ShareThisOnce Halloween is past, it seems like just the blink of an eye until Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah are upon us. If you're lucky, these holidays will bring lots of family and friends to your home.Adults are generally happy just sitting around the table and catching up, or sitting around the TV and watching football, but the kids will be especially thankful if you have activities to keep them busy. If the weather is not great and playing outdoors is not an option, bring the fun inside with creative crafts for kids.Being the only non-cook in my family, I'm always relegated to decorations. When everyone is arriving with casseroles, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, I show up with colored paper, scissors, glue and my camera.I've discovered that you can keep the kids occupied by letting them create much of the table decor, like napkin rings and place cards that do double duty as party favors.For a quick and easy place card, dismantle any small box (mine is a 2-1/2-inch square box) and use it as a pattern. Trace box shapes onto colored papers and have the kids cut them out. Decorate the boxes with simple geometric designs like stripes and dots (made with a circle punch) cut from contrasting colored papers. It's easy to embellish the box front with stickers that coordinate with the theme of the party. Lift each sticker with foam adhesive to add dimension and interest to the box.If you have a digital camera, let the kids take a photo of each guest. Print out copies in a size that will fit inside the boxes. If you don't have a home printer, ask each guest to bring a photo of themselves that you can keep. Cut the subjects out of each photo and attach them to Popsicle-type sticks or wooden toothpicks. Fill each box with candy or nuts -- if necessary, shred colored paper and use it as filler in the box. Affix the photo to the box and place it on the table, indicating the place for each guest.Boxy place cards are so much fun to make that you may discover many adults crafting with the kids, making the creative process as memorable as the meal. The table will look great and everyone can have a hand in its decoration.(Sandi Genovese hosts ''Scrapbooking'' on the DIY -- Do It Yourself Network. For more information, visit www.diynet.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
Giving thanks for kids' crafts
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