I’ve never hosted an adults-only dinner party but I can totally nerd out on a kids crafting party, especially when it comes to making ornaments. Every year we like to take their school photo and have them create an ornament with it – a snapshot in time, 80s-90s style. If you are like me and your tree is a scrapbook of your year, then these can quickly become your favorite ornaments (we also collect on every major trip and I order ornaments for major life changes – i.e. new pet, “first lost tooth,” “MVP at ultimate frisbee,” “got married,” etc). I relish the ornament night when I bring out all the ornaments and almost one by one we unwrap and remember. IT IS SO FUN.
So here is my list of favorite ornament crafting supplies that I’ve worked very hard to collect over the years and is now my go-to “ingredient inventory” if you will.
These are usually for like catering signage, but they are so cute to represent a blackboard in a kid’s class, then with the class photo, a chalk pen, and some decor, it is such a cute ornament (just make sure to put grade and teacher on them, see Brian’s OG ornament above).
Mini Christmas Wreaths | Artificial Mini Christmas Trees | Mini Dollhouse Christmas Lights
A lot of it I found to be in the dollhouse section, but you get it. Mini wreaths, mini garlands, mini trees, etc. The kids can really go wild we these and we find that they all look good together. The mini-lights kill me! So cute.
Mini Metallic Foil Wrapped Gifts | Santa Claus Hats Textured Glittery Stickers
The mini gifts delight the kids and they stack them, etc. The 3D Santa hats fit on their photo heads really well (you can also embroider or draw a hat, but if kids are doing it then this is easy – see Elliot’s ornament above).
Cube Wood Beads | Colourful Letter Beads
These letter beads (or stamps) are crucial to them adding their name in a way that isn’t messy or ugly (no offense to kids). We don’t use them as beads, we use them as 3-D letters (they can also write their teacher’s name or grandparents, etc, you get it). I put them all on paper plates to make them easier to sort.
Traditional Christmas Chenille Pipe Cleaners | Rick Rack Trim
My ribbon collection is huge, but don’t forget to have some rick rack in there – it’s so festive and fun. I also make sure to have festive pipe cleaners too since you can do so much with them.
Colorful Feathers | Glitter Cardstock
Cardstock and feathers are usual parts of our inventory – the feathers aren’t necessarily perfect for these ornaments but great for making masks, mobiles, etc. Cardstock on the other hand is very handy always. The glittery kind is obviously a favorite.
Self Adhesive Rhinestone Stickers | Washi Tape Set
We have all types of sticker gems – WAYYY better than loose ones that you have to glue on. These I’ve only found online (not a our local craft stores). Washi tape is another essential that is pretty and is helpful with keeping things in place.
Natural Wood Popsicle Sticks | Colored Popsicle Sticks
Popsicle sticks are another great thing to have! They are perfect for making frames if you want or have those little chalkboards. The colorful ones are great too since you don’t have to pain them if the kids don’t want them plain. Might as well make like a little easier (and cleaner) if you can.
If you have the budget, the cordless glue gun ($20) is totally worth it – those short glue gun cords are SO ANNOYING and they constantly fall off the dining table and get glue all over the floor. I bought three of these a few years ago and the kids can pass and share them so much easier. Big fan.
Portable Square Photo Printer | Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
I also use this photo printer (Sephy, by Canon), and of course, a Polaroid mini for anyone who doesn’t get printed school photos. These are more of an investment and you have to monitor the kids to make sure that they don’t go crazy since the film and paper are expensive. But they love them so much that it helps keep even the non-crafty kiddos engaged.
These are GREAT gifts for grandparents, but I mostly just love having them as a snapshot of them at this age, in this grade, with this teacher. xx
Happy crafting!
xx
Emily
Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green
