Looking for fun, memorable craft and activity ideas for this holiday season? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
I love creating memories and traditions for my growing family and have wholeheartedly embraced the joy that is making magic during the holidays. My hope is that you’re able to curate your own special traditions with the help of these ideas. Here is my list for you and your loved ones to enjoy.
1. Bake and Gift Assorted Cookie/Dessert Boxes
Although I’ve baked several goodies during the holiday season, I’ve never curated a cookie or dessert box and gifted it to loved ones. That changes this year, as I plan on baking a few of my favorite desserts with the help of my kids, arranging them in a giftbox, and gifting the assortments to loved ones. Stay tuned for a list of my favorite recipes and the final result!
2. Go Sledding
Growing up in Alaska, sledding was always a favorite winter pastime for me and my family. I fondly recall the excitement of this annual tradition, often shared with neighbors at our local park. I cannot wait for my toddlers to experience this for the first time this year.
3. Make Homemade Ornaments
As a Mom of little ones, it’s not lost on me that my time with them at this age is limited, so I want to capture and keep these memories in a tangible form as much and for as long as possible. I plan to use air dry clay to make hand and footprint ornaments for each of my kids. This is a great way to build the holiday spirit, while also crafting a keepsake.
4. Go for a Drive to Look at Christmas Lights and Decorations
This tradition is a favorite amongst many, and for good reason. Whether you bundle up in your car and drive through neighborhoods to admire homes decorated for Christmas, or brave the cold to view the lights strewn across buildings downtown, this is a surefire way to affordably enjoy the holiday season.
5. Decorate Gingerbread Houses
This is, by far, my absolute favorite Christmas tradition. It’s such a fun, yet simple way, to celebrate the season and really allows you to highlight your creative side. Read my blog post, Everything You Need for the Perfect Gingerbread House Decorating Party, for useful tips on how to host a gingerbread decorating event this year.
6. Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate and Watch a Holiday Movie
Crockpot hot chocolate is all the rave in recent years, as it yields a large amount of the delectable drink for everyone to enjoy and is so convenient to make. This <a href="http://<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetly.jamie/video/7428319827363745054" data-video-id="7428319827363745054" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@sweetly.jamie" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetly.jamie?refer=embed">@sweetly.jamie</a> Crockpot Hot Cocoa ❄️ A MUST-try this holiday season. So easy to make and so perfect to serve a crowd on a chilly day. Full recipe is below: INGREDIENTS: – 2 c heavy cream – 1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder – 2 c whole milk – 7 oz sweetened condensed milk – 8 oz semi sweet chocolate chopped – 1.5 tbsp vanilla INSTRUCTIONS: – To your crockpot, mix cream and cocoa powder together. It takes a couple minutes to come together so it’s best to do this first. – Add milk, sweetened condensed milk, chopped chocolate and vanilla extract – Set to low for 2-3 hours , stir every 45 min or so to prevent any burning. – Enjoy with whipped cream, marshmallows or any other toppings you like! <a title="holidays" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/holidays?refer=embed">#holidays</a> <a title="holidayfood" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/holidayfood?refer=embed">#holidayfood</a> <a title="christmasrecipe" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/christmasrecipe?refer=embed">#christmasrecipe</a> <a title="christmasfood" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/christmasfood?refer=embed">#christmasfood</a> <a title="crockpotrecipe" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/crockpotrecipe?refer=embed">#crockpotrecipe</a> <a title="hotcocoa" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/hotcocoa?refer=embed">#hotcocoa</a> <a title="hotchocolate" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/hotchocolate?refer=embed">#hotchocolate</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound – 🫶🏼🎄𝒸𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈🎄🫶🏼" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7375920706104412960?refer=embed">♬ original sound – 🫶🏼🎄𝒸𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈🎄🫶🏼</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js">recipe is my personal favorite. Dawn some matching pajamas, drink hot cocoa, and enjoy a fun holiday movie. In our home, our favorite is Elf.
7. Go Snow Tubing
My family and I went snow tubing for the first time last year and had a blast! If you live somewhere guaranteed to have snow during the winter season, you’re likely to find a place locally that offers this activity. Luckily, though, like sledding, you can simply grab a snow tube and hit a hill or slope near you. My children were almost 2 and 3 years old at the time and had a blast!
8. Wrap Presents
Dedicate a night or two to wrapping Christmas gifts. Pull out your wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon, sit down, put on a Christmas music playlist and go to town.
9. Attend a Holiday Play
Nothing sets the tone for the holidays like going to see a live play! I have vivid memories of seeing The Nutcracker as a child in my hometown of Anchorage and absolutely loving the costumes, music, and ambience within the theater. See what is playing locally near you and support your local arts.
10. Enjoy a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride
One of my favorite parts about the holidays is simply the snow. Having been raised in Alaska, I have and will always love snow, despite the cold and numerous inconveniences it brings. What better way to enjoy the winter wonderland than by a horse-drawn sleigh?
11. Go Ice Skating
Speaking of enjoying the outdoors, rent some skates and go ice skating! If you live in a cooler climate area, you’re sure to find local lakes that have frozen over and been transformed into an ice rink. I’m quite bad at ice skating, but still thoroughly enjoy it.
12. Craft a Gingerbread House Themed Welcome Mat
Here’s another great fun craft and decor idea! Similar to hosting a gingerbread house decorating party, you can alternatively decorate welcome mats.
I sincerely hope this list intrigued and sparked some ideas for you. I look forward to sharing with you in future posts what crafts and activities my family does this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
Life, as of Late 
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