Get crafty with your family this holiday season! We understand plans might look a little different this year, so we put together some special holiday crafts you can do at home.
Each activity is designed to celebrate your favorite holiday scenes. From reindeer cookies to DIY snow globes, you can sprinkle the season with all sorts of winter fun!
Remember, the pandemic doesn’t have to prevent you from celebrating the holidays with the ones you love. Share these craft ideas with family and friends to stay connected while social distancing. Hop on a video call and discuss our easy-to-follow instructions together.
Read on below to get started!
6 Unique Crafts to Make the Holiday Season Sparkle
1. DIY Snow Globes
About an hour
DIY snow globes are fun crafts to create and make great home decor. The best part is, you can customize each snow globe to match your favorite holiday scenes!
Materials Needed:
- Distilled Water
- Mason Jars
- Glitter or Faux Buffalo Snow Flakes
- Waterproof Glue
- Mini Trees and Figurines
Step 1: Take the top off of your mason jar. Remove the middle and apply glue around the rim. Press the middle piece back in place and let dry.
Step 2: Grab your mini trees and figurines and glue them onto the bottom of the lid. Let dry.
Step 3: Pour 1-2 tablespoons of buffalo snow or glitter into the bottom of the jar.
Step 4: Pour distilled water into the jar, leaving about 1/2 inch of space at the top.
Step 5: Screw the lid back onto the jar until secure. Shake well and enjoy your little winter wonderland!
2. Lodge-Inspired Twig Reindeer
About 30 minutes
Spend some time outside with the kids during the holidays and gather some twigs for this easy-to-make holiday craft. It doesn’t even require that many materials. In fact, you probably already have most of what you need to get started!
Materials Needed:
- Twigs
- Googly Eyes
- Red Buttons
- Tacky Craft Glue
- Scissors
- Twine or Ribbon
Step 1: Take three twigs and glue them in the shape of a triangle. Set aside and let dry.
Step 2: Glue your googly eyes and red button nose onto the twigs to create your reindeer’s face. Set aside and let dry.
Step 3: Take a piece of twine or ribbon and create a loop. Glue onto the top twig and let dry.
Step 4: Hang up your newly created decoration and enjoy! You can also use these holiday crafts as ornaments to put on a Christmas tree!
Tip from our pack: Gather varying sizes of twigs so that you can build different-sized reindeer.
3. Paper Chain Holiday Countdown
About 30 minutes
Whether your family is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or any other special event this holiday season, this DIY countdown with help get the kids extra excited. They’ll love removing the links each day in anticipation of its arrival!
Materials Needed:
- Scissors
- Brown and White Construction Paper (at least four sheets)
- Black, Orange, and Brown Craft Foam
- Mod Podge or Craft Glue
- Googly Eyes
- Ribbon
- Small Wreath Form
- Pom Poms
- Pen or Pencil
- Ruler
- Stapler
Step 1: Use your ruler to trace lines running parallel to the short side of your construction paper. There should be around 8 or 9 sections once completed.
Step 2: Cut out each section using your scissors. In total, you should have 26 strips (25 rings for your countdown and 1 for the head).
Step 3: Use your stapler to connect the ends of your strips and turn them into rings. Do this for 24 rings, making sure they are all attached. Staple the 25th ring and set aside. Leave the 26th strip as is.
Step 4: Draw some embellishments onto the craft foam. Think about what kind of holiday staples you can create. You can sketch a pair of antlers to make a reindeer, or a top hat to create a snowman. Use your scissors to cut them out.
Step 5: Add your ribbon, mini wreath, and any additional decorations that might help your character stand out.
Step 6: Use the craft glue to attach your embellishments to the one ring you’ve kept separate. Set aside and let dry.
Step 7: Use your last paper strip to attach the ring to the rest of the chain.
Step 8: Hang and let the countdown begin!
4. Snowland Trivia
About 30 minutes
Gather the family and have a blast playing our Snowland Trivia Game. Print out our list of trivia questions and answer sheets to begin. Don’t forget to tell mom the winner gets extra dessert!
5. 3D Reindeer Cookies
About an hour
Get in the holiday spirit while celebrating Cookie Baking Day with these fun 3D Reindeer treats. Enjoy decorating them with the whole family, either virtually or in real life!
Materials Needed:
- 3D Cookie Cutter Set
- 250 Grams of Unsalted Butter
- 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 3 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 3 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Molasses
- 2 Large Eggs
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Icing
Step 1: Mix butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until fluffy.
Step 2: Mix in your eggs and molasses. Stir slowly.
Step 3: Sift flour, spices, and salt into the bowl.
Step 4: Roll out dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put it in the refrigerator for a few hours to let chill.
Step 5: Remove from refrigerator and create shapes using your cookie cutter. Position about 2 inches apart and return tray to refrigerator for another hour.
Step 6: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once ready, put the cookies in and let bake for about 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
Step 7: Decorate cookies using your icing. Get as creative as you like. Create saddles, hooves, antlers, a red nose, or anything you’d like to see on your reindeer!
Step 8: Carefully piece together and assemble.
Tips from our pack: Include any of your favorite cookie toppings to make this activity extra delicious. You can also incorporate different decorations into the design.
6. Hand-Sewn Gift Tags
About 30 minutes
Make your gifts look extra special this holiday season with hand-sewn gift tags. They are great to do with the kids and are a fun way to customize packages and presents for family and friends!
Materials Needed:
- Embroidery Thread in Multiple Colors
- Printable Gift Tag Templates
- Hole Punch
- Scissors
- White Card Stock
- Floral Foam, 1/8″
- Needle
- Twine
- Glue
Step 1: Gather your materials
Step 2: Cut out tags, then punch holes through with needle (use floral foam to assist).
Step 3: Sew thread through paper tag to make the designs.
Step 4: Add colorful ribbons/twine to tags.
Step 5: Combine with ribbons for decoration.
Step 6: Add tags to wrapped gifts and gift sacks.
We hope you and your family had a great time with our holiday crafting ideas! This year, Great Wolf Lodge is committed to helping create family traditions, one family at a time. We’re looking to take that mission out of the lodge and into your home this holiday season. Don’t forget to check in with us each week for more fun things to do at home.
