• Use red and green sparkles for almost any Christmas project.cookie decorations image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
  
  You can't go wrong with decorating cookies as a tried and true, quick Christmas craft idea for children, plus the results are deliciously edible. But there are scores of other quick crafts to choose from as well. Whether you choose to make ornaments for the tree, gifts, or table decorations, provide children with a variety of materials using lots of bright holiday colors and let their creativity do the rest.
  
  

Pinecone Ornament or Table Decoration

• Gather pinecones yourself or buy them at a local craft store.3 pinecones image by Brandt Boulden from Fotolia.com
  
  Begin with either unpainted pine cones or take the time to paint them in holiday colors and let the paint dry. Dab regular white glue on the outer edges of the cone or on the entire cone. Holding the cone over a large bowl of glitter, spoon the glitter over the glue. Turn the cone upside down to shake off excess. Let the cones dry. For tree ornaments, tie ribbon or string to the uppermost part of the cone. For table décor, set each pinecone in a small flower pot that has been painted or decorated with Christmas stickers.
  
  

Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

• Experiment with three colors as well as the traditional two.candy canes image by Liz Van Steenburgh from Fotolia.com
  
  Twist red and white pipe cleaners together to form a candy cane. Bend one edge to form the candy cane curve. Add a red ribbon tied into a bow at the center of the candy cane and tie a ribbon or string at the top for hanging. For a round, beaded ornament, string beads through a pipe cleaner and twist the ends together. Repeat the process with another pipe cleaner and then place one circle over the other for an ornament with four beaded sides. Attach a ribbon or string for hanging.
  
  

Cardboard Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments

• Provide a model for decorating the gingerbread.gingerbread man detail image by Rob Hill from Fotolia.com
  
  Cut gingerbread shapes from cardboard before the decorating begins. Or, if time allows, have the children trace around gingerbread cookie cutters for you to cut. The children can begin decorating while waiting for you to cut other shapes. Use bright markers and glitter pens, or if time allows, use paint.
  
  

Christmas Mouse Gift or Ornament

• Christmas mice can be used as tree ornaments, as package gift tags, or as gifts all by themselves. Pre cut or have the children cut a six-inch long teardrop shape out of red felt for each mouse body. Cut two parallel slits about one-inch long in the middle of the body. Cut a five-inch long bow-tie shape with curved edges from green felt to insert into the slit as ears. Glue googly eyes, or draw some eyes, glue a green pom-pom for a nose, and insert a candy cane into the back of the mouse through the body and ears. The curved shape of the candy cane becomes the mouse's tail.
  
  

Gift Wrapping

• Stencils or stickers are also a good choice for wrapping paper.christmas illustration - christmas tree. image by Indigo Fish from Fotolia.com
  
  Making wrapping paper can be as simple or as elaborate as you and the children would like. Use either plain, white butcher paper or plain, non-glossy, store-bought wrapping paper. Children can simply draw holiday scenes and messages with markers and glitter pens; they can use ink stamps or sponge prints from sponges you have cut into holiday shapes which are then dipped in paint; or they can cut pictures from magazines of holiday scenes and glue them onto the paper.