three adorable and easy kids’ holiday crafts!
Looking for easy, adorable kids’ holiday crafts? I’ve got three for you!
Chelsea and Conor have been raised celebrating both Jewish and Catholic holidays – so every December brings Christmas trees and menorahs, wreaths and latkes, stockings and dreidels.
And when they were little – crafts of every kind (like salt dough ornaments, cinnamon tags and pancake mix).
As this was before the internet and Pinterest, I “saved” great ideas by amassing magazine clippings in a bulging folder labeled “holiday crafts”. And every year we’d create different handmade gifts and decorations. And they meet my strictest “kid-craft” criteria:
No hard to find materials or “single-use” tools.
Easy and fun for kids of different ages (as Chelsea and Conor are 5 years apart, this was important – I was always on the hunt for crafts that my 4-year-old could master, yet my 9-year-old would find engaging).
Relatively quick to complete (can you say “attention span”?).
Let’s get started!
SHOP THE POST!
Fruit Loop Candy Canes
I love this craft – it is so easy, and do NOT underestimate the adorableness of a bunch of these hanging on your tree (and don’t dismiss them as too “juvenile” for your bigger kids either – just watch what happens when you set out the materials and get started – it’s somewhat addictive).
Materials
Fruit Loops
Pipe cleaners
Shape the pipe cleaners into candy canes. Bend the bottom ends up into a hook to catch the cereal.
Thread the cereal – either randomly or in a pattern – almost the entire length of the pipe cleaners; make another bend at the top ends to finish.
Hardware Store Menorah
Though we’ve made our share of menorahs over the years – out of all kinds of materials – these are my very favorite. You can get everything you need at your local hardware and craft stores, and the possibilities for creating unique designs are endless (don’t forget to put your child’s name and the year on the bottom!).
Materials
unfinished wood block, 8-10″ long
acrylic paints
paint brushes
Mod Podge
(9) 3/8″ nuts
(1) 1/2″ nut
glue
assorted decorations (foam or jewel stickers, mosaic tiles, buttons, dry pasta)
Paint the block; let dry completely. Seal with Mod Podge.
Glue the 1/2″ nut on top of the block, in the center. Glue 8 of the smaller nuts – evenly spaced – on either side (you can place a little mark where each nut should go). When dry, glue the remaining nut on top of the center nut (this will be the “shamash”).
Attach decorations around the sides and edges.
Orange Bird Feeders
these orange bird feeders are one of my most popular DIYs ever!
These orange bird feeders have been pinned over 14,000 times since I shared them over ten years ago. And it’s no wonder. They are so charming and were always a hit with my kids – and they couldn’t be easier to make!
what do you need for these homemade bird feeders?
If I’m sharing a DIY you know that it’s going to be easy to execute, with simple and minimal materials needed. And it doesn’t get simpler than this:
orange
twine
birdseed
how do you make them?
My kids are big now but I vividly remember long winter days where I was scrambling for crafts and activities to keep them busy. One of the many things I love about these orange bird feeders is how quickly they come together!
Cut the orange in half and scoop out the flesh.
Pierce 4 small holes on opposite sides, about 1/2″ from the top edge of each half. Thread one piece of twine through a hole, and out the opposite end. Repeat with a second piece of twine in the remaining holes (you’ll have an “X”).
Gather the ends together and tie in a knot. Repeat with the other half. Fill with bird seed and hang from sturdy branches – or a fence post! – and wait for the birds!
Try to hang them in spots that are easily viewed from a window, so you can watch the birds come and feast!
Orange Bird Feeders
Equipment
- knife
- metal skewer
- scissors
Instructions
- Cut the orange in half and scoop out the flesh.
- Pierce 4 small holes on opposite sides of the orange half, about 1/2″ from the top edge.
- Cut four 24" lengths of twine and thread one piece through one hole and out the opposite end. Repeat with the second piece of twine in the remaining holes (you’ll have an “X”). Gather the ends together and tie in a knot.
- Repeat with the other orange half and twine.
- Fill each half with bird seed and hang from sturdy branches or a fence post.
Okay – now it’s your turn! I KNOW you’ve got a bunch of great kids’ crafts up your sleeves – won’t you share them here? I need some new ideas for my little guy!
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52 Comments
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Hi! I'm Sheri!
Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!
YOU are amazing! And I love all these great ideas SO much!
It doesn’t surprise me in the least that you are crafty because you are one of the most talented people I know!
Thank you Caroline! xo
Great ideas! As usual. And beautiful photography. You are on fire, my dear, on fire.
Love the orange bird feeder idea – you usually see oranges as pomanders.
I’ve also done the pipecleaner/fruit loops or cheerios as a bird feeder as well and hung them outside.
Thanks Sandra – from you that means the world! I love the bird feeder idea – how cute must that be!
What a great combination of crafts that are easy and still produce awesome results! So often they are either too hard or cheesy. 🙂 Despite 21 years of parenting and five kids I am not crafty AT ALL, so people like you amaze me!
