ideas for homemade ornament+food craft for 5th graders

[wildernesslodgelover]

As room mom, I am trying to come up with a craft for our Christmas party. We want to do one Christmas themed "food craft" and one "make your own ornament". I was hoping some of you creative DISers or teachers out there had some ideas or maybe you can share some websites you frequent for ideas.

It is a christian school, so it can be Christmas/bible related etc. Also, I need it to be made of readily available items as I am going to assign each child's parent to bring in an item.

Thank you so much!

 

[daughtersrus]

Chocolate covered pretzels would be easy. Kids of all ages love making them. We add a variety of sprinkles, caramel, nuts... to ours. We make them both out of white and brown chocolate.

We've decorated the inside of clear ornaments with paint.

Here's a link. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html

 

[happygirl]

gingerbread house
sugar cookies

 

[golfgal]

I agree with the chocolate covered pretzels. You could do the ones with the almond bark, m &m and pretzels too.

For the ornament, get some clear ornaments and paint and let them decorate those however they want. They can paint the outside or inside.

If I were you I would buy whatever you need and divide up the price and ask each parent to send in money vs bringing in the craft item. That way you will have everything you need and if one parent forgets something important-like pretzels-you are out of luck for the whole class.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

These are great ideas, keep 'em coming!

golfgal-normally I would agree with you 100%. That's what we did for our Thanksgiving crafts. To me, that is easier for both the parents AND for the room moms. Our problem is that we have hit the parents up for money for the teachers Bday 2 weeks ago, the Tgiving craft, and now we just sent out a letter to collect $$ for the teacher's Christmas gift and the teacher's aide's gift.

I have heard parents complain about having to send in so much money. I have also heard them complain about having to send in items. We figured we would ask for $$ for Tgiving craft, and for items for Christmas craft. Trying to make everyone happy!

Also, we will will ask for the items well in advance, and then go get whatever we don't receive. If we get it last minute, we will return what we paid for out of pocket.

I am of the camp that would prefer to send in $$, but not everyone is.

daughtersrus-great link!

thanks happygirl!

 

[live4christp1]

I made these with my Daisy scouts Tuesday night. They needed a little more hands on help K5 & 1st graders. But they were really easy.

We used size 0-6 months baby bobby socks. Cut the sock off at the fold. Let them use markers to decorate/color the cut piece. Then they stuffed them. I tied the top shut and then the string mid ways to create the head and body. Then let them use the markers to draw eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. We used some blush to make their cheeks rosy. Then I used the fabric glue (I think it's called Takky) to glue the cap on. Tied the end closed with string and then tied the two ends of string together to make a loop for hanging. They turned out really cute and didn't cost a ton. We used some scrap material to tie scarfs around their necks. The only thing I had to purchase were the socks (10 pair in a pack for $6.50 - makes 20 snowmen) the stuffing and the glue. We had all the other supplies. One bag of stuffing was about $3.00 but we made 7 snowmen and the bag looks like I didn't remove any stuffing from it and we stuffed them pretty tight.

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments08/babysocksnowman.htm

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

This looks really easy, and kind of a "recycle" project...There are a lot of ideas on the Family Fun website in general...

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/retro-ornaments-807089/

 

[golfgal]

These are great ideas, keep 'em coming!

golfgal-normally I would agree with you 100%. That's what we did for our Thanksgiving crafts. To me, that is easier for both the parents AND for the room moms. Our problem is that we have hit the parents up for money for the teachers Bday 2 weeks ago, the Tgiving craft, and now we just sent out a letter to collect $$ for the teacher's Christmas gift and the teacher's aide's gift.

I have heard parents complain about having to send in so much money. I have also heard them complain about having to send in items. We figured we would ask for $$ for Tgiving craft, and for items for Christmas craft. Trying to make everyone happy!

Also, we will will ask for the items well in advance, and then go get whatever we don't receive. If we get it last minute, we will return what we paid for out of pocket.

I am of the camp that would prefer to send in $$, but not everyone is.

daughtersrus-great link!

thanks happygirl!

