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      • Somerset County Annual Events
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      • Specialty Toy Stores
      • Plush Toy Review
      • Little Pim Review
    • Holiday/Seasonal Books >
      • Spring Holiday Books
      • Summer Holiday Books >
        • Summer Reading Fun
      • Fall Holiday Books
      • Winter Holiday Books >
        • Oscar the Kitten Review
    • Kid-Friendly Fun >
      • All About the Arts for Kids
      • Animal & Nature Lovers
      • Dinosaurs
      • Jr History Detectives
      • Knights & Dragons
      • Mad About Science
      • Outer Space Page
      • Pirates! Arrr!
      • Superheroes
      • Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Ships
      • Princess and Fairies Page
    • Kids Camps >
      • Camp Tour Dates & Open Houses
      • Summer Camps by theme
    • Other sites for events & activities >
      • Koddler Events New Feed
    • The Great Outdoors >
      • Amusement Parks
      • NJ Spraygrounds & Water Parks
      • NJ Ski areas
      • NJ Farms
      • County Parks in NJ
      • Rec Departments in NJ
      • Beach Towns
    • Zoos, Horseback Riding >
      • Zoos by county
    • Museums
    • For a Rainy Day
    • Sports & Recreation >
      • Indoor Rock Gyms
      • Gymnastics & Yoga
      • Skating Rinks
      • Soccer Programs
      • Swimming Classes
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      • Revolutionary War History & NJ Sites
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  • Health & Safety
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      • Holiday Fashion Show for Charity
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"Marshmallow" Angel Snowman

12/10/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Foam, round blocks
* White foam sheet
* Gold pipe cleaner
* Brown pipe cleaner
* Tiny pom pom
* Piece of foam block
* Miniature ornament
* Glitter Glue
* Marker
* Scissors
* Craft glue

Note: For more of a winter feel, don't apply the wings and halo.

1. Cut the foam block in a square to be about a 1 1/2 inches square. (No need to cut if you find a block the right size).
2. Draw a face on one of the white foam blocks and glue on the nose.
3. Glue the blank, white foam block to your foam base and then glue the second white foam block (the one with the face) to the first one.
4. Cut out a wing shape out of the foam sheet and then glue it to the back of your snowman.
5. Take the gold pipe cleaner and insert it into the top of the foam block and then bend into a halo shape. (Cut it to size, if necessary).
6. Cut the brown pipe cleaner into two pieces. Insert each piece into either side for the arms.
7. Attach the miniature ornament to one of

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Clothespin Reindeer

12/10/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* A wooden clothespin
* Pair of googly eyes
* Pom Pom (red preferred)
* Festive Foam stickers (we used a wreath and bow)
* Holiday Light string or similar (used for miniature trees)
* Glue
* Glitter Glue and a paint brush (optional)

This is a very simple and inexpensive craft that can be done with young kids (as long as they don't try to eat the supplies).

1. Glue the eyes and pom pom nose to the clothespin.
2. Attach the clothespin to your wreath with glue if it's not a sticker.
3. Attach the bow to your wreath.
4. Wrap the decorative string around the "antlers" of your reindeer. Apply small amounts of glue to the antlers so the string will stick to some parts of the clothespin.
5. For some extra sparkle, spread some glitter glue on the antlers and face.
6. Place your festive reindeer in a prominent location and enjoy!

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Hand Print Angel

12/10/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Piece of paper or card stock (white is best) - you might need a few pieces
* Craft paint (gold for wings and halo, other colors optional)
* Sponges (get a bunch from a Dollar Store)
* Paper Plates
* Paintbrush
* A few disposable rags or lots of paper towels

Note: I did this craft with my 5-year-old which I think is the ideal minimum age. If you try this with a younger child, I would recommend at least two adults help with this craft.

This craft, based on a project in The Usborne Big Book of Playtime Activities, can be messy and a little time consuming but it is worth the effort and makes a great keepsake.

