keep the fold of the paper at the top of the turkey's head, and don't forget the waddle! Glue neck to flat end of bag as shown. Cut feet out of remaining construction paper and glue to bottom of bag.

A grocery-bag turkey can make a great centerpiece, especially when surrounded by her lunch-bag offspring.

More on: Christmas Activities and Resources for the Whole Family