Merry Everything to you all!
Introduction
December at Smudge is busy in the best way. Tables fill up fast, ideas bounce around the room, and there’s a lot of making happening all at once. Kids arrive with Christmas on the brain and hands that are very ready to get started!
This theme is about giving them the right materials and plenty of room to explore. Sparkle, cardboard, paint, yarn, glue, repetition, big builds, small details. Some activities feel calm and focused, others are loud and collaborative. None of them are about rushing toward a perfect end result. Christmas Creations is festive, playful, and practical. It’s about slowing the season down just enough to enjoy the making part… and letting the rest take care of itself.
From Smudge to You
Below you'll find the collection of creative activities we've used to bring this theme to life at Smudge. Each one is an invitation to play, experiment, and see where the materials take you. Pick and choose what excites you and adapt them to your own space.
A taste of what's inside
sculptureAges 5–12
Big impact with big, big joy!
Gather these before you start.
8 more inside this theme
Experience 2
sculpture
Mini scenes with maximum glow!
Experience 3
sensory-play
A pause button in the middle of the season.
Experience 4
installations
Big Build with even Bigger Energy
Experience 5
sculpture
This is one of those processes that looks impressive but is actually very doable once you know the rhythm. You’ll need paper bags or lunch bags, glue, scissors, a hole punch and string for hanging. We usually use 7 bags per star. Thicker paper bags hold their shape best and give you that crisp, sculptural finish.
Stack the bags neatly with all the openings facing the same direction. Point the folded flap at the bottom of each bag upwards. That flap matters! It’s what gives the star its structure once it opens. So you apply the glue to the flap and then in a line upwards to form an upside down T. Then stick down the next bag with the flat side facing down into the glue, and the flap of the new bag facing upwards again. And so on!
Smudge Tip
For younger artists or thicker bags, split the stack. Glue 3 bags together in one pile and 4 in another, then cut the design into each stack separately. It makes cutting much easier and keeps the shapes cleaner. An adult can always help with this step if needed. once they've all got the same design cut into them, then you can go ahead and glue the two stack together so that all 7 bags are attached and lined up.
Draw a simple / bold design on the top bag. Curves, points and half circles work beautifully. Avoid anything too tiny because it can be trick to cut out intricate designs. Cut straight through the stack.
Now comes the moment everyone waits for! Hold both ends and gently pull the stack open into a star.
Glue the two outer edges together to secure the shape, or leave them unglued and add a hole punch and string so the star can be folded flat and reused year after year.
Finish with watercolours and metallic paints. Soft washes soak into the paper and give the star depth, or a touch of gold or silver will add just enough sparkle.
Experience 6
painting-drawing
Let the movement do the hard work.
Experience 7
print-making
Make the paper part of the present!
Experience 8
installations
Weave and wrap and loop
Experience 9
sculpture
Hanging Holiday Art!