Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you are all enjoying this special time of the year with your families. No matter where we live, Christmas is about giving, loving, sharing, and also thinking of others less fortunate than ourselves.

Of course, for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas coincides with the winter solstice, when days are short and nights are long, another reason for wanting to spend more time inside with our families perhaps?

Today I’d like to celebrate the coming of winter and Christmas by sharing six favorite indoor and outdoor craft activities. They represent my love of this special time of year. Enjoy!

DIY Winter Woodland Animal Masks
via Roxen on the Bike

If you’re not ready for crafting full winter costumes for your kids, why not have a go at making a cardboard mask similar to this? I have a thing about masks, having studied theater at drama school, and although these animals are still a favorite, I love Xusha Shishkova’s use of color here. I can imagine some fun family photo shoots in the snow!

DIY Forest Mobile
via Fine Little Day

Yes, once again, the simplest ideas are always the best! Elisabeth Dunker’s wire forest mobile is strikingly beautiful, easy-peasy to make, and perfect for getting the family together outdoors to hunt for natural finds. Make one for all seasons; this delightful decoration can be dressed up with berries, flowers, shells, leaves, branches, and herbs. Love!

Wintertime DIY & Craft Activities
via La Maison de Loulou

I don’t know about you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed following Marie-Laure’s blog, La Maison de Loulou, this year. Chockfull of beautifully presented unique craft activities for kids all year-round (that Tic Tac Toe game!), this site is a must for parents, teachers, and DIY fans. I loved her simple cardboard advent calendar idea—you definitely have to bookmark her Festive Winter Crafts Guide for next year too!

DIY Snow Painting
via The Art Room Plant

If you’re lucky enough to have snow, a rare occurrence here in the South of France, wrap your kids up warm and take them outside to paint. They will love the freedom of being able to create art outside on a huge white canvas, like Hazel Terry and her children over at The Art Room Plant.

Cardboard Igloo Play Den
Available for $80 from Cardboard House

Well, this has to be one of the nicest winter playthings I’ve come across in a long time. I’m sure my kids would have gone on many an Arctic adventure with one of these. Why not try and make an indoor igloo during the holidays? I found some pretty inspiring ideas for igloo play dens browsing pinterest, including some made out milk jugs, books, and sheets.

Have fun!

Pictured at the top of this post: Three years later this image of three happy children dressed in homemade winter paper costumes still makes me smile. This creative Russian family and their amazing website, zu4ki, has to be one of the most inspiring places on the web. Love!