My Holiday Book

By Joanna Young

Holiday memories are always made special through the eyes of children, and that's what this felt holiday book is all about. By writing your preschooler's comments in this colorful holiday keepsake, you'll be giving your preschooler a gift he/she will always cherish.

Materials You Will Need

Scissors
Fabric glue
Four large index cards (no lines)
Two 6" red ribbons
Pen
5 purple felt squares
1 white, yellow, green, beige, and red felt squares

Fabric Glue

Shiny: Red, black, orange, blue
Puffy: Pink, brown
Glitter: Gold

How to Make It

Note: If your preschooler has a short attention span, it's a good idea to do all the precutting before he/she sits down to help.

Step 1:

Using the pattern on the right as a guide, draw and cut out the felt shapes.

Santa Claus:

1. Cut out a circle face from the beige felt square.
2. Cut out the beard, mustache, and hat trim from the white felt square.
3. Cut out the hat from the red felt square.

Snowman:

1. Cut out three circles from the remaining white felt square.
2. Cut out the scarf from the green felt.

Christmas Tree:

1. Cut out the tree from the remaining green felt.
2. Cut out the star from the yellow felt.

Candy Cane:

1. Cut out the cane from the remaining white felt.
2. Cut out several "stripes" from the remaining red felt.

Star:

1. Cut out the star from the remaining yellow felt.

Step 2:

Using the black fabric paint, write "My Holiday Book by [Your Preschooler's Name] 2006" on one of the purple felt squares. Let your preschooler choose which felt picture will go on the front cover and help him/her glue it into place below the title. Allow to dry for several hours.

Step 3:

Line up all but one purple felt square, including the front cover (flip it over so you can put a picture on the back). Have your preschooler arrange the felt cut-outs into pictures on each "page". Help him/her glue them into place.

Step 4:

Using the pattern on the right as a guide, decorate the felt pictures with the fabric paints. Allow to dry for several hours.

Step 5:

Meanwhile, ask your preschooler to tell you about the holiday pictures and record his/her statements on the index cards. This is always fun because preschoolers are known to say the cutest things!

Step 6:

When all the paint and glue is dry, flip the felt squares over and glue the index cards to the blank sides (including the remaining felt square). Make sure you place the cards so that they sit opposite the corresponding pictures in the book. Then, using the gold glitter fabric paint, draw a thick border around the cards, sealing them to the felt squares. Allow to dry for several hours.

Step 7:

Using scissors or a hole punch, make two holes on the left side of each page. Feed the red ribbons through the holes to bind your preschooler's holiday felt book.

Helpful Hint

Use cookie cutters to draw the holiday pictures onto the felt.

Show and Tell Us

Did you and your preschooler create a Preschool Holiday Craft and would like to show it off? Contact Preschool Holiday Crafts to submit a photo of your preschooler and his/her holiday craft. We look forward to seeing your fabulous creations!

 

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