Holiday Homeschool Activities Good for Any Time of the Year

Herchel

While wandering through Michael’s, you know like all normal people do, I saw these paper mache ornaments on sale for 50% off.  I didn’t really have a plan for them but I figured they were cheap and could be painted.

I love painting with the kids but there are times when it is too much work and mess.

So as I was wrapping presents, I realized that we could use the scraps to decoupage the ornaments.  Decoupage is great for kids because it is easy and doesn’t require perfect placement.  It’s been a while since I have had some new decoupage ideas pop into my head so I figured I better jump on this one.

As with all of my crafts, my style is simple and fairly quick projects.

All you need are:

• Paper Mache ornaments (on sale at crafts stores because Christmas is near.  Or stock up after Christmas for next year!)
• Modge Podge
• Gift Wrapping scraps
• paint (optional)

I don’t dictate to my kids how I want a craft done.  Normally, I will give them some guidelines but I like to leave the choice to them.

When I gave my son the wrapping paper, he immediately began to tear the paper into little pieces.

Pork Chop had some prior experience in decoupaging.  They worked on a project in art club. He was very particular in how it needed to be done!  He isn’t really one for deviating from the “right way.”  Hopefully, he will become more flexible because he truly is an artist.

My daughter asked if she could paint hers instead. Pea chose the stocking and picked her paint colors.  I wasn’t surprised to see that they were Frozen colors since the scraps she chose was from the Frozen wrapping paper.

She painted the front of it blue and purple and the back in a medley of sparkles. Then she covered up the purple with an Elsa cut out.  Apparently the purple was only there as a place holder.  She completely ignored her brother when he told her that she was decoupaging all wrong.

I think they both came out great!  The ornaments cost very little money and the wrapping paper was headed for the trash anyway so this was a great way to make memories and reduce waste.

Have you every crafted with your scraps?