Week 3 of TWOC, Keepsakes for Students to Make

Along with Reading, Writing and Math, we are still decorating pumpkins and talking about Fall in our class. We're not doing Christmas projects yet, but I am posting this now, to get in on my friend Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas, Week 3, Accent Craft.

She may have had a more elegant accent craft in mind, when she chose that for the theme for this week, but I think she has several participants who are into the simple, child made crafts.

So here is my contribution for this week.

Be sure to go check out Keelie's Blog party and when you can find the time, go back to read all of the posts for Week 2-Memories and Traditions and Week 1-Lists

I have a child's handprint craft book somewhere, but don't know where it is right now.

The Angel and Reindeer that I did with my children used their feet for the body.
I haven't found directions for my favorite one that I did with them when they were little.
I used felt. It was the shape of an ornate ornament and then their handprint was cut out of a different color of felt and glued on to be the design on the ornament.
I will post a picture of them when we get out of storage.
Just have to go ahead and post this to get in on Week 3 of Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas
@ http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-accent-craft-1.html

3 Easy Christmas Ornaments to Make:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

These are simple ornaments to make, and they turn out really cute! You'll need to help your little one hot glue the pieces on, but they can be glued on with regular craft glue if you'd like.

To Make Your Own Ornament:

Items you'll need:

Brown felt or foam1 pipe cleaner, cut into two equal pieces

Wiggly eye

Ribbon

Bell

Small red pom pom

Small white pom pom

"Deer" tag (see below)

Pencil or marker

Scissors'

Craft glue or hot glue gun

Hole punch

Directions:

1. Trace your child's hand on the brown felt or foam. If you use brown felt, try to find the stiffer kind (sold at craft stores). If you cannot see the pencil tracing, use marker or a light colored crayon. Cut the hand out.

2. Turn the hand upside down so that the thumb now becomes the reindeer head, and the other four fingers are now the legs. Punch a hole near the top of the "back" of the reindeer (where the wrist would be on the child).

3. Slide the piece of ribbon through the hole, and attach a gift tag to the ribbon before tying it on. On my gift tags I write: Happy Holidays from your "Deer", and have them sign it underneath. Make sure to include the year on the tag.

4. Using the photo as a guide, glue the red pom to create a nose, and the white pom pom to make the tail. Glue on the eye. Bend one half of the pipe cleaner to create the antlers and glue them on. Slide the bell over the other pipe cleaner, and bend it around the "neck" to make a collar. Glue the pipe cleaner across the back.You're done! Enjoy this cute reindeer.

Handprint Angel
Directions:1. Paint your child's hand with the paint, and have them put one blue handprint in the center of the paper. Wash his or her hands and have them add a yellow handprint on each side of the blue handprint to form the wings (see photo).2. Paint a flesh colored circle above the center handprint. After this circle is dry, paint or use a black marker to draw a face.3. Using the thin gold ribbon (wire ribbon works best) create a halo for the angel and glue it over her head.4. Write or glue this saying on the back:

HANDPRINTS
I know you wipe some away,

But these handprints

Were made to stay.

So keep them forever,
A treasure they'll be.

A special "I Love You,"

For you from me.

Snowflake Handprint

Items You'll Need to Make Your Own Ornament:

Craft Foam

Scissors

Ribbon

Pencil or marker

Snowflake shapes

Child's photo

Directions to Make Christmas Ornaments:

1. Trace your child's hand onto the craft foam and cut

2. Glue the snowflake shapes onto the fingertips. You should be able to find foam snowflake shapes at your local craft stores, but if not, you can always cut shapes out of a heavy card stock paper.

3. Glue your child's photo onto the center of the hand.

4. Glue the hanging ribbon to the back of the middle finger.

5. Attach this saying to the bottom of the hand on a piece of craft foam or paper:

My hand is like a snowflake
Unique in every way
Please keep it close to your heart
I'll be grown someday