Ornament crafts
Most children are hands on learners. Spending time talking about each Advent ornament while you create the ornament will help children remember more about what they are learning. I have been asked if it is better to make them all ahead of time or one each day. It is up to you, your grace factor (creativity is messy), time restraints, the attention span and skill of your children, and the list goes on……. The focus of the activity is Jesus and should be a FUN and joy filled experience. With many of these craft suggestions, the ornament base can be made in advance of the season in a relaxed leisurely setting and the graphic added later during Advent as you go through the devotional.
The reproducible ornaments provided correlate with Come Expected Jesus: An Advent Devotional for the Family. Click on the button below to download the PDF file. These ornaments are available for personal use. If you are a church are large group, please contact me for a written release. The four pages are formatted so that you can print them two-sided if you choose. The Scripture verses will print correctly on the back side of the graphic/photo.
All these ornament suggestions are kid/parent tested. I will be adding to this list over time. If you have a suggestion that you would like to share, please contact me through the contact form. I will run suggestions by my craft minded kid committee for its fun factor.
Helpful Hint #1: Printed items need to be individually laminated before using as moisture and heat will cause the ink to bleed. My practical solution is using clear wide box tape.
Helpful Hint #2: The Advent disks are 1.5” in diameter. If you have a punch that size, it will speed up the process. Note however, kids develop better fine motor skills when given opportunities to practice.
Helpful Hint #3: Protect your workspace with freezer paper. It has a plastic-coated side so that when paint is spilled or glitter glue gets out of control clean-up is easy – especially when baby wipes are handy 😉
popsicle stick/twig snowflakes
Supplies:
Popsicle Sticks or Twigs
Wooden toothpicks or tiny twigs
Glue
Acrylic paint and brushes
Glitter or glitter glue
Cord or Ribbon for hanging
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (print ONE sided and individually laminated)
Optional (parent operated hot-glue gun)
Instructions:
- Glue 3 popsicles together on center to create a star.
- Glue toothpicks (cut in ½ pieces) or tiny twigs perpendicular on each snowflake arm. Leave 1½ inch diameter open at the center for the graphic. Let glue dry completely before painting.
- Paint both sides of the snowflake with acrylic paint (white or any color). Let dry between sides.
- Apply glitter. Glitter pens are quick and easy. Either method, let it dry between sides.
- Add a ribbon or cord hanger.
- Hot glue an Advent graphic to the center and its corresponding verse on the back.
Clear Globe ornaments
These are very simple but elegant. The hard part is waiting for them to dry – overnight! I suggest using empty egg cartons to hold the globes while they dry or better a makeshift clothesline to hang the wet ornaments from making sure it is taught so that multiple globes don’t slide into one another. The trick to this craft is not to over embellish as you will need the be able to see through to the suspended graphic on the inside. Young children have difficulty tying the nylon thread.
Supplies:
Clear PLASTIC globe ornaments
Glitter glue or glitter paint pens or Gold metallic paint pens
Nylon thread or light weight fishing line
Sewing needle
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (printed on both sides)
Instructions:
- Use glitter glue to embellish the outside of the globe ornament. Make sure there are “windows” so that the inside contents will be able to be seen.
- After the ornament is dry (usually overnight), remove the metal hanger from the top to the ornament.
- Using the sewing needle and about 6-8” nylon thread, suspend an Advent graphic on the inside of the decorated globe and replace the hanger.
- Secure the nylon thread to the hanger and cut off the leftover thread.
Cutout Ornaments
Cutouts are available in a variety colors, shapes, and sizes as well as materials (cardstock, plastic, foam, and wood.) There are a multitude of ways to embellish these. Think about what works best for you and your family. Sometimes markers are all it takes to enjoy the moment.
Beaded Rings
We found that children love to pick out the beads and string them, however, it was necessary to help them finish out the ornament.
Supplies:
Beading wire cut into 8” pieces (best: pipe cleaner)
Variety of beads
Paper Plates
Cord or Ribbon for hanging
Nylon thread or light weight fishing line
Sewing needle
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (printed on both sides)
Instructions:
Have child lay out beads around the inside edge of a paper plate. Once enough beads for the ornament have been selected secure the first bead for your child and have her string the remaining beads.
- Tie/twist the 2 ends together to form a ring.
- Using the sewing needle and about 6-8” nylon thread, suspend an Advent graphic on the inside of the ring and tie it to the top of the ring.
- Add a cord or ribbon for hanging.
Pipe Cleaner Starbursts
This is for the family that wants a quick easy embellishment. Other suggestions maybe to give your child a pipe cleaner and let them come up with a shape. The ornament graphic can be attached with hot glue or suspended with nylon thread.
Supplies:
Mylar or Silver Pipe-cleaners
Scissors
Cord or Ribbon for hanging
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (print ONE sided and individually laminated)
Optional (parent operated hot-glue gun)
Instructions:
- Cut pipe cleaners in half
- Twist 3-4 together in the center and spread rays into a starburst shape.
- Hot glue an Advent graphic to the center and its corresponding verse on the back.
- Add a ribbon or cord hanger to one of the rays
Tile Ornaments
In the earliest versions of the devotional, I made these in mass for a group of single moms as a gift. The hardest part is preparing the tiles. Kids can embellish the tiles with glitter glue or paint.
Supplies:
2” square tiles (which usually come in sheets with 36 tiles to a sheet) If you can find white ceramic there are more embellishment options.
Utility knife and cutting board
28 – 2”x2” squares of Cardstock
28 – 2”x2” squares of Decorative paper
Tape
glue
Cord or Ribbon for hanging
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (print ONE sided and individually laminated)
Optional (Adult operated hot-glue gun)
Instructions:
- Separate the tiles by cutting off the plastic membrane that holds the sheet together with a utility knife. Use a cutting board to protect your workspace. (Adult only step)
- Tape hanging cord to one side of a prepared cardstock square
- Hot glue the square to the back side of a tile. (Cord to the inside)
- Glue prepared decorative paper to the cardstock.
- Embellish front if desired.
- Hot glue Advent graphic to the front and its corresponding scripture verse on the back.
Salt Dough Ornaments
These are the most popular for kids. These also are the most time consuming. I suggest doing these over the course of several days well before the season and applying the Advent graphics on the day it is introduced in the devotional.
Salt Dough Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1 cup table salt
1 ½ cup warm water
Supplies:
Large mixing bowl
Large spoon
Rolling pin
Cookie Cutters
Parchment paper
Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Toothpick for making hole for hanging
Acrylic paint
Glitter glue
Cord or Ribbon for hanging
Reproducible Advent Ornament graphics (print ONE sided and individually laminated)
Optional (Adult operated hot-glue gun)
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl combine salt and flour
- Slowly stir in water until all the water is added
- Knead the dough to finish mixing it and until it is smooth and pliable
- Divide the dough into 2 disks
- Roll dough no more than 1/8” thick on parchment paper
- Cut ornaments using Christmas themed cookie cutters
- Use a toothpick to create a hole for hanging (make sure it is big enough for the cord or ribbon to go through and not too close to the edge
- Carefully transfer the ornament to the baking sheet.
- Bake in 300o oven for about 1 hour or until the ornaments are hard
- Allow the ornaments to cool completely for several hours before painting (optional)
- Add a ribbon or cord hanger.
- Hot glue an Advent graphic to the center and its corresponding verse on the back.
