Here's some easy winter fun...coffee filter snowflakes.  I have a zillion coffee filters that have been waiting for some artful fun.  Maybe you do too?  As long as your child is skilled enough with scissors to cut small shapes and lines, this is sure to captivate them.  And you can use them for window decorations or cards too.

You need:  basket coffee filters (round when you flatten them), scissors.

Fold the filter in half to make a semi-circle, then fold it again, and again and again, until you have a thin triangle.  Cut triangles into the folded edges, cut into the open edges too. Unfold, and see what kind of pattern you have.

Encourage your child to experiment with different kinds of cuts, then open them up to see what happens when it unfolds.  Ask them to think about different patterns, different shapes and sizes.

Options:  If your child is too little to manages triangles and circles, you can have them cut small lines.  They'll still get some satisfaction from seeing what happens when they unfold the filter (and it still looks pretty much like a snowflake).  Or try scrapbooking scissors with jagged or zig-zag edges.

Now it's really true that you and the kids can make your own gift wrap (and still have the gifts look nice).  Your gift recipients will love the personalized and eco-friendly touch.

The New Gift Bags:  Kids will love to decorate and give these gift "bags" and you'll feel good about recycling and saving money.  You'll need:  a cereal box, cracker box, or any such box that is the right size for your gift; scissors, a glue stick, paper (construction paper or whatever you like), cotton balls, a hole-punch, and ribbon or yarn.

Cut the top flaps off the box.  Now you or your child can cover the entire box with paper.  You decide how exacting you'd like to be about this step. Kids will enjoy taking a collage approach to covering the box, but if you are more interested in a tidy look, you can cut the paper to fit, and help the kids attach it.  Either way, let the kids cover the box with a glue stick before you apply the paper.  Fold the paper over the top edge of the box at the opening and glue around the inside rim for a finished look.

Now punch two holes near the top of each long side.  Tie the ribbon or yarn through the holes to make handles for your gift bag.

Kids can glue cotton balls all along the top edge of the bag.

Once the kids are happy with what they've done, they can decorate with crayons, stamps or whatever else they can imagine.  Consider writing a note right on the bag itself, and you won't even need a gift tag or card.

Options: For a more sophisticated look, you can use white pom poms instead of cotton balls.  Or try covering the box with felt instead of paper, then decorating with buttons and sequins.  Use tissue paper inside as you would with a traditional gift bag, and you've got a very professionally wrapped gift!