semi-homemade Christmas crafts and activities

The holiday season is already off to an amazing start. emmy and elle have caught the Christmas spirit bug (as well as every form of winter sickness) and they love everything about Santa! I am really hoping they will be happier this year when they meet the jolly guy on December 10th at The Davidson Playhouse. You can tell by the picture below they were less than pleased to see Santa last year. Fingers crossed for a better reaction this year!

The teacher side of me wants to immerse emmy and elle in a lot of seasonal activities but the mama side does not want to be overwhelmed with messy crafts. So, I decided to channel my inner Sandra Lee and go the semi-homemade Christmas crafts and activities route. I researched some great products from Amazon and linked them below. I chose a variety of different activities which I hope will help bring out your inner elf while also keeping your sanity. Enjoy the list and please share your own semi-homemade/easy holiday crafts and activities so I can update the list with more ideas!

My favorite activity purchased so far this holiday season is our new glitter felt Christmas tree from Amazon! The girls are obsessed! They spend so much time taking the ornaments off and then deciding exactly where to stick them on the tree. This tree has also been a great distraction to keep them away from our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree covered in my treasured christmas ornaments and our other holiday decor around the home. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this glitter felt tree and it is perfect for toddlers a year of age and up since it is three feet tall and made of durable, thick felt! They also have a felt snowman that is extremely cute and is sitting patiently in my cart to order soon!

I just ordered these Christmas photo booth props kit for kids from Amazon for my sweet family to have fun with in front of my parents tree when we arrive the week before Christmas. I think it is going to be so much fun to watch emmy, elle, and their favorite person in the world, their cousin Katharine Grace, play dress up with the props and pose for the camera!

Solid words to live by as a parent... When is doubt, go the Melissa & Doug route.

Melissa & Doug is slowly creating a monopoly over the toy industry and I can see why with their awesome toys, crafts, and activities for kids. All the products we have bought from Melissa and Doug have been high quality and the girls love them. Below are links to my favorite semi-homemade holiday crafts and activities from Melissa and Doug.

Melissa & Doug Made Easy - Santa Claus Stained Glass

Melissa & Doug Stained Glass Made Easy Craft Kit - Santa and Tree Ornaments

Melissa & Doug Mess-Free Glitter Christmas Tree and Gingerbread House

Melissa & Doug Mess-Free Glitter Christmas Stickers - 26 Foam Stickers, 8 Glitter Sheets

Melissa & Doug Mess-Free Glitter Christmas Ornaments - 6 Ornaments, 7 Glitter Sheets

Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Christmas Ornaments

I bought this cookie set for emmy and elle because I know they are going to want to help with baking cookies in the kitchen and now they can bake Christmas cookies in their pretend kitchen too! Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Wooden Christmas Cookie Play Food Set

Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar - Magnetic Tree, 25 Magnets I am listing a few other fun advent calendars below too!

Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Activity Book: 'Tis the Season - 63 Reusable Stickers

Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Activity Book: Santa's Workshop - 52 Reusable Stickers

Melissa & Doug Holiday Christmas Tree Wooden Chunky Puzzle (13 pcs)

Melissa & Doug Santa's Sleigh Wooden Chunky Puzzle (9 pcs) I recently bought both of these chunky puzzles for emmy and elle. They are going to love the bright colors of Christmas!

Melissa & Doug Snowman Stacker Wooden Toddler Toy (8 pcs) I saw this snowman stacker at TJ Maxx and Marshalls for cheaper than on Amazon. I found the wooden Chunky puzzles at Marshalls too. They are currently selling all of these toys at Nordstrom for a higher price! 'Tis the season for great deals!

My favorite daily Christmas activity from when I was a child and now with my girls is an Advent calendar. Advent calendars vary upon what they are made of and what might be inside each daily pocket. We have a felt calendar which I will fill with small trinkets and holiday stickers. We are also going to have a playmobil advent calendar which emmy and elle will open each day to find one playmobil piece which will eventually create an entire scene. We had a playmobil advent calendar last year too and it was a huge hit! We never miss the opportunity to have a chocolate Advent calendar. You can find a chocolate Advent calendar at practically every grocery and specialty store. We are Austrian so celebrating the Advent is always really important to my family and a tradition I want to pass down to emmy and elle.

Below I have listed some of the most fun and interactive Advent calendars that I found on Amazon! I listed the calendars by age appropriateness but the first two felt calendars can be used for any age. I also highly suggest checking out Lidl if you are lucky enough to have a location near you. I bought our felt advent calendar for $3.99! There are a few from PBK which look similar and cost more than $50!