Thanks Leslie! xo
Love these! Especially the orange bird feeders! How fun and festive. I bet they smell wonderful too. Like a bird’s version of an orange pomander!
Lovely, Sheri!
I can totally see you doing these with your girls! xo
You are really crafty!!! Great ideas… Perfect to pin 🙂
Thank you so so much! 🙂
Love these – especially the birdfeeder! I think I might put this as an activity for the advent calendar!
Thank you – so cute, right?
Cute ideas Sheri! Thanks for sharing. Do you have any suggestions for cuttings/branches/greens for outdoor planter/pot for the holiday season? I remember seeing so many beautiful ones last holiday season but don’t know what the magic is. Thanks for any suggestions (OR a whole column :)!)
Jessie
I’m DOING a whole column on winter containers next week! Stay tuned!! 🙂
This isn’t really a craft but an easy edible that little hands can help with: http://hellobougeotte.blogspot.fr/2012/11/goodies-for-holidays.html
If you filled one of these jars with them I think they would make a super cute family-made gift: http://www.youaremyfave.com/2012/11/27/let-it-snow-treat-jars-are-my-fave/
I love both of these; thank you! (and I’m a huge fan of YAMF!) 🙂
We haven’t actually done it yet, but I plan to do paper gingerbread men. Print them, color them, glue all manner of stuff on. Easy!
Easy is good, yes???
We will be making those Fruit Loop candy canes during our weekend playdates. Thanks so much for the idea!! xo, MJ
I love the candy cane and orange bird feeder ideas. I don’t have kids but that doesn’t stop me I still want to make the fruit loop candy canes
Marti
There is NO age requirement for fruit loop candy canes (and did you see my friend Sandra’s idea for using them as bird feeders too??) 🙂
Stumbled upon your blog as I was looking for a new, fresh design for menorahs for my class. Can’t wait to hear their remarks they start painting a block tomorrow! As you described your hometown & I viewed photos, I realized we are in the same area. What a small world.
Thanks so much! And I know, the longer I write this blog the more I learn about “neighbors” I never knew I had! 🙂
Love this! I am going to make the candy canes with my munchkins when they all come for Christmas! Thanks!
Thanks! Have fun! 🙂
what great ideas! i especially love the orange bird feeder.
Thanks so much! 🙂
I just tried this project and blogged about it on my blog, http://www.365daystounstuck.wordpress.com
Thanks for sharing this awesome project with all of us!
Thanks so much for the credit! Looks great! 🙂
First time on your site. Cool, I enjoyed it. Thinking to try orange feeders today
Thank you
Thank you! 🙂
I’m the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your orange birdfeeder project! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/orange-bird-feeder/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, we’d love it if you would submit them. If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above. Thanks for a wonderful project idea!
Oh my – thank you so much!! 🙂
My 2 year old and I love making the toilet paper roll bird feeders. We just collect them throughout the week, then spread them with peanut butter, roll them in birdseed and string them with twine. Great, messy fun as long as there are no allergies, but I am sure soy nut butter would attract the birds as well.
Ooh!I love that idea – thanks for sharing!
Hello,
May I use your photos for the orange bird feeder with an online class for young people I do weekly? It is free, but of course, your photos will be posted, and of course, I will give you credit.
Thank you.
Of course – thank you! I’d love to see the link when it’s up!
Hi Sheri,
I love the crafts for kids idea for Christmas. Can I suggest for Christmas 2013 (I know it’s only May but I make them all year round!) making Christmas crackers? They’re an English tradition and kids and adults love them 🙂
I could help you nearer the time. All you need is some card tubes (toilet rolls), crepe paper, some ribbons and some goodies to go inside. They’re great fun and easy to make.
Cheers from the UK
Phil
Thanks Phil – I’ve always wanted to make those – will put them on my list! 🙂
My daughter and I had so mugh fun making the orange bird feeder, she wants to try other foods. Thank you for the memory making ideas.
Oh great! Love hearing that; thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Have been looking for ideas in the line of crafts for my granddaughters, when they come to stay with us. Already have a large basket filled with goodies for them, but these ideas are so cute. Thanks again!
That’s great! Enjoy your granddaughters! 🙂
I think you should check to see if the orange is harmful to the birds. I had chipmunks at one time and put some orange rind in the cage for them and woke the next morning to find them both dead. Might want to check with the vet before doing this for the birds.
Thanks for your note – oranges are, indeed, safe for birds!
These are really great ideas to fun with kids.
I will try to make these for my son.
Thank for share !
Thank you so much! 🙂
Wowwwwwwwww!!!!nice pictures, these are so nice. And beautiful. Thanks for sharing this post. Looking forward for more from you.
I love that the orange birdfeeders are all biodegradable. You don’t have to return to the spot and take down any plastic, etc.
Thank you! This is one of my all-time favorite crafts!
My daughter and I had so mugh fun making the orange bird feeder, she wants to try other foods. Thank you for the memory making ideas.
I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