Fun Christmas Craft for Kids

Christmas Crafts for Kids - Reindeer Craft Treat Holder

A Reindeer craft that kids can make and give as a gift.
These whimsical little reindeer can serve as place card holders
for a holiday table, party favors, or give a large reindeer as a gift,
filled with the recipients favorite candy!

They are an easy and inexpensive craft for classrooms or scout troops.


You'll Need:
Scissors
Craft glue, glue stick or glue dots
Terracotta clay pots; 2"-5"
Plastic eyes
Red pom-poms (glitter pom-poms are a fun addition!)
Three shades of brown craft foam, cardstock paper or construction paper;
we combined all three to make our reindeer family.


parts pictured for the large reindeer
2 antlers
2 large ears
2 small ears
2 eyes
one red nose

How to Make It:
First, with one shade of brown, cut the antlers to match the size of
your pot. If you are making the larger reindeer, use a child's handprint as pattern. Then, cut the ears with the other brown. We used a lighter shade of brown to add yet another layer to the ears but that's not necessary.

Attach they ears to the back of the pot. Then add the antlers.

Glue the eyes and nose the front. Fill the pot with candy, nuts or other goodies. It's that simple!

Let's not take CHRIST out of Christmas :)

The true meaning of the Candy Cane

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me

White is for my Savior
Who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for Jesus My Lord, that's for sure!

Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!



Candy Canes are YUMMY!
When you see a candy cane, are you reminded of how much Jesus loves you? Jesus came to earth over 2000 years ago to demonstrate His love for the WHOLE world!

A GREAT IDEA
Share the love of Jesus with your neighbors and friends! Make a few of the crafts and recipes below. Print the story of the candy cane and attach to your "gift." Dress in Christmassy colors and visit your neighbors. Wish them "Merry Christmas" and give them your candy cane gift :) It will warm their heart as well as yours this season!

The LEGEND of the Candy Cane
A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".
The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.
The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom Jesus loves and treasures.


Nothing warms the heart like HOT COCOA!
Candy Cane Cocoa
4 cups milk3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped4 peppermint candy canes, crushed1 cup whipped cream4 small peppermint candy canes
Heat the milk until steaming hot - NOT boiling. Add the chocolate and crushed peppermint candy and allow them to melt and become smooth.
Pour into Christmas mugs and garnish with whipped cream. Add candy cane stirring stick to make it extra special :)

Candy Cane Recipe Ideas

Candy Cane Fudge
1 package vanilla milk chips 1 can Pillsbury Vanilla Creamy Supreme Icing 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 4 drops of red food coloring 2 Tablespoons of peppermint candy canes (chopped)
Put vanilla chips in pan on the stove at medium heat. Continue stirring until the chips have melted. Add icing to pan and continue stirring. Take off heat and add peppermint extract until dissolved. Pour mixture into a pan. Take food coloring and add one drop in each corner of pan. Take butter knife and begin stirring until the food coloring has been swirled into the fudge. Add chopped peppermint pieces to top of fudge. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until the fudge has harden. Cut into small pieces.

Chocolate Candy Cane Bites
4 3-oz. chocolate bars, 2 semisweet 1 milk & 1 white chocolate1/2 c Crushed candy canes
Using 3 separate bowls for the 3 different types of chocolate, melt the candy bars. Stir half of the candy into the semisweet chocolate. Set aside a little of the candy for sprinkling and then stir the remaining candy into the other 2 types of chocolate. Drop by teaspoons onto a parchment lined tray. Top each with a drop of the milk and the white chocolates. Sprinkle with the candy and allow time to harden.


Candy Cane Cookies
Ingredients:1 cup butter - softened 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1 egg 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup finely crushed candy canes 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Directions:Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and the peppermint and vanilla extracts and beat until well blended. Gradually add the flour and salt; mix well. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour. Coat two baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray. In a shallow bowl, combine the crushed candy canes and the granulated sugar; mix well. Shape the chilled dough into 1-inch balls then roll each ball in the candy cane mixture; place on the baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until browned. Immediately remove from the baking sheets and place on wire racks to cool.

Candy Crunch White Bark
Ingredients:1 pound vanilla-flavor candy coating3/4 cup crushed fruit-flavor candy canes
Line a baking sheet with foil; set aside. Heat candy coating in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until candy is melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
Stir in 1/2 cup of the crushed candy canes. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread mixture to about 3/8-inch thickness. Sprinkle with the remaining crushed candies.
Chill candy about 30 minutes or until firm. (Or, let candy stand at room temperature for several hours until firm.) Use foil to lift firm candy from the baking sheet; carefully break candy into pieces. Store tightly covered up to 2 weeks. Makes 1 pound (16 servings).


