Does your baby or toddler love the song Jingle Bells? It is usually one of the first songs they learn. If you follow these instructions you and your little loved ones will be able to make some jingle bells to shake while you sing the song or to decorate the tree.

Materials

- Egg Carton

- Pipe Cleaners

- Bells (i got ours from spotlight)

- Paint and paint brushes

- Glitter

First you have to cut the egg carton into individual sections.

Once you have done this your toddler can paint it anyway they like. Try and paint inside and outside the egg cup.

After they have dried use a skewer to poke a hole through the tops of the egg cups.

String the bells through the holes and tie it or twist it into a pipe cleaner making a loop. The loop can then be used to hang them on the tree or put them around their wrists.

Please be careful with the bells as they can be a choking hazard.

Once they are ready you can sing "jingle bells".

I love christmas craft activities. I hope you and your little ones enjoy this activity.

Enjoy Christmas and as always don't forget to stay safe in the sun. Make sure you check out our great sunsafe swimsuits for babies and toddlers 

Merry Christmas.

Baby and children's hands are so little and dear. There is a very firm memory in my mind of each of my little one's chubby baby fingers clinging onto my own hands. If you want to marvel in the future, at how small their hands once were, you should try out one of these easy hand print keepsake ideas.

1. MAKE AND BAKE HAND PRINT 

This is a great idea from Craft Drawer blog.

- Mix up the dough ingredients

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water
- Cut out the desired shape (circle works best).

- Press their hand into the dough

- Make a small circle at the top of the hand print (to hang it from)

- Place it in the oven for approx 25 mins at around 180 degrees

- Paint and decorate to your hearts content.

http://www.craftdrawer.com/2011/12/homemade-hand print-ornaments-for-baby.html

2. PHOTOCOPY HAND PRINT

Stuck for time but still want to capture their tiny little digits. Just put their hand in the photocopier with yours. You could then use it to scrap book, colour in, or frame. You could also create a little book of photocopied handprints over the years. It would be a cute keepsake to give to your little one when they turn 21. Thanks blackdresswagon blog for this idea.

 http://blackdressredwagon.blogspot.com.au/2009/02/elusive-baby-hand-print.html

3. HAND PRINT FLOWER BOUQUET

If you are feeling a bit creative and have the time and talent, why not create a hand print bouquet? You could paint it together or do the background and vase yourself and then get your child involved for the messy hand print work. This is truly something special that you would treasure forever. These paintings were shown on the disney baby blog.

http://www.disneybaby.com/blog/hand print-paintings-with-your-little-one/

4. EMBROIDER FAMILY HAND PRINTS

Do you remember doing easy stitching at school? This embroidery follows the same principals. It truly is easy to do. Just trace your children's hands with a pencil onto some nice fabric and then line stitch it all the way around. You don't have to stop there though, add their name, date, and age. This could be framed, turned into a cushion, or hung on the chrissy tree.

http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com.au/2008/11/embroidered-hand-prints.html

5. CHRISTMAS BAUBLE HAND PRINT

This is a beautiful thing to do for christmas. All you need is clear ink for the hand print, glitter to go over the hand print, a glass decoration to put the hand print on and a heat source to seal it.

http://www.asortafairytaleblog.com/2010/12/diy-babys-1st-christmas-ornament.html

Please let us know on our facebook page if you attempt any of these, we would love to see what you create!

As a little thank you for being such wonderful members of the Rashoodz community we have got this great Aussie Beach Santa colouring-in free printable for you.

We are sure that Santa wears just his swimmers when he is in Australia.

Have a sunsafe happy holiday. We hope our swimwear gets some good use over the summer holidays. We wish every one a very Merry Christmas.

We just had to share these adorable and simple craft activities for the kiddies. There is a mermaid wand in the shape of a star, or a little keepsake sandy hand print! You can do it at the beach, or even in your own sandpit at home. Its also a great idea to make for a christmas gift for the Grandparents. Click on the link below or the images to get the instruction sheet. 

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/beach-craft-make-a-sandy-handprint-keepsake

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/mermaid-wand-1019696/