Festive Fun for the Family: Recipes & Crafts for the Holiday Season

Nothing says holiday season quite like cookies and crafts around a warm fire (or under a heated blanket!). So to get in the spirit of things, the Hughes Charitable Foundation reached out to a few Wyoming organizations to see what fun ideas they had to bring a little extra magic to your home. Bonus points for making these with or for a friend!

 

Crafts contributed by Haylee Chenchar, Executive Director, Cheyenne Children's Museum

GLITTER JAR

Glitter jars are fun crafts where kids can use their creativity and imagination. This activity also promotes mindfulness, relaxation, and calmness.

Supplies:
Plastic jar with lid
Glitter glue
Sparkles or charms
Warm water

  1. Directions:
    Pour glitter glue into plastic jar
  2. Add desired amount of sparkles
  3. Pour warm water up to the lip of the jar and secure lid
  4. Shake and mix everything in the jar
  5. Once mixed, slowly move the jar and watch the glitter and sparkles move and flutter around

Ask reflective questions while building and playing. What are your favorite colors? Why are they your favorite colors? What do you think the sparkles represent? How do you feel watching the glitter and sparkles move? What additional items could we add that bring you joy? Maybe look for snowflakes, dinosaurs, or sports related glitter and charms to add to the jar in the future.

This activity focuses on the following S.T.R.R.E.A.M. concepts: Science, Technology, Reading, Relationships, Engineering, Art, and Math.

SNOWBALL CATAPULT

Catapults have been used throughout history. This craft allows kids to be able to explore physics and design, while having fun.

Supplies:
10-15 jumbo wooden craft sticks (popsicle sticks will work as well)
Minimum of 4 rubber bands
Bottle cap
Hot glue gun
Medium sized pom-poms
Mini marshmallows

Directions:

  1. Create a base by stacking 7-10 craft sticks, and wrapping a rubber band around each end.
  2. Take 2 more craft sticks and stack on top of each other. Tightly wrap one rubber band on one end of the new stack.
  3. Slide one of the sticks of the smaller stack through the base (from step one). Ensure that the top stick of the two stick stack is above the base (this should create a > shape with the two stick stack and the base in the middle).
  4. Take the last rubber band and wrap it around in a crisscross around the base (big stack) and the top stick to secure the > to the base, creating the hinge of the catapult.
  5. Glue the bottle cap to the top stick of the > to create a space to hold the pom-poms and marshmallows.
  6. Once glue is dry, you can start catapulting pom-poms and marshmallows!

Ask reflective questions while building and playing. How far do you think you can shoot pom-poms and marshmallows? Can you create a target with a cup or other items? If you move the hinge on the base, do you shoot further or shorter distances? What if you make a taller base? Do the pom-poms or marshmallows fly farther and why?

This activity focuses on the following S.T.R.R.E.A.M. concepts: Science, Technology, Reading, Relationships, Engineering, Art, and Math!

 

Recipes contributed from Risa Sabus, Senior Membership Director, YMCA of Natrona County

KISS-MAS TREES

Materials:
Scrapbook Paper (green holiday paper or whatever you want to use)
Toothpicks
Tape
Hershey's Kisses chocolates in Christmas foil colors

Directions:

  1. Cut out triangle shapes from scrapbook paper.
  2. Tape a toothpick on the back.
  3. Insert toothpick into Hershey's Kisses candies.
  4. Arrange on a platter to make a festive table centerpiece.

GRINCH COOKIES

Ingredients:
1 box white or vanilla cake mix (you don't need the ingredients on the box)
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup red candy melts, melted
green food coloring

Directions:

  1. Mix together cake mix, canola oil and eggs. Batter will be thick. Add a few drops of green coloring and mix together. Add more food coloring until desired color is met.
  2. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll dough into confectioners sugar. *If you find your dough is too soft to roll you can chill for 30 minutes and then resume rolling.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cookies begin to crack just slightly.
  4. "Paint" hearts with your melted candy melts (following directions on the package)

 

Recipe contributed by Steve Hamaker, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming

HOT CHOCOLATE DECORATING BAR

Big Brothers Big Sisters encourages matches and families to celebrate the season by spending time together doing the things that mean the most to them. Whether it’s decorating the tree, spending time outdoors, or baking a batch of cookies, the time spent together is the real gift of the season. One activity our Bigs and Littles have had a lot of fun with is making a hot chocolate bar! Start by using our recipe for homemade hot chocolate…

Ingredients:
¼ cup of sugar
¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups whole milk
½ cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a medium saucepan stir together the sugar and cocoa powder.
    Add the milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla and stir
  2. Put the pan on medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly to incorporate the melted chocolate
  3. Pour into festive mugs and enjoy!
  4. Let everyone personalize their own cup with cinnamon, peppermint sticks, marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce for extra fun. Happy Holidays from all of us at BBBS!

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