With the weather
turning chilly and the holidays drawing near, now is a perfect time to curl up
with a mug of hot cocoa and make something with your kids. Whether you’re
celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or a simple snow day, these crafts are sure to
keep the whole family engaged; plus, each one can be adapted for different
ages.
Hand-Painted
Gift Bags
From Michaels
(michaels.com)
A lovely, handmade
way to dress up your holiday gifts! The smallest hands can help make a cute
Christmas tree, and older kids can freestyle their own designs—Santa, a menorah
or dreidel, even a special note from the gift-giver. Recommended for ages 3-8.
What you’ll need:Plain white paper gift bags, acrylic paint in green, brown and
yellow.
Instructions:Lightly outline a tree shape on the bag in pencil. Fingerpaint the
tree, trunk and star design onto the bag, making sure to clean hands between
colors. Then add a border. Let dry, and repeat on the other side.
Magnet Menorah
From Jugglingfrogs.com
Repurpose those
ubiquitous takeout and locksmith magnets, or purchase magnetic sheets from a
craft or office supply store. Cut them into strips to create a fun and
interactive Hanukkah menorah.
What you’ll need:Magnets, scissors, acrylic paint, glue, glitter.
Instructions:Cut the magnets into nine strips, each about half an inch wide and 3
inches long. Then cut out nine flame shapes. Paint the strips in a variety of colors,
and decorate as desired. Spread the flames with glue and cover with glitter.
Let dry. Arrange on the fridg
e or other magnetic surface.
Light Bulb
Ornaments
From Spacecraft
(spacecraftbrooklyn.com)
These fun and funky
ornaments are a great way to re-use what would otherwise end up in the trash.
Customize them with your family’s names, polka dots, snowmen, stripes, or
snowflakes. Recommended for ages 5-10.
What you’ll need:Lightbulbs, acrylic or glass paint, rhinestones, glue, felt,
ribbon or wire.
Instructions:Paint the lightbulbs with the paint and let dry. Paint additional words
or decorations after the first coat has dried. Glue on rhinestones or sequins.
Cut out a piece of felt the size of the lightbulb fitting. Make a loop the wire
or ribbon, poke a hole in the felt for it to fit through. Glue the ribbon or
wire to the tip of the lightbulb, and glue the felt to cover the fitting.
Crafts About Town
Feel like going out
to do your holiday crafting? The city offers plenty of warm and cozy spots to
curl up and great creative.
Color
Me Mine. This paint-your-own-pottery studio offers over 400 different
pieces—just pick your object and paint it, and then it’s glazed and fired. Ceramics
end up dishwasher safe and non-toxic. (116 Franklin
Street)
The Craft
Studio. This long-standing craft emporium is well-known for its inspiring
space—Brooke Shields and Tori Spelling even bring their little ones here.
Offers a great walk-in craft collection as well as seasonal craft workshops. (1657
Third Avenue)
Make
Meaning. This brand-new art emporium offers endless crafting possibilities:
ceramics, jewelry, glass, candles, soap, paper and even food. 329
Columbus Avenue (there’s also a mini-store at FAO Schwarz).
Moomah.
There’s no chance of overstimulation at this soothing Tribeca cafe and art
space (pictured above right)—it’s a place where kids and their parents can create things
inspired by nature (and enjoy a cappuccino or grilled cheese in the process). (161
Hudson Street)
— Katie Garton
