If you’re looking for an easy Christmas craft to do with kids, look no further! This fun project can also pull double duty as your holiday greeting card if you put the elf factory to work and pump out several dozen!

One afternoon last December while my 2 year old was napping, I decided to pull up my big mom pants and do an activity with the 7 year old instead of taking a nap myself.

You, too, can enjoy quality adult/child crafting goodness with just a few items that you probably have right in your home.

Glitter bombs away!

Gather:

8.5″ x 11″ card stock, we made about 10 cards
Green paper or card stock
Brown paper (I used a paper grocery bag)
Tape and/or glue
Scissors
Green crayon/marker
Stickers, sequins, buttons, glitter, etc
*I also used a bone folder, which is super helpful for making “cleaner” folds but not necessary

Directions:

• Start by measuring and marking 3 and 3/4 inches along the longer side of the card stock. Fold and trim off extra paper to make a 3 3/4 x 8.5 inches card (This fits a business size envelope exactly.)
• Create a tree template so your child can trace out the trees by folding some card stock in half vertically and drawing half the tree along the folded line (about 3 inches tall and 1 inch wide). *Think three triangles stacked and overlapping on top of each other, small, medium, and large. Cut out the tree and unfold the paper to reveal the tree and the template (pictured above). You can fit three trees on a 8.5″ x 11″ sheet.
• Once you have your template, your child can trace out as many trees as you need with a green crayon on the green paper and cut out. *For an added lesson on symmetry (fun), fold the green paper first, then apply folded template onto green paper, so your child can trace half the tree onto the paper, and cut out the tree just as you created the template.
• Apply tree to the front of the card. We used a rolled piece of tape along the inner fold of the tree and only lightly pressed to give it a raised look

• Next, create the little tree trunk by cutting a strip of brown paper about 1/2 an inch wide and just 4-5 inches long, and then let your child cut small pieces off of the strip and apply to the tree. *I did some tiny accordion folds into the brown paper for added interest/texture before cutting the strip.

• Finally, let your child decorate the tree with “ornaments.” We used stickers, sequins, bits of shiny/glittery paper, and cut out pictures

 

We experimentally sprayed a few cards with adhesive spray all over the finished fronts and covered with iridescent glitter (snow!). Yes, it was a mess, and I’m glad we only did a few.

Simple, meaningful, fun, and no cost! (We had all the materials including stamps at home.)

Each card also included a family photo printed from our home printer and that was our holiday card for 2013.  Now, what to do for 2014 … hmm.