Christmas Ornaments
Time is short during the holiday season and these ornaments took no time at all to fill. The fun part for your kids is to find things that fit through the hole at the top to fill the ornaments with. As you can imagine we have a lot of craft supplies that we have gathered over the years and me being me I save everything to use again . Having a bunch of ornaments and different fill in a craft buffet would be super fun activity for a holiday party. I like the idea of using these as an alternative to wrapping too.
All you really need are some clear plastic ornaments waiting to be filled. 
Here were our ideas:
Fuse Beads were so colorful and would make a cute stocking stuffer as is.
The glass beads reflected the light so well.
These wood beads would fit right in with our rustic holiday decor.
These pony beads could be packaged with a jewelry box and some beading thread as a whole jewelery themed gift.
The pom poms were fun for my toddler to help me put in and make a great unbreakable ornament for a tree for a young family or someone with cats!
The jingle bells not only looked great they also had a beautiful and a little muted jingle to them.
It goes without saying that the Lego was my son’s favorite. I think it might be mine too. 
What would you fill your empty ornaments with ?
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Did I ever tell you the very first craft I designed myself was a Christmas ornament when I was5 or 6. It’s true. My parents still have it. It was an empty spool of thread with wrapping paper carefully cut out and taped around it. It was finished with a pink ribbon. In the almost 30 years since I have not spent a single Christmas without making at least one ornament craft. These 10 easy ornament crafts are perfect for kids of all ages some so simple that even toddlers can make them.
Simple Lid Ornaments
Spin Art Ornaments
Yarn Nest Ornament
Recycled Photo Card Ornaments
Gift Tag Ornaments
Easy Letter Ornaments
No Mess Glitter Ornaments
Stamped Clay Ornaments
Easy Bell Ornament
Felt Wreath Ornament
This year I have cut every corner there is to cut. My daughter has me chasing her , making sure she hasn’t swallowed any of my son’s Legos that may have escaped his room, I have much more grey hair this year… but a more full heart too. This project isn’t ground breaking but using stamps and cookie cutters with the air dry clay was a great way of making this project attainable for both my kids. Air dry clay is not as easy to manipulate as say salt dough or play dough that little hands are used to so using tools like these help make it a fun successful activity.
- Gather your materials. You will need some air dry clay ( although you could do it with salt dough or ready to bake clay too), cookie cutters, Christmas themed rubber stamps, a toothpick . Once dry you can paint with all sorts of paints, we used water color.
- Start by just playing with the clay. Then cut out with cookie cutters. Both wanted a star .
- Using stamps you can make designs on the clay.
My daughter loved this and unlike when she uses stamps on playdough the clay was stiff enough that the impressions stayed.My son cut a second and started creating his own shapes … he still hasn’t painted it but if he never does that’s ok too, it doesn’t have to be painted. 
- Add holes for hanging using a toothpick.
- Let dry for a few days.
- Time to paint.I loved using the water color because it was a great opportunity to have a lesson about colors with all in front of my toddler without a huge effort.
- She explored the paint… make sure it’s non toxic especially if you are doing this with a teething toddler like I did.
- I was impressed how vivid the colors stayed on the clay.
- Let dry and hang up.
Book
The Little Christmas Elf (Little Golden Book)
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We had fun making these Christmas ornaments and the best part there was no huge glittery mess! Christmas ornaments beg to be glittered and I don’t know about your schedule but mine just got crazy so I don’t have as much time for glue to dry , no need, these have zero glue. Both my kids love making these and even though we used them as ornaments they could easily be made into gift tags too. I was inspired to make this after seeing this candle project from The Ivy Cottage on Pinterest.
- Gather your materials. I used card stock for the circles, I wanted to make sure the tape would stick permanently and knew from experience that it does on card stock. Also used glitter provided for me by the folks atcraftprojectideas.com , ziploc bags, scissors, hot glue and gun, and pipe cleaners. I had ribbon in the picture thinking I would hang them with it but the pipe cleaners were perfect!
- Start by drawing and cutting out the ornament. I made circles but any shape would be fine.
- Add the tape, it goes without saying I added it for my daughter but I also had to help my 5 year old the first time. The tape was so sticky .
- Add the glitter to the zip lock .
- Shake! Can you tell she loved this?
- add more tape.
- Pop it in the next color of glitter .
- Shake.
- Keep going until they are just the way you want them.
- My son told me his has lightsabres fighting on it.
- As you may be able to tell after it was dark and sugar plums were dancing in my kids’ heads I hot glued some pipe cleaners on for hooks.
- Hang up on your tree.
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I sorta promised my husband I wouldn’t spend much on craft supplies this holiday so I have been keeping my word and finding great ways to recycle instead. These ornaments are fun, fast, and cheap. Also as I sit writing this I am looking at how awesome these ornaments are on a lit Christmas tree!
- Gather your materials. You will need some cleaned lids ( yogurt, icing, even jar lids will work), old Christmas cards or photos, scissors, glue , permanent double stick tape, a pipe cleaner per ornament and glitter.
- Start by choosing your photos or cards and tracing the lid on the back of it.
- Cut out.
- Using the double stick tape attach the picture to the lid. Press and hold for a bit.
- Grab the glue and add to edge on the front.
- Add glitter.
- Let dry.
- Punch a hole and thread the pipe cleaner through.
If you are using a metal jar you can use hot glue to attach a pipe cleaner to the back. Adults only though!
Christmas Books
The Little Drummer Mouse
Merry Un-Christmas
Mini Merry Book: Gingerbread Joy 
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