Easy Way to Do Christmas Crafts

Last year our homeschool co-op got together and everyone who wanted to participate picked out a Christmas craft that made 12 from Oriental Trading Company. We then added the cost of all of the crafts and divided the amount among everyone. In a week we all had 12 different Christmas crafts to do with our kids.

I wanted to do the same thing again this year but am no longer in a co-op. So I asked some of my friends on FB if they would like to do this with me. So of course chose two crafts and paid for two sets so both of our children could participate. Each set of 12 crafts cost less than $8.  So for around $0.60 a craft, this is truly the easiest and cheapest way to add a little Christmas fun!

To spread my crafting fun, I added the crafts to our Christmas book bags. Depending on which bag they open will determine if we get to do a craft that day along with reading our Christmas book of the day. So fun! You could also do this and add stocking stuffers as well. I may try that next year and do a mix of stocking stuffers and Christmas crafts. 

Here are the crafts we are doing this year.

Gingerbread House Craft Kit

3D Hot Cocoa Ornament Craft Kit

"Legend of the Gingerbread Man"

3D Peanuts Snoopy Christmas Craft

2015 Happy Holidays Picture Frame Magnet Craft Kit

Handprint Reindeer Craft Kit

Gingerbread Memory Box Craft Kit

Bright Gingerbread House Magnet Craft Kit

Christmas Tree Magnet Craft Kit

Layered Tree Ornament Craft Kit

Silly Reindeer Mask Craft Kit

Christmas Book Countdown Make-Over

I LOVE Christmas. I love it even more now that I have children to do fun things with. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is reading a Christmas book every day as we count down to Christmas.  My book bag countdown to Christmas has gotten a make-over this year! I made these easy and super cute bags and added a few additional things. In addition to adding a book in each bag, I also added either a craft or Christmas movie. I did a very easy and affordable Christmas craft exchange with some friends so the craft part was very easy! We will also stream a few Christmas movies here and check out a couple from the library. In fact, you could do this Christmas tradition very cheaply, almost free by checking out all your Christmas books and movies from your library. Just remember the due dates and check out more as needed.   

Books added in back, movies in the middle, and crafts in front

You can see the fabric bags folded up with rope on top ready to stuff

Don't they look gorgeous under my Christmas tree?!

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How to Sew Christmas Book Bags

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas. One of our traditions is reading a Christmas book every day of December leading up to Christmas. In the past, I wrapped 24 books and on Christmas morning we read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible. A friend suggested that I make book bags and so this year I did! I decided to keep it pretty simple and honestly, getting the books ready after the bags were made saved so much time over wrapping them. Not only that but I can use these bags year after year and safe lots of time and money on wrapping paper.

I had bought some Christmas fabric last year after Christmas on sale. My grandmother gave me some Christmas fabric years ago and I was able to use some of that as well. I made 3 bags per yard of fabric. Then I used rope to tie the bags. You could also use ribbon and even sew the ribbon on the back of the bags to keep it together. I think they turned out super cute! 

It took me a few weeks to pull this off. I'd sew a bag or two each day. They didn't take very long to sew but we are a busy family and there is always lots of needs that need to be met! 

Because I'm lazy don't have much time, I didn't pre-measure or iron the fabric. I figured they would get wrinkly again once the kids messed with them so why bother. I cut along the natural fold lines of the fabric and went from there!

We added some fun activities in addition to the books this year. Click here to see what we added. I hope your family has fun as you prepare for Christmas!

These bags would also make pretty gift bags.

How to sew a Christmas book bag

What you need

1/3 yard of fabric per bag. 8 yards if you want to make 24 bags.
rope or ribbon to tie the bag together once the books are inside
sewing thread (I used white on all of the bags to keep it very simple!)

Directions:

Cut the fabric to the size bag you want.

Turn inside out and keep the bottom connected so you don't have to sew that.

Sew the sides of the bag and turn it right side out.

Hem the top of the bag leaving it open.

Add books and whatever else you want.

Tie bag with rope or ribbon.