Making Fun Christmas Crafts for Kids

©2006 Publications International, Ltd This is what the completed Silly Face Magnets will look like.

• Polymer clay, 2 ounce blocks: emerald green, red hot red, white, black, silver
• Needle tool or toothpick
• 24-gauge wire, 2 inch length
• 4 self-stick magnets

1. Shape a 7/8-inch emerald green ball into a square; press square flat to about 1/8-inch thick. For lid, roll a 5/8-inch log that is a little longer than top of present. Press all sides and corners flat into a rectangle, and press to top of present.
   
   
2. For bow, press a 1/8-inch red hot red ball in center of lid. Roll two 1/4-inch red balls and shape them into 2 triangles. Press them to either side of ball, matching points.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. To make a bow, put a ball in the center flanked by two triangles.

3. For ribbon, roll a 3/8-inch red ball to about 3 inches in length. Gently press flat. Place on a diagonal across present, making 2 lines. Make lines and dots in bow with needle tool. Note: Leave room for eyes and smile when placing ribbon.
   
   
4. Draw a smile on front of present with needle tool. Roll two 1/4-inch white balls for eyes, shape them, and place them side by side above smile. Press a tiny black ball in each eye; press point of needle tool into black balls. Roll a 3/16-inch green ball into a roll, and taper each end. Place green roll across top of eyes for eyebrows; indent center with needle tool. See Silly Penguin, step 6, to finish.

1. Roll a 7/8-inch red ball into a teardrop shape. Roll a 1/4-inch silver ball, and press it to top. Indent sides of silver clay, and make lines with needle tool.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Roll a silver ball and place in on top of the light bulb.

2. Roll two 3/16-inch green balls into diamond shapes. Indent sides and center with needle tool to create holly leaves, and place them at top of bulb. Make 3 tiny red balls, and place them on leaves for berries.
   
   
3. Draw a smile on bulb with needle tool. Make two 1/8-inch white balls, and place them side by side above smile for eyes. Press a tiny black ball of clay in each eye for pupils; press point of needle tool into black balls. Roll a 3/16-inch red ball into a small roll, and taper each end. Place roll across top of eyes for eyebrows. Indent center of red roll with needle tool.
   
   
4. Bend wire in half, and twist ends together tightly. Insert wire into silver bulb top. See Silly Penguin, step 6, to finish.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Bend the wire in half and insert in the top of the silver ball.

1. Press a 7/8-inch green ball into a triangle. With needle tool, make branch lines at sides.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make cuts in the side of the triangle  to form the branches.

2. Wrap a flattened 1/8-inch white ball around top of tree for a snowcap. Slightly bend top of tree.
   
   
3. Mix a 1/4-inch red ball with a 1/4-inch green ball until brown. Shape brown clay into trunk, and press it to bottom of tree.
   
   
4. Draw a smile on tree with needle tool. Make two 1/8-inch white balls, and place them side by side above smile for eyes. Press a tiny black ball of clay in each eye for pupils; press point of needle tool into black balls. Roll a 3/16-inch green ball into a small roll, and taper each end. Place roll across top of eyes for eyebrows. Indent center of green roll with needle tool.
   
   
5. Mix 2 small equal-size balls of white and green clays, and 2 small balls of red and white clays to make light green and pink. Press tiny balls of light green, red, pink, and white to tree for ornaments. See Silly Penguin, step 6, to finish.

1. Roll a 7/8-inch black ball into a chubby teardrop shape; smaller end is bottom of body. Pinch two 3/8-inch black balls into wings, and press to sides of body.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Pinch two balls in to wings and press them into the sides of the penguin's body.

2. Mix a 3/8-inch white ball with a 3/16-inch red ball to make pink. Form two 1/4-inch pink balls into feet shapes, and press feet to bottom of body. Make a 3/16-inch pink ball into a triangle, and press to face area for bill. Make 2 holes in bill with point of needle tool.
   
   
3. Roll a 1/4-inch white ball into a flat oval. Press to body for chest. Roll two 1/4-inch white balls, shape them, and place them side by side above bill for eyes. Press a tiny black ball into each eye for pupils; press point of needle tool into black balls. Roll a 3/16-inch black ball into a small roll, and taper at each end. Place roll above eyes for eyebrows. Indent center with needle tool.
   
   
4. Shape two 3/16-inch green balls into diamonds. Indent sides and middle with needle tool to look like holly leaves. Place leaves at top of chest. Place 2 tiny red balls on leaves for berries.
   
   
5. Shape a 1/4-inch red ball into a cone, and press it to top of head. Roll a 3/8-inch white ball to 1-inch in length. Gently press white clay so it is slightly flat, and wrapit around bottom of hat. Make indent lines with needle tool. Press a 3/8-inch white ball to top of hat.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make a Santa Claus hat and place it on top of the penguin.

6. Bake all ornaments according to manufacturer's directions. Let cool, and attach magnets to backs.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Once the magnet is finished, attach the magnet to the back.

• Paper clay: red, green, yellow, black
• 1/4-inch dowels, 3 inches long
• Acrylic high-luster varnish
• Paintbrush
• 7 feet green cord, 2mm
• Craft glue

1. Take a piece of red clay about the size of a walnut, and form a bulb on bottom 1-inch of dowel. Make 5 bulbs of each color except black. Let dry.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make 5 bulbs, one for each color.

2. Varnish bulbs. Let dry.
   
   
3. Make a socket using 1/2-inch strip of black clay about 1/16 inch thick, and wrap it around top of bulb. Repeat for all bulbs. Let dry overnight.
   
   
4. Remove dowel, and insert a loop of cord into bulb. Glue in place. Add a bulb about every 4 inches.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Glue the cord in place on each bulb.