Pencil Holder

This craft is a simple gift idea that can easily be used for other purposes. During Halloween, we made a similar craft to put candy in. Another year, we placed Easter eggs inside a similar craft. This year, we decided to make this craft for Christmas as a pencil holder. 

Materials

• Paper cup
• Foam boards
• Paint
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Glue
• Materials to decorate

Directions 

Step 1: Paint a paper cup. Allow to dry. 

Step 2: Cut out 3 circles from a foam board. When making these circles, make them large enough that the circles will overlap when attached to the paper cup and can be stapled together.

Step 3: Staple each foam circle to the paper cup. When stapling to the cup, make sure that: (1) the bottom of the circle is aligned to the bottom of the paper cup; (2) the circles are straight; and (3) the circles all overlap and can be stapled together.

Step 4: Staple each overlapping side of the circle together.

Step 5: Decorate

Decorative Pencil - Flower

Materials:

• Pencil
• small cardboard cut out of a circle 
• foam hearts
• pom pom 
• pipe cleaner - 2 
• scissor 
• glue 

Directions

Step 1: Glue the foam hearts to the circle cut out

Step 2: Glue the pom pom to the center of the circle of hearts

Step 3: Starting approximately 2 inches from the tip of the pencil, tightly twirl the pipe cleaner around the pencil. Around the eraser, tightly wrap and bunch together the pipe cleaner. 

Step 4: Cut a second pipe cleaner in half. This will be the leaves. Approximately at the middle of the pencil, wrap around the pencil and form the leaves by folding over the ends of the pipe cleaner. 

Step 5: Glue the back of the cardboard ( the foam heart flower is glued) to the pencil. Allow to dry. 

Paper Bag Stuffed Teddy Bears

Children color, stuff and sew their own teddy bears! Not only do the children have a lot of fun making this craft, but it also helps develop their fine motor skills. Before starting this craft, please note, it does require some, or a lot, of preparation, depending on the ages of the children you are working with. Also, it is recommended you prepare for this craft the day before you plan to complete it. 

Materials:

• Paper Bag
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue
• Crayons, color pencils, markers or paint
• Single hole punch
• Yarn or any other string like material children can use to sew
• Cotton balls or stuffing 

Directions:

1. With scissors, cut a paper bag so it can be opened a laid flat 

2. Fold the paper bag in half. 

3. Draw the outline of an entire teddy bear on each half of the paper bag. 

4. Using scissors, cut the outlines of the teddy bears out of the bag. You should have 2 teddy bear outlines. Draw an outline of the bear's face on one of the cutouts. This will be the front of the teddy bear. The other side (without the drawn face) will be the back of the teddy bear. 

5. Have the children cut the scrap pieces of the paper bag into small pieces. This will later be used as stuffing.

6. Glue at least one half of the two teddy bear cut outs together. It is recommended that you use liquid glue and allow the glue to dry overnight to make stuffing the bears easier for the children. Allow the glue to dry before continuing to the next step. 

7. Using a single hole punch, make holes along the edge of the teddy bear. 

8. Color the teddy bear. 

9. Using yarn, have the children sew the bear by pulling the yarn through the holes with their fingers. At this step, only have them sew the part of the bear that is glued together. 

10. Help the children stuff the bear with cotton stuffing and the scraps of the paper bag. 

11. When the bear is completely stuffed, glue the unsealed part together. Allow to dry. 

12. Have the children finish sewing the bear together. 

Home in the Winter Craft

Make a winter home for Santa to visit! 

Please note: This craft takes a little time to prepare, especially with younger kids. Take some time to prepare this craft, by either marking the areas on the paper that need to be folded and cut, or folding and cutting the paper yourself, depending on the ages of the children who will be making this craft. 

Materials:

• Card stock or another hard paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Cardboard - flat piece
• Glitter or glitter paint
• Crayons, color pencils, markers or paint 

Directions: 

1. Fold and cut a piece of card stock, following these steps: 

1. Fold card stock in half	2. Measure 1 inch margin across top along fold
3. Measure and mark 1" from edge and top	4. Cut along line made in step 3 (1" from top and edge)
5. Measure and fold 1" edges, 1" from top of page.	6. Fold edges so they over lap.

2. Lay card stock flat and draw outline for windows and door and roof.

3. Color the house. Glue the 1 inch over lapping edges (from step 1, part 6) together.

4. Take a piece of cardboard and color it green. Then either put glitter or glittery glue on the cardboard. Allow to dry. This will be the snowy ground.

5. Glue the completed house (step 3) to the snowy ground (step 4).

6. Decorate. We decided to add Santa coming down the chimney and a Christmas tree.