Oh well, I tried I would MUCH rather had the kid $5 than have to run them to the store . How about making something out of construction paper that the school already has--our kids made reindeer ornaments once using an outline of their foot for the face and their hands for the antlers. They are pretty cute. This way no one would have to send money or get a craft??

 

[McKelly]

I have made these gumdrop ornaments, they are cute, but very heavy. I think it would be appropriate for 5th graders, they should be able to handle it. I made them so you didn't see the toothpicks sticking out though.


http://jennwa.blogspot.com/2007/12/gum-drop-ornement.html

 

[C.Ann]

OrientalTrading.com

Tons of inexpensive Christmas ornament crafts - many with a Christian/bible theme.. Inexpensive - as you can get at least a "dozen" for one price.. The selection is huge!!

A neighbor - who homeschools and is very involved with her Christianity - buys from them all the time.. They have numerous catalogs for everything from learning crafts to scrapbooking to outdoors to various holidays, etc.. Check it out and see what you think..

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Here is a craft that might even be too easy. paper clip angel

I was trying to get a picture to post and found this whole page of craft ideas

I also have a great wood angel made of wood molding but not the time to describe it and can't find it online.

 

[aprilgail2]

OrientalTrading.com

Tons of inexpensive Christmas ornament crafts - many with a Christian/bible theme.. Inexpensive - as you can get at least a "dozen" for one price.. The selection is huge!!

most of the things we have gotten from oriental trading are crap- lots of little pieces and things that fall apart- really not worth the money and bother.

 

[OK!]

We've decorated the inside of clear ornaments with paint.

Here's a link. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. I don't know about where you are, OP, but around here the local crafts stores usually have different specials every week leading up to Christmas and acrylic paint--one brand or another--is generally one of the frequently-discounted items. You can load up on different colors of paint for less than a dollar per bottle and you can get different sizes and/or shapes of the clear ornaments to decorate. It's fun and very easy!

 

[taximomfor4]

I would pick something with very inexpensive ingredients, and ask for $1 per person or something.

I am irritated beyond belief at the things dd's asked to bring in for 2nd grade. One long list was to make a relief map. (A large bag of flour, a whole can of salt, and many other items). It was the week before ds's birthday, and I had no money in the budget to get him a gift.

2 weeks later, we are given 3 days to send in another whole list of things (3 LARGE packs of red, green, or white tissue paper; wire coat hanger bent into a circle; large bow made from wide ribbon (NO ROUND BOWS ... not even sure what that MEANS!); and other items). As of right now, I am still trying to get my sis to repay me money she's owed me since MARCH so that I can buy small gifts for the kids' Christmas! So far, we are doing hand-me-downs for Christmas. That $100 would allow us to spend $25 per kid. I don't HAVE the extra money to send in for a craft. And I am NOT the only one.

Sorry I went on for so long. This situation is embarassing for me, and for my kids. I don't want them to be one of the several that won't bring in their supplies. We were sent a note today that if dd7 doesnt bring those items on Monday, she will sit out with the other kids who didn't bring them.

 

[golfgal]

I made these with my Daisy scouts Tuesday night. They needed a little more hands on help K5 & 1st graders. But they were really easy.

We used size 0-6 months baby bobby socks. Cut the sock off at the fold. Let them use markers to decorate/color the cut piece. Then they stuffed them. I tied the top shut and then the string mid ways to create the head and body. Then let them use the markers to draw eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. We used some blush to make their cheeks rosy. Then I used the fabric glue (I think it's called Takky) to glue the cap on. Tied the end closed with string and then tied the two ends of string together to make a loop for hanging. They turned out really cute and didn't cost a ton. We used some scrap material to tie scarfs around their necks. The only thing I had to purchase were the socks (10 pair in a pack for $6.50 - makes 20 snowmen) the stuffing and the glue. We had all the other supplies. One bag of stuffing was about $3.00 but we made 7 snowmen and the bag looks like I didn't remove any stuffing from it and we stuffed them pretty tight.

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments08/babysocksnowman.htm

Those are really cute!!

