Holiday Craft Ideas

Now that the Thanksgiving holidays are done it is time to start working on the next season. Kids love to help decorate their homes so here are a few ideas that are simple for any age. Kids who love to make crafts will enjoy making these small items from pipe cleaners. A snowman or reindeer can be made and used as tree ornaments, decoration on gifts or table decorations. Pipe cleaners come in many sizes and colors so the options are endless for what kids can make.

Pipe Cleaner Snowman

Items Needed

Pencil

12 white pipe cleaner stems

2 black pipe cleaner stems

1 each skinny pipe cleaner stem: brown, red, and orange

1 red pipe cleaner stem

1 light brown pipe cleaner stem

1 gold glitter pipe cleaner stem

2 small wiggle eyes

White craft glue

Scissors

Toothpick

1. Connect the first two white pipe cleaners together by twisting the ends around each other. Repeat until seven pipe cleaners have been connected.

2. Coil the connected pipe cleaners around a pencil, creating a large ball for the bottom of the snowman.

3. Repeat the process of connecting three pipe cleaners and wrapping them around a pencil to form a smaller white ball for the middle of the snowman.

4. Wrap one white pipe cleaner around a pencil creating the head.

5. Take the last white pipe cleaner and thread all three snowman balls onto it, leaving a portion of the pipe cleaner visible above the head.

6. Carefully Wrap one of the black pipe cleaners stems around a large paintbrush or your thumb, creating the brim of the hat. Wrap the second black pipe cleaner stem around a pencil, creating the top of the hat. Thread the brim and top of the hat onto the white pipe cleaner stem with the rest of the snowman. Push them snugly together and trim the exposed ends

7. Cut the skinny brown pipe cleaner into 4 equal pieces. Create the arms by wrapping one piece around the top third of another, twisting once to create fingers. Repeat for second arm. Insert into the sides of the snowman.

8. Cut a one-inch piece of the orange pipe cleaner and insert into the face for the nose. Add a drop of glue to keep it in place.

9. Cut the skinny red pipe cleaner in half then cut that half into thirds. Wrap each piece around a toothpick to create the buttons. Secure buttons and all pieces with glue.

After the kids have learned how to make these items, they can make their own pipe cleaner creations.

Crystal Ornament

This science experiment will allow kids to create crystal ornaments in almost any shape that can be hung or even given as gifts. This experiment will show how crystals form from a solution.

Items needed

Large mouth glass jars

Pipe cleaners – bright colors or metallic work best

String

Pencil

Water

3 tablespoons of Borax for each jar

1. Make a shape out of the pipe cleaner. It can be any shape that will fit through the top of the glass jar.

2. Tie a string to the top of the ornament so it can hang inside the jar without touching the sides or the bottom. Tie the other end of the string to a pencil.

3. Add hot water to each jar and stir in the borax until it dissolves.

4. Carefully insert the pipe cleaner shape into the jar. Leave the ornament overnight.

The next day crystals should have formed on the pipe cleaner. If no crystals form, remove the pipe cleaner and heat the water in the glass jar. Add three more tablespoons of borax and stir until dissolved. Insert the pipe cleaner again. The crystals should form overnight.

The string that was used to hold the ornament in the borax solution can be used to hang the ornament in the home or attach it to a gift.

These are just two ideas for fun ways to use pipe cleaners for easy decorations.

For more fun craft ideas check www.creativekids.thingstodowithkidsmn.com