Making Ornaments with the Grandkids

Crafts and Christmas seem to go hand-in-hand~

I see my friends and family making decorations for the house. And if they are not doing that, they're busy making Christmas gifts for a homemade Christmas exchange. It's all good and it's all FUN!

For the past couple of years, I've tried to get together with my grandkids to make some Christmas ornaments. They are out a week at Thanksgiving, and that seems to be a great time to get together with them. 

And we try to make it fun--maybe do lunch, then return home for dessert, hot chocolate and some crafting. I've tried to find homemade ornaments that would be easy, and be something that really would add to their tree. And we do it with an eye for saving them, so they can eventually add them to their own tree.

I found some this year that we could make which entailed decoupaging to thin wood plaques.

Here's a sample:

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The supplies:

The supplies I had to purchase included some Christmas card stock papers, Mod Podge, beads for embellishment, and thin wooden plaques. From my own house I got out scissors, other embellishments I had on hand and old Christmas cards as well as a hot-glue gun.

Lots of stickers and other embellishments as well as some "Old World Winter" themed papers.

Thin wood plaques available at craft stores.

Very basic instructions~

We simply chose a paper that we liked for the ornament, trimmed it to fit the wooden plaque, and coated the plaque with Mod Podge. I provide a link to the youtube video that shows how to do this below. Then we let it dry for 20-30 minutes and then hot-glued or decoupaged our chosen decorations. Easy, and it makes for a lovely afternoon of conversation while we are waiting for each coat to dry.

Some of the ribbons, trees and angels we recycled from old Christmas cards.

On the tree!

After I sent them home with the girls, I texted my granddaughter to send me pictures of them actually adorning their tree. She complied.

Also, please note: we included a label on the back with each girl's name and the date it was made. Then they can (hopefully) show their children and perhaps grandchildren. I can dream. (Insert chuckle here.)

Crafting with the kids and grandkids--nothing better!

Such a fun day or afternoon. You can made it as special as you want--pop popcorn, put on the Christmas music, make hot mulled cider or hot chocolate. Just another family tradition for your children to carry with them their whole life through. 

​Parting Christmas thoughts~

"Christmas now surrounds us, happiness is everywhere. Our hands are busy with many tasks as carols fill the air." Shirley Sallay

"Christmas gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us." David Cameron

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Video demonstration for decoupaging:

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Yhxzgpd24

My blog from last year about making Christmas ornaments out of cookie cutters:

​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/making-keepsake-ornaments

Happy holy season no matter which holiday you celebrate. Good wishes to ALL!