Ring in the New Year with these festive crafts, which will entertain kids and adults alike. By Allison McGuire.
Allison McGuire has an accomplished history of building online marketing and ecommerce programs. As the Director of Marketing at Paper Mart, she has launched a variety of new marketing channels which have propelled the 96-year old business to the next level. Under her leadership, the company has gained national exposure on the Today Show, become a corporate sponsor for the Boys & Girls Club, partnered with Make-A-Wish LA, and received a 2017 Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service Excellence.
Hosting a New Year’s Eve event that includes the whole family? Keep the youngsters occupied until midnight with a fun craft project, while the adults ring in 2018 in style.
Raise a toast to these 10 fun, kid-friendly New Year’s crafts — and let the countdown begin!
1. Wishing Wands
Help your kids make their wishes for the year to come with these wishing wands! Cut two star-shaped frames from cardstock and glue a layer of clear cellophane to the inside of each. Place some fun embellishments like glitter, sequins, ribbon, or wrapping paper in the center of one of the cellophane stars. Then, glue the edges to the other star frame to make a pocket. Add a dowel (or paper towel roll) and some ribbon streamers, and your little fairies can grant wishes to their heart’s content.
2. Toilet Roll Confetti Poppers
No New Year’s Eve is complete without confetti, and these toilet roll confetti poppers are super easy to make. Glue a thin layer of tissue paper around the tube to cover one end. Then use a sewing needle to thread nylon fishing line through the tissue paper, tying a knot on the tube side of the paper to hold the line in place. Fill the tube with confetti, then affix a layer of tissue paper to the other end to close off the tube. Decorate with colorful washi tape, and get ready to pull the string at midnight!
3. Plastic Straw Noise Makers
What’s more fun than a noisemaker? For this craft, take a standard plastic straw in a bright color and cut it into a spiral about halfway up. Flatten the other end with your fingers, and trim the slanted corners. Play around with different blowing techniques to get the sound you’re looking for. Pro tip: try squeezing the straw tightly between your lips for a louder sound.
4. Jingle Bell Shakers
These noisemakers might just be the easiest New Year’s Eve craft of the night. Simply paint popsicle sticks or tongue depressors silver and gold, glue two or three jingle bells onto each stick, then tie on some curling ribbon to finish off the craft.
5. Wishing Tree
To help your little ones look forward to the New Year, gather several small branches or twigs to put in a festive vase as your “tree,” then cut out stars from cardstock or construction paper. Write “I wish…” on one side of the star, then have your child write their wish on the other side. Decorate the stars with glitter, punch a hole in the top, and weave in sparkly gold trim for hanging.
6. Silver and Gold Slime
What kid doesn’t love playing with slime? For this squishy New Year’s craft, pour one five-ounce bottle of glue into a bowl. Next, fill the empty bottle with water, shake, and add to the glue. Add two tablespoons of silver or gold liquid watercolor and mix well (for added sparkle, you can mix in silver or gold glitter). Gradually mix in eight tablespoons of liquid starch, mixing as you go. When the mixture is thick enough to knead, work it with your hands until it’s completely mixed, and your slime is ready!
7. New Year’s Glasses
See into the future with your very own New Year’s glasses! Using either craft foam or cardstock, cut out the frames. Punch two small holes on either side, and weave in pipe cleaners for the ear pieces (measure to fit your child’s head). Cut out the numbers for 2018, and let your kids decorate both the numbers and the frames with markers or washi tape. Then, glue the numbers onto the frames along with any confetti or charms for extra sparkle.
8. Fireworks Sparkler
This kid-friendly New Year’s craft provides a safer alternative to the standard sparkler. Sandwich a sheet of tin foil between two colored sheets of cellophane and fold in half. At the open end, cut strips towards the fold, making sure to stop halfway down so that you don’t cut the sheets in two. Wrap the folded end tightly around a large drinking straw, securing with tape. Gently open the strips so that they are fanned out like a firework!
9. Paper Ring Chain
This paper ring chain is a fun way to pass the hours until midnight. Cut strips of construction paper and, on each strip, write down an activity to keep the kids entertained during that time. A few examples: bake cookies, play charades, or have a dance party! Link the rings together and hang with a sparkly jewel weave ribbon. As you count down the hours to midnight, remove one ring and do the activity listed on it. You’ll be ringing in the New Year before you know it!
10. Time Capsule
Recap 2017 with this memorable time capsule activity. Have the kids write down their favorite things (color, food, toy, etc.), the best thing that happened to them in the past year, and their wishes for the new year. Tuck the answers into a metal tin that they can decorate with ribbons in their favorite color. Write the year onto the tin with a permanent marker and pack it away in a special place to be opened the following year.
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