Parental sanity saver ! : Simple half-hour festive crafts projects for the kids

Whenever the Madhouse kids start getting overexcited, I try to calm things down with a quick crafts or baking session. In the final few days before Christmas, time is in short supply though, so here are some ideas that will keep them busy but that need minimal input from you and very little time.

Colour in sheets of A4 paper, cut into strips with pinking shears, fold in half, layer them on top of each other and staple together to form stars.

Or take wooden pegs apart, paint them in bright colours and stick them into star shapes.

If you're feeling brave, you might like to give Juliette's 3d paper snowflake a go. 

Make fairy bread to leave out for Santa - spread bread with butter or Nutella and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands. You could even use cookie cutters to cut it into festive shapes.

Or how about some festive food art?

Cut up strips of used wrapping paper (or the offcuts) to make paper chains.

Fold a sheet of green card in half lengthways, cut lots of slits 3/4 of the way through, tape the ends together and decorate with stickers as a wreath.

Make marshmallow snowmen

Or Santa Hat cupcakes.

Make Elf Hats and have races to see who can keep them on their head for longest.

Above all, have fun and have a fabulous Christmas !