Make Festive Christmas Stencils

What You Do:

1. Have your child choose one or more Christmas cards with simple designs that will be recognizable in the silhouette.
2. Ask her to help you draw some recognizable holiday shapes on each card.
3. Place a cutting board or thick section of newspaper on your table to use as a cutting surface. Make cuts around the outline of each shape by drawing the knife toward you—this will make for a steadier, straighter, cut. Stop and turn the work surface and card as needed to cut out the appropriate shape.
4. Give the stencil(s) to your child. If your child has never used a stencil before, show her how to hold the stencil steady with her non-dominant hand while tracing the shape with a crayon held in her dominant hand. If necessary, practice on scrap paper first!
5. Encourage your child to decorate the cards in a variety of ways, tracing just the outline or coloring the shape in entirely.
6. Help your child write her “thank you,” and the card is ready to send to a lucky friend or relative!