3 Cozy (and Giftable) Winter Crafts to Make in Your Homeschool
Let’s talk about making winter crafts in your homeschool as part of the Christmas festivities, with instructions on how to make three giftable gifts at home.
A few years ago, I decided to embrace the coziness of winter, especially in the months following Christmas. I was inspired by the Danish concept of ‘hygge.’ This term, which has become more popular over the last few years, has to do with finding joy and peace in life’s simple, comforting aspects.
In my home and homeschool, this means that we let the hot chocolate and tea flow freely in winter. We light the candles. Most of all, we continue some of the holiday activities that bring cheer to the cold months. One of my favorite ways to maintain this cozy atmosphere is through crafting and creating handmade gifts.
There is also always something to be learned through hands-on crafting, so I’m always happy to bring this fun, learning component into our homeschool life when I can.
Today, I’m excited to share three winter crafts that are a perfect way to embrace the coziness of winter, and even create some great gifts in the process, whether Christmas gifts or “just because” gifts for family and loved ones! I’ve loved making each one of these winter crafts with my daughter this winter, both during the holidays and after them.
3 cozy winter crafts to make in your homeschool
Each of these crafts can also prompt and inspire other types of learning, too. May they help you embrace the “hygge” all season long!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Elderberries have a rich history in traditional medicine. They date back as far as ancient Egypt! These berries are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which gives them their immune-boosting properties. For this reason, elderberry syrup may help defend against, and fight off the flu (which makes it pretty valuable during the winter months). My recipe also incorporates other beneficial ingredients like honey, ginger, and cinnamon.
My daughter and I have made so many jars and bottles of elderberry syrup over the last couple of months, and we have given most of it away to very grateful friends! Making homemade elderberry syrup in your homeschool can also prompt further study in herbal medicine, botany, and discussions about natural remedies.
Elderberry Syrup
Equipment
- Large pot
- Strainer
- Spoon
- Funnel
- Glass bottles
- Labels (optional, butfun)
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups eldeberries
- 6 cups water
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- Ginger root sliced
- 1 cup raw, pure honey
Instructions
- Combine elderberries, water, cinnamon, and ginger in a pot.
- Bring it to a boil, and then reduce to simmer until the liquid reduces by half.
- Let the syrup cool, then strain, pressing the berries.
- Mix in honey, and pour into bottles using a funnel.
- Store in the fridge.
Orange Garlands
You may have noticed that orange garlands have been trending this year, but this fun and simple craft has actually been around for centuries. Orange garlands are an inexpensive way to bring joy into any room, especially in winter. I made some of these dried oranges before Christmas to use in my wrapping, and we made some orange garlands after Christmas to fill the blank space on the mantle once the Christmas decor was taken down.
There are a couple of historical threads of study you can tie into this project. Dehydrating fruits is a traditional form of preservation, and oranges have a lot of interesting history and symbolism. Furthermore, decorating for the holidays with dried fruit is a tradition we inherited from the Victorian era (or the Civil War era in U.S. history.) In short, there are plenty of interesting historical things to discuss while you craft these orange garlands. (Unrelated bonus: your house will smell absolutely amazing while you do this project, too.)
Orange Garlands
Equipment
- Oven
- Twine
- Pencil (for creating holes)
Materials
- Oranges
- Knife
- Paper towels
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Thinly slice oranges and blot with paper towels.
- Arrange on a parchment-lined bakingsheet.
- Bake at 200 degrees for 2-3 hours until dry.
- Cool, then string into a garland using twine.
Notes
Whipped Tallow Balm
This is a new craft to me this year, but it’s one I plan on holding onto. If you’ve never worked with tallow, it’s actually rendered beef fat. Tallow is an ancient skincare ingredient, and it’s a super nourishing moisturizer because it absorbs extremely well into human skin. This whipped version is light and fluffy. It looks like frosting, soaks in quickly, and moisturizes amazingly well.
This makes a wonderful gift during winter months, when everyone seems to deal with dry skin. This project can lead to a biology lesson on skin health, the history of skincare, and/or the properties of different oils. It’s a little bit of chemistry and a little bit of history.
Whipped Tallow Balm
Equipment
- Stove
- Pot
- MixerGlass jar for storage
Materials
- 1 lb pure tallow
- 1/2 cup mild oil safflower,grapeseed, or olive oil
- Essential oils optional
Instructions
- Melt the solid tallow in a pan on the stoveuntil it becomes liquid, but be careful not to let it bubble up or boil.
- Once melted remove from heat and stir in your choice of oil and essential oils, if you’re using them.
- Stir the mixture gently, and then set itaside until it starts to solidify. O
- Once it starts to become solid, use a mix to whip the mixture.
Notes
This balm makes an ideal moisturizer for dry spots, eczema, psoriasis, or for sensitive skin! I have been using it on my face at night, and it’s probably the best facial moisturizer I’ve ever tried. I’m officially a believer in tallow, and I’m looking forward to sharing this whipped balm with my friends and family as my daughter and I continue making some fun winter crafts together.
These three, cozy winter crafts provide a blend of practical skill-building, historical learning, and fun. My family has really enjoyed them as hands-on learning experiences that add fun to the winter months. You can enjoy the end results in your own family throughout winter, and also make extras for your friends to create an extra “hygge” experience!
What are some ways you celebrate winter in your homeschool?
Do you plan to try any of these winter crafts at home?
