DIY Life

If you're looking for simple crafty activities you can do with your kids (or grandchildren!), you will probably be interested in this page of family-friendly holiday projects and ideas that Kathy Cano-Murillo did for PBS Parents.

Kathy shares three simple, child-friendly ideas:

• Toy Shadow Boxes: small toys or holiday decorations are displayed in an upright tray, which is hung on the wall or propped up on a surface.
• Funny Family Wrapping Paper: a collage of elements (pictures, quotes, etc) is photocopied to make wrapping paper.
• Gingerbread Gift Boxes: more of a "self-explanatory concept" than a "project with instructions." You might find this page of gingerbread recipes created specifically for people building gingerbread houses useful, if you decide to try this one.

There are a few other suggestions there for crafting with kids, at the holidays or any other time: cover your surfaces, use plastic gloves, have an "art supply box" to keep all your tools in and help children learn to clean up after themselves, and document the process with lots of pictures! Much more information is available at the PBS Parents site.