Kids love to help us parents get ready for the holidays. Here are five easy craft projects to help your home look more festive than ever.

Cardboard Halloween Decorations

Some of these craft projects are best enjoyed together. Others will keep your kids happy and occupied as you do your own holiday preparations.

Cardboard Halloween Decorations

1. Make a turkey (or other centerpiece) from natural items.
This craft is fun for everyone, and very eco-friendly. Take your kids on a nature walk or a simple walk through the local grocery store. Pick items for different parts of the turkey. Pine cones and leaves can form the body and feathers of the turkey, for example. Or, if you are in the supermarket, choose different sized gourds and corn leaves. Glue the pieces together using craft glue or use some toothpicks, depending on the age of your children.

2. Beaded bracelets
Beaded bracelets can be used for a wide variety of different holidays. This project is also very adaptable to any age group. Preschoolers can use pipe cleaners and pony beads to create easy bracelets. Older children can string pony beads on plastic lace. Pre-teens can use a needle, thread and seed beads. Pick colors related to the holiday that you are preparing for. For example, gold, red and brown can create festive Thanksgiving bracelets. Red, green, silver and gold are perfect for Christmas and blue and silver will be great for Hanukkah.

3. Gingerbread houses
This yearly treat is fun for everyone. There are gingerbread house kits available that have everything you need for a simple house, or you can create your own. Using graham crackers, cream cheese frosting or white icing, gum drops, licorice and other pieces of candy you can create your own designs. Be creative with your items and you'll have totally unique gingerbread houses.

4. Gift tags
These craft projects are practical and fun, too. There are so many different ways you can create gift tags that you can make some with whatever you have on hand. Use cardboard, tag board or decorative paper and cut out squares, circles, ovals and unique shapes. Your children can use stamps to create the designs on the tags using appropriate holiday colors and designs. They can also use markers to draw their own designs. Use sequins, glitter, bits of ribbon and stickers, too. Older kids can put "to" and "from" information on the back of the tags.

5. Felt projects
A few sheets of felt, some scissors and some glue are all you need to create a great variety of holiday crafts year round. White felt circles, a top hat and some beads are all you need for some felt snowmen. Green felt tree shapes, yellow stars and beads make an easy craft. Yellow felt stars can be jazzed up with some gold glitter. This craft is only limited by your imagination and your children's skill level.

These craft projects are easily adaptable to any age level and will make the holidays even more fun for everyone.

Holiday Crafts For Kids - Five Easy Ideas

Cardboard Halloween Decorations