1. Start with the "body" of the angel and apply your paint color to a paper plate. My daughter chose pink.
2. Rub the sponge on the plate and wipe off some excess and then place your child's hand on the sponge to apply the paint to his or her hand (this is like having a large ink pad).
3. Firmly place your child's painted hand in the center of the paper. If you don't get it right the first time, try again with a new piece.
4. Let the "body" dry for a few minutes; take this time to wipe off the excess paint.
(Note: You could do the wings first to prevent multiple hand cleanings, but you'd have to be pretty certain of your hand placements).
5. Assuming you've done the body hand print first, now apply your gold paint to another plate. Spread a sponge on the gold paint (You could use the other side of the first sponge but you will get very messy. For a cleaner option, rinse the first sponge or just use a new sponge for this color).
6. Press your child's hand onto the gold-painted sponge. Wipe off any excess and firmly apply the hand to the paper, slightly overlapping your "body" hand print.
7. Then apply your child's other hand to the gold-painted sponge (you may need to add some paint to the sponge). Press this hand to the other side of the "body."
8. Allow the paint to dry a little and wipe your child's hands off.
9. Rotate the paper so the fingers are pointed down.
10. Use a pale pink or cream paint (or whatever skin tone you'd prefer) and have your child finger paint a circle for the head and two finger prints for the hands. For younger kids, you can help guide them.
11. Dip your child's finger in whatever paint color you've chosen for the hair color and apply the hair around the head in a dot pattern.
12. Draw a face with your choice of colors for the eyes, nose and mouth. (A paintbrush might be best here and an adult might be needed for this part).
12. Use the gold paint and draw a halo. Small kids can use their finger or a paintbrush.
13. You can embellish the picture with other decorations such as stars which can be drawn with the finger or a paintbrush.

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Beaded Holiday Decoration

12/3/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Assortment of beads
* Piece of wire
* Wire cutters

Note: If you have beads with wider holes, you can use a pipe cleaner instead of the wire.

1. Thread the first bead on and wrap the wire around that bead to create a "stop" so the beads won't fall off.
2. Thread the other beads onto the wire in whatever pattern you desire.
3. When you have enough beads, twist the wire into a curved shape.
4. Bend the wire into a loop and cut any excess wire (an adult should cut the wire).
Hang from your tree, mantel or anywhere in your house.

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Crafty Christmas Tree

12/2/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Piece of clear or white plastic
* Piece of white garland material
* Decorative garland (the kind for miniature trees)
* A miniature ornament for tree topper (we used an angel)
* Pencil or marker
* Piece of ribbon
* Scissors
* Glue
* Suction cup hook (optional)
Note: You can use a piece of card stock or cardboard instead of plastic to back your tree. We used plastic so the sun would shine through the tree for a sun catcher effect.

1. Draw a tree shape on your plastic or card stock. (Use a stencil if necessary).
2. Glue the white garland to the tree shape.
3. Wrap the decorative garland around the tree. Glue the ends to the back of the tree.
4. Attach the tree topper to the tree and glue it.
5. Tie the ribbon around the tree topper.
6. If this will be a sun catcher or window ornament,



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Santa Jingle Bell

12/1/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* A Jingle Bell (red color ideal)
* 4 white medium pom poms
* 1 small pink pom pom
* pair of googly eyes
* red piece of felt
* 1 white pipe cleaner
* small ring and piece of string
* craft glue; hot glue gun is best
* scissors

Note: if using a hot glue gun, parental supervision - and parental involvement depending on the child's age- is required.

1. Glue one white pom pom to the top of the jingle bell.
2. Glue the other two pom poms to the bottom for his feet.
3. Cut the piece of felt into two triangles. Glue them to each other and attach to the pom pom head.
4. Once the glue has dried enough, bend the white pipe cleaner around the head and hat to make the hat's fur trim and Santa's beard. Cut the pipe cleaner if needed.
5. Glue on the pink nose and eyes.
6. Glue the top of the hat to one bottom corner of the hat and put the metal ring around the hat.
7. Thread the string through the hole and tie in a knot. Your Jingle Bell Santa is now read to be hung from your tree or elsewhere or it can be worn as a festive necklace.






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    Sandra K. Lee is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom with a 8-year-old princess & a 4-year-old superhero in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

    She also writes Momoirs and other blogs at NJ.com and the NJ Moms Blog.

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