Santa's sack

Hi Fellow Crafters'

For the kids in my class as a farewell gift (we finished our school year on Friday), I decided to make these little Santa sacks (you can find countless tutes on how to make similar totes around the web). But here is a  photo of the bottom of the bag to give you an idea of what I did.

One of the things I put inside was a little tub of homemade glittery, cinnamon play dough.

I made up a batch and then divided it between smaller containers. This is the easiest and best play dough recipe I have ever made and it really does last for months, if kept in an airtight container.

The Recipe:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 Tsp vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water
food coloring of choice ( I have used gel, liquid and powdered food coloring and all work equally well)
1 Tsp glitter (color of choice)
1 Tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp all spice
{Note: Tsp = tablespoon, tsp = teaspoon}

The Method:

1. Place all the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl, stir together with spoon
2. add the food coloring, oil and boiling water
3. mix together using an electric mixer - I use the K-beater attachment on my mixer
4. add in the glitter, cinnamon and all spice, mixing all the time until well blended
5. allow to cool slightly and store in an airtight container.

Another variation I tried for my class for fun was to add cocoa to the above recipe- the kids loved the chocolate - cinnamon smell.

Happy crafting.

Kids Crafts

Hi Fellow Crafters'

Here are some of the Christmas crafts we made in class this year, bear in mind my kids are 3 years old.

These are basically ideas I got from around the web and some of them I added my own twist to.

First up, I made countless hand prints using both the childrens left and right hands. I then assembled this Christmas "tree". They LOVED it, they were especially excited that I had used their hands. Been 3 I was worried about using an actual tree as I was afraid they might pull it on top of themselves, so I felt this was a good alternative.

Second, I continued using hand prints to assemble wreaths. I used a paper plate for the backing, I just cut out the center of the plate and used the outer rim as a base to stick the hand prints onto.

I saw the idea below on the Catholic Toolbox -> HERE. I just added the stable and star. Great craft to teach the shapes rectangle and circle and how they can be put together to represent a baby.

Next, I used a free download from Lauren Meader on the PTI site -> HERE. I used them on the "mantle" of the "fireplace" on the display board outside my classroom.

Then I took a coloring page of Santas head and we practiced our fine motor skills, cutting and pasting!

We also colored in this nativity and I cut some angels using a Sizzix die I have.

Hope you have found some inspiration for activities to do with your little ones before Christmas.

Happy Crafting.