The holidays can be a stressful time, finding wholesome activities to do with your kids is a great way to relax and enjoy time together this holiday season. Let’s take a look at some fun and engaging holiday gifts and keepsakes that kids can make with their parents.

Pom-Pom Bookmarks
Pom-pom BookmarksThis one requires scissors, so be sure to help your kids out with this one, unless your kids are old enough to use scissors by themselves. The only other thing you’ll need is yarn! Sparkly yarn can provide a festive touch. Simply cut one 2-10 inch piece of yarn and another one of 15 inches.

Now hold the end of the 15 inch piece in your hand and wrap it around your finger 90 times. Next, place the wrapped yarn 10-inch piece. Then tie a knot around the center of the piece you’ve wrapped 90 times. Now, take your scissors and cut the ends of the loops to make a pom-pom. That’s it! Now you have a cute fuzzy bookmark to use when you’re curled up with a good book on those cold winter nights.

Festive Rorschach Inkblot Prints
Inkblot PicturesAnother great crafty holiday project you can make with your kids is a festive inkblot print. You’ll need card stock for backing, tempera paints, small brushes, and art paper.

To make the print, fold the paper in half and then drizzle paint in festive holiday colors on one side. Next you will fold the paper over and press firmly and evenly across the paper. Once it’s unfolded, you’ll see a matching pattern from the paint on the other side. Finally, place the print on colored card stock and frame your Rorschach painting masterpiece.

Lacey Holiday Candles
Lacey CandlesLacey holiday candles are both pretty and elegant. Making them with your kids over the holidays is a splendid way to pass the time. You will need paper doilies, food coloring, glue, paper towels, smooth glass votive holders, scissors, and kitchen tongs.

Mix a dye bath of 20 drops of food coloring coupled and 2 cups of water. Dip the paper doily into the dye bath and let it sit for about a minute and a half. Then you’ll remove it with the tongs and place it on the stack of paper towels to dry. Now you will glue and wrap the votive holder in tissue. The last step is to put glue on the exterior side of the tissue paper and set the doily on it to adhere. Voila! You’ve got a neat and pretty little votive candle wrapped in festive colors!

Hot Chocolate, in a Jar!
Hot Chocolate Mix Hot chocolate is one of the most quintessential holiday beverages. Now you and your kids can put a creative twist on this holiday favorite by making hot chocolate in a jar.

You will need dry milk mix, powdered sugar, a Mason jar, and of course, cocoa powder. You can also use marshmallows, chocolate chips and crushed candy cane bits. Simply layer each ingredient in the jar and tie the recipe gift tag around the neck of the jar as a nice finish. This is something that you can enjoy making and drinking with your little ones.