With the holiday season soon to be upon us, it’s time to think about some fun crafts we can do with our children in preparation for Christmas. My kids love doing holiday crafts, and I’m sure yours will too! It has always been challenging to find age-appropriate crafts that all of the children will enjoy making. My children each have a few years between them, so we have amassed quite a collection of crafts and craft ideas. Here are a few suggestions you can use. Consider it an early Christmas gift from me to you!

Bead garlands are one of my all-time favorite crafts. They are fun to make, extremely colorful, and great for children of all ages. You will need some string or plastic cord, a whole lot of beads, some scissors, and some glue. Cut the string or cord to the desired length, and thread it through the first bead. Tie a knot around that bead, and add some glue to keep it secure. Now add the rest of your beads. When you reach the end, tie the string off on the last bead and add some more glue. Now that was fun, wasn’t it?

Pine cone ornaments have also become classics in our Christmas craft repertoire. They are appropriate for children of any age, and keep very well in storage. You will need to spend some time collecting the pine cones. We collect them when we are out walking the dog. We simply paint them with silver or gold paint, and cover them with glitter. Let them dry somewhere safe, and tie them to your tree with a piece of ribbon. Are you getting in the holiday spirit, yet?

Bell ornaments are also a lot of fun to make, and they will last for years to come. We feel that small terra cotta pots are the best to use. Have the children paint the pot green, and allow it to dry. Once the pot is completely dry, attach fake jewels or beads to it with glitter glue. Then thread a small bell with some ribbon, and pull the ribbon up through the hole in the pot. Tie a knot in the ribbon so the bell stays secure, and add any other final touches you might like. I am sure your kids will love these crafts as much as mine do! Have a wonderful holiday, all!

There are millions of people today that have taken up crafts for fun and relaxation. Yes. Lots of them have also added some income from selling things they have made. Let’s face it. When you enjoy something, you like to do it a lot. With crafting, this means you will most likely have an abundance of whatever it is you make in a short time.

Selling some of the extra things can add space and income so you can make lots more. I know a woman who furnished everyone in the family with quilts for years. They appreciated her special gifts and she got great satisifaction out of making something beautiful and appreciated.

You will find that the benefits of becoming a crafter are peace of mind, pride in doing, self confidence, more friends, a sense of well-being and maybe even a couple of dollars extra to spend on your next craft project. Do a little reasearch. Go to some craft fairs. Search on the internet.

When you spot something interesting, do a litttle more research and see if it is something you want to try. Start small and see what you have a knack for. Once you find your niche, you will be on your way to a lot of enjoyment you never knew was possible. So…….. start doing your own crafts and have a great day!