Jesus is the REASON for the season!
From the book of Luke:

2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

2:8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

2:9
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

2:10
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

2:12
And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

2:13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.


Candy Cane Craft Ideas

Candy Cane Reindeer
What do you need?1 12" pipe cleanerRibbon - Christmas ColorWiggley eyes 4mm or 5mm1 1/4" red pom-pomScissors, glue
Loop the pipe cleaner underneath the curved end of the candy cane. Twist until it's nice and tight. Spread the ends apart to form the antlers. Glue the eyes and nose in place. Decorate with the ribbon around the reindeer's neck :)

Candy Cane Candle
What do you need?1 small round candleEnough candy canes to go around the candle.*** Canes need to be same height as candle ***GluePretty Christmas Ribbon
Glue each of the candy canes to the candle until the candle is completely covered.
Decorate with Christmas ribbon and bow :)

Dysfunctional Christmas

Yes, I'm a Christmas Girl! It's not meant to offend any of you who celebrate Kwanzaa or channhka or even those that celebrate in a different way, but if I'm going to be true to myself and my faith I have to say that I joyously celebrate CHRISTMAS.

So why the title Dysfunctional Christmas you ask? Well, I figure that there are many of you out in this crazy world that have families that are less then perfect and getting through the holidays can be trying. I understand, trust me when I say I'm with you on this one.

Having a joyous Christmas is in the soul, not in what families do....or don't do to you or for you. This is my way of encouraging you to grab the holidays, both Christmas and New Years and enjoy every moment of it!

I know that the holidays are hard to face without "family" and whether you're single or divorced, your spouse is on deployment, death in the family or just a family you choose not to spend time with, Christmas can be a heart breaker, but just because you're not going to be surrounded by tons of family this year is no reason not to have a great Christmas. With a little planning, it can be a wonderful time of year.

Here are my ideas to keep the soul growing strong and Christmas (and New Years) a happy occasion!

Decorate the house. Even if you're the only one who's going to see it, take the time to decorate your home. Put up a Christmas tree, hang some lights. Send out cards. Make Christmas cookies. One of the hardest things about spending Christmas in a dysfunctional state, is the feeling that everyone else is having a great time and you've been excluded. Make sure you're not excluding yourself.

Plan something special. There's nothing worse than hearing everyone else's excitement over the upcoming holidays and having nothing to look forward to so fix that with a special treat. Special Date: Just you and your spouse? take time to go to that special restaurant or day trip that you've saved for a special time, heck no time like the present or take a cruise: Have you ever seen the Christmas lights on a boat, just wonderful - dinner cruises can be relatively inexpensive or better yet pack and picnic and sit on the harbor looking at the decorated boats that sail by.

Be around other people. Sitting around the house by yourself on Christmas Day is enough to depress anyone. Find people to be with. If you have friends that are alone this Christmas, host a dinner at your house. If you'd like to help out somewhere there are always soup kitchens and charities that need people on Christmas Day. Whatever you decide to do make sure you have someone to say "Merry Christmas" to.

Give yourself some quiet time. Sometimes the reason we're alone at Christmas is a sad one. If this is you this season, give yourself the time and the permission to feel sad, just don't let it become your focus. Christmas has a way of turning the world into a fantasy place where everyone is supposed to be happy and everything is wonderful. Resist the urge to fake a smile all through the month of December. If you heart is broken this year, take the time to remember, to look at old pictures, to mourn. Just make sure you call a friend afterwards and go for coffee. Life does go on.

Above all remember that you are not alone in have a dysfunctional family or holiday season so take time to reconnect with old friends, co-workers or strange enough family members that your not so fond of.

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Decor

Entertaining for the holidays can be a daunting task, but in reality it doesn't need to be.

Think Simple - A centerpiece of a glass jar or vase with cranberries, lemons, oranges in water with a little broken off Christmas tree branch to use as a base makes a cheap yet beautiful display.

White Christmas lights with garland splashed around the room and a scented candle or pine cones bring that Christmas spirit and smell without turning on your oven.

And while gifts are a nice gesture, make a card or bake some goodies - it's not always the cost of the item that counts.

Wishing Christmas Blessings this Holiday Season!