Simple Paper Crafts, from Family Christmas Online^TM

This page contains links to several projects you can do with a colored printer, a few sheets of card stock or acid-free paper, and little else. Several of the basic craft ideas date back to the days when most families made most of their own Christmas ornaments. However, we have added original, color-coordinated, vintage-style print patterns that will make your Christmas tree look traditional, homemade, and classy, all at the same time. Best of all, all of the crafts on this page can be done by children as young as six with only moderate supervision (and younger children with closer supervsion).

Our original ornament patterns also coordinate with the vintage-style wrapping paper patterns you can download from our Craft Wrapping Paper pages. This means that you can easily:

• Use the Craft Wrapping Paper to wrap small presents and use one or more ornaments from this section as a matching package topper, or
• Supplement the crafts in this section by using Craft Wrapping Paper to create your own color-coordinated paper crafts. Actually, if you have a paper craft pattern you would like to share with your fellow readers and crafters, please let us know about it, and if we can use your idea you will get full credit. (Including links to your site if you have one.)

Remember to use acid-free paper if you want to use the ornaments you make this year next year, too.

And if you want to keep some little hands busy on a rainy December day, you'll find these projects more than helpful.

Original Simple Paper Craft Patterns

Spiral Ornaments - This is the simplest pattern on the page, which means it's very rewarding for little fingers. The spirals also turn in light breezes better than any other paper craft, which makes them more interesting for small ones to hang.
Japanese Lanterns - This is based on the classic kindergarten craft, updated with new vintage-style colors and patterns - you never knew they could be so tasteful.
Droopysquares - This is based on another children's craft that goes back at least a century. Droopysquares provide a lacy-looking counterpart to the other ornaments in this section.
Droopycircles - This is the round version of the Droopysquare; they are also an easy way to provide a complex-looking texture to your tree.
Christmas Puffballs - This is an old orgami favorite that looks great when you do it with a patterned Christmas paper (like ours).

We have other crafts for this section "in the works," so please check back once in a while.

Other Paper Craft Resources

While we were putting our own craft patterns and papers together for this Christmas season, we've also been collecting links for other people's paper-based crafts that are both worthwhile and child-friendly. Again, we are adding other links as suggestions come in. If you have found a worthwhile link that you think fits in here, please let us know about it. Or if you have any corrections or suggestions, or anything else you'd like to share with your fellow readers, teachers, and craftspersons.

• Jan Brett's Paper Ornament Page - Gives ideas for three different crafts that can be made with paper, scissors, and crayons or colored pencils.

• Jan Brett's Christmas Tree Cone - make an attractive container for snacks or small gifts that can be hung on the Christmas tree. This craft requires a colored printer, paper and some ribbon. For a more solid ornament, card stock can be substituted for the paper. Be sure to select the PDF option for the best printout. (Also Jan Brett's Activity Pages have dozens of paper-based craft ideas for Christmas and non-Christmas activities alike.)

• Printable 3-D Paper Snowman - requires typing paper, scissors, tape or glue, and a computer printer (to print the downloadable pattern). The end result isn't dramatic, but it's a quick way to give a kid something to do.

Several other paper-based crafts are listed on our Christmas Craft Resources page.

We have more patterns and craft suggestions in the works. So keep checking back. And contact us with any questions or suggestions you have in the meantime. Especially contact us if you have any craft ideas you'd like to share with our readers.

Paul and Shelia Race

www.familychristmasonline.com