Green Goes Simple: Family Footprints
Holiday Fun: Making Gifts and Cards With Kids
By Emily Anderson for Green Goes Simple
Holiday shopping doesn’t have to cost you -- or the environment -- a lot this year. Instead, kick-start the holiday season by getting creative with your kids. These fun and festive craft ideas make it easy to think outside the box and DIY your way to greener gift-giving.
Keepsake Holiday Cards
Every year, Americans spend an average of $2.65 billion on holiday cards. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this equates to about 68 million trees! This year, save some money and make cards into something loved ones will treasure with this kids-friendly DIY project.
Materials:
Star-shaped template (approximately 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches)
Cardstock (try repurposing old greeting cards or cardboard boxes)
Scissors
Small hole-puncher
Marker
Glitter
Crayons
Construction paper
Assorted ribbons
Glue
Twine
Directions:
1. Use the star template to draw an outline on the cardstock paper, and then cut out the star.
2. Make a small hole at the top of the star.
3. Write your holiday message on one side of the star. (“Happy Holidays” or “Joy to the World” are both good.)
4. Have your child decorate the opposite side of the star using glitter, crayons, construction paper, ribbons and anything else that’s appealing.
5. Cut a 6-inch piece of twine and loop it through the hole to create the perfect holiday card/ornament.
Colorful Cork Coasters
Nothing’s greener than a really useful gift! And who doesn’t need a few extra coasters during the holiday party season? Bonus: This gift puts all those holiday catalogs to good use.
Materials:
Magazines and/or holiday catalogs
Jar lid
Scissors
Craft glue (like Mod Podge)
Cork backing (enough for six coasters)
Ribbon
Directions:
1. Have your child find festive images in magazines or holiday catalogs to use on the tops of the coasters.
2. Use a jar lid that’s larger than a drink glass to create the coaster template. Trace around the lid over the holiday images that your child has found.
3. Next, trace the same circle on the cork backing.
4. Cut out the circular images and cork pieces until you have six of each.
5. Use craft glue to glue the cork and paper circles together, making sure the edges match up.
6. Wait until the glue dries, then stack the coasters and tie a ribbon around the stack.
Handpicked Leaf Prints
This gift idea will turn your kid’s art into a lovely addition to any home. Plus, if your little ones are learning to write, this is a great way to show off their brand-new skills.
Materials:
3 different types of leaves
Hardbound book
Construction paper
Scissors
3 small hanging picture frames
Craft glue (like Mod Podge)
Marker
Directions:
1. Have the kids go outside and collect a few different kinds of leaves.
2. Back at home, put the leaves between the pages of a hardbound book so they will flatten. Leave them in there for about a week.
3. Cut pieces of the construction paper so they fit inside the frames.
4. Once the leaves are dry, glue a different leaf to each piece of construction paper using craft glue.
5. Have your child write the name of each leaf (oak, elm, etc.) below the leaf on the construction paper.
6. Assemble the frames once everything has dried.
Emily Anderson is the author of Eco-chic Home, Eco-chic Weddings and When Changing a Lightbulb Just Isn’t Enough. Her work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal, The New York Times and her blog, GoodWithStyle.com. Her articles have previously appeared on Green Goes Simple.
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