Here are some hot craft ideas you might like to try in the holidays.  They'll require a small investment in materials but you'll end up with items your grandkids will love.  

FIRE BREATHING DRAGONS

These dragons are so easy to make! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Paper roll (Toilet paper roll, paper towel roll, or wrapping paper roll)
• Green or Red coloured paper
• 2 medium pompoms
• 2 small pompoms
• 2 medium googly eyes
• Red, yellow and orange tissue paper
• Gluestick
• Glue gun

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​Use a glue gun to attach the eyes to the pompoms and attach the pompoms to the paper tube.

​Cut the coloured paper to the size of the paper roll so it will completely cover it. Use a glue stick to attach it to the roll.

For the fire cut red, yellow and orange tissue paper into about 18cm or 20cm long, pointy strips. Then use a glue stick to attach them to the inside of the paper tube.

​Then take a deep breath, put your mouth on the end and BLOW!

WATERCOLOUR COASTERS

You'll need to invest in some Sharpies from your local discount store but you'll be able to use them for other craft projects so they won't go to waste.  

YOU'LL NEED:

• White ceramic tiles found at any big box home improvement store. Buy 4-6 tiles to create a coaster set.
• Sharpie Permanent Markers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Eyedropper or stirring spoon
• Spray fixative also available at the hardware store
• Clear varnish or Polyurethane coating (optional)
• Adult supervision is required.

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1. STEP 1 – COLOUR: Colour the first tile using your favorite bold, brilliant Sharpie colors. Cover the full face of the tile in different shapes and patterns. Repeat for the rest of the white tiles making each one a little different from the last.
2. STEP 2 – DROPS: Use a stirring spoon or eyedropper to drop small pools of rubbing alcohol onto the tile to create swirling circle patterns. Careful not to add too many drops at a time to keep colors from blurring together more than you'd like.
3. STEP 3 – DRY: Let tiles dry for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. STEP 4 – SEAL: One at a time, hold dry tiles at least six inches away and lightly spray with a spray fixative. Spray in layers with a 1-2 minutes in between to set for best results.
5. STEP 5 – (OPTIONAL): If a high-gloss finish is desired, apply varnish or polyurethane to seal it with a shiny coat.

TIC TAC TOE ROCKS

This is such an easy game to make but looks so professional it could easily make a lovely gift for a child or another grandparent.

You'll need:
10 Flat pebbles
White and black permanent markers
A hessian gift bag from a cheap shop or craft supplies

Rule two vertical and two horizontal black lines on the outside of the bag.  Make sure the marker seeps into the hessian.  Next, draw a white circle on five of the pebbles and a white cross on the other five.  Make a gift tag with coloured markers and you're set to play with your grandchildren or gift your creation to a grandchild or a friend.