The Christmas decorating has started in our household! We try to keep a balance between decor that I like and items the boys would enjoy too. Today, Litsa shares her Whimsical Christmas Trees with you as an idea for a fun kid’s craft.
Items Needed:
Construction paper
Scissors
Elmer’s School Glue
White Paper: Acrylic Painter’s Pad (found at Hobby Lobby, Amazon, and/or your local Wal-Mart)
Cotton Balls
Glitter
Scrapbook Paper (Scraps are fine)
Paints (washable paints for toddlers/young children) or Acrylics (for older children and/or supervised painting of toddlers)
Paint brushes
Painting cups (use disposable lids or detergent lids for easy tossing)
Step One: Give your child a piece of white paper (painter’s grade), a paintbrush, & their favorite color of paint! Ask them to paint the entire paper (the backdrop). A child’s art easel will come in handy if you have one. Set it aside to dry!
And give your child a second canvas (white painter’s paper) & repeat step one if you want more than one Whimsical Christmas Tree backdrop to create with the following steps:
Step Two: Allow the painted paper(s) to dry as you use the scrapbook/construction paper to cut out Christmas trees of various sizes proportional to the backdrop paper that is drying. The freelance cut Christmas trees can be evergreens like the ones found at a Christmas Farm or they can be magical—-pink like a princess, red like Spiderman, etc. Let your imagination run wild with your child’s guidance! Set these aside.
Step Three: Ask your child if he/she would like presents to place under his/her Christmas trees. Cut these out in shapes (squares, rectangles, etc.). Set them aside.
Step Four: Pull cotton balls apart for creating small snowflakes for your pictures.
Step Five: Ask your child if he/she would like anything else to add to his/her picture. Ideas: a crescent moon, a full moon, a shining sun, stars (use stickers), etc. Prep these items for your painting. Or set aside glitter your child will use on his/her masterpiece.
Step Six: When the painted backdrop is completely dry, begin creating the Whimsical Christmas Tree by gluing items your child selects down on to the painted backdrop. Add snowflakes, glitter, etc. to create this unique Whimsical Christmas Tree!
Step Seven: Add fingerprint ornaments to the Christmas trees—dip finger in paint and touch tree where you want the ornament hung! Or add fingerprint bows to the gifts under the trees! Allow his/her paper to dry again.
Step Eight: Display your child’s work in his/her playroom and/or on the refrigerator. Buying an inexpensive frame from Wal-Mart to display your child’s artwork will delight your child—as you display his/her creative expression throughout the month! Or gift your child’s painting to a grandparent, aunt, etc. to enjoy in their home!
This simple activity will enhance your child’s creativity and she/he will be asking to create more Whimsical Christmas Trees. Allow time in your day for creative hands and minds to work in sync as they create beautiful masterpieces. No two will look alike as you help inspire your child’s creativity! If you don’t have room for all of these wonderful creations, capture digital images of them and then take them to your local children’s hospital, nursing home, elderly neighbors, etc. Spread the magic of the season with a hug, a smile, & a Whimsical Christmas tree!
Linked at Crystal & Co. and Milk & Cuddles
Latest posts by Litsa @How to Have it All (see all)
- Mushrooms: Portobello, Morels, & More - April 25, 2016
- Giving Back: Get Involved - December 2, 2015
- The Autumn Advantage - December 1, 2015
[…] few weeks ago we shared the Whimsical Christmas Tree art project. To keep your little ones entertained, help them make Whimsical […]