OP I HAVE A GREAT IDEA!!!!!!

Make homemade hot chocolate. It can be your craft AND your treat. Have the kids bring in any kind of container-old jelly jar, mason jar, Gladware, whatever, decorate that and then fill with the hot cocoa mix (the kind you make with powdered milk and quick, etc.--I am sure someone here has the recipe). This way no one has to go buy something if they don't want and the stuff to make the cocoa won't cost much-probably $1/kid or so--that is easy to ask for.

 

[C.Ann]

most of the things we have gotten from oriental trading are crap- lots of little pieces and things that fall apart- really not worth the money and bother.

Interesting.. Don't know what you're buying, but I've purchased plenty of really nice scrapbook supplies from them, crafts for my DGD to do, and the woman across the street has never complained about anything she purchased from them..

What did you buy with "little pieces"? Are you talking about toys?

What type of glue did you use on the craft projects? Most people who do crafts have their own specific brands of glue and paint that they use if they want to produce a quality product that won't fall apart - but if you're not a regular crafter, I could see how you might have problems..

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I saw these on MSL the other day and I thought they looked like fun to make with my DS9 and DS11.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/snowy-ornaments?backto=true I agree with C. Ann. I have really liked the ornament kits I have ordered fom OTC.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

yeah, we have ordered from OTC before and been happy with the stuff. But since we are asking for people to send stuff in, we can't order from OTC this time around.

golfgal-that *is* a cute idea! See, we want to do one christmas ornament craft, and one "food" craft. That might be good for the food craft.

disneyqueen-thanks for the link, you are right, those are cute!

taximom-I am sorry for your frustration, and I agree, it gets ridiculous, some of the stuff that is asked for! For the record, we never have a kid sit out. 2 kids did not bring $$ for the craft on Tgiving, and we just accepted that and paid for it. I will say that we end up paying for a LOT of stuff out of our own pocket, too. Anyway, PLEASE let's not turn this into a room mom bashing thread. I have been on both sides of this issue (been a room mom a few years, and NOT a room mom for a few years) and I can totally empathize with both sides!

I am looking at every link that was shared...thanks so much...I knew I could count on the DISers!

 

[taximomfor4]

yeah, we have ordered from OTC before and been happy with the stuff. But since we are asking for people to send stuff in, we can't order from OTC this time around.

golfgal-that *is* a cute idea! See, we want to do one christmas ornament craft, and one "food" craft. That might be good for the food craft.

disneyqueen-thanks for the link, you are right, those are cute!

taximom-I am sorry for your frustration, and I agree, it gets ridiculous, some of the stuff that is asked for! For the record, we never have a kid sit out. 2 kids did not bring $$ for the craft on Tgiving, and we just accepted that and paid for it. I will say that we end up paying for a LOT of stuff out of our own pocket, too. Anyway, PLEASE let's not turn this into a room mom bashing thread. I have been on both sides of this issue (been a room mom a few years, and NOT a room mom for a few years) and I can totally empathize with both sides!

I am looking at every link that was shared...thanks so much...I knew I could count on the DISers!

I apologize if I somehow entered the realm of room-mom-bashing. I have nothing but respect for the room-moms. I was just trying to put out there something that I am still very raw about. I will run around to different Dollar Stores to find the items dd needs, but with dh out of town and money so crazy tight, it's just a pain. I wish they would make things out of contruction paper, etc instead of sending parents all around to find a list of not-free items. And it is not the room mom, it is the teacher. Or all the 2nd grade teachers, not sure. Either way, I was just trying to put out there that I am certainly NOT the only one in this situation right now, and like me, many are probably stewing silently. I am sad and embarassed that I am in this financial shape, and CHristmas is looking to be probably our worst ever. A list of craft supplies is the last thing I want tossed to me.

 

[C.Ann]

yeah, we have ordered from OTC before and been happy with the stuff. But since we are asking for people to send stuff in, we can't order from OTC this time around.

Oops! Sorry.. I didn't catch the part about people having to send things in.. Looks like there have been some other great suggestions here though..