reate a hand-held skill puzzle using the theme of your favorite December holiday, whether it's Kwanzaa, Christmas, or Hanukkah. The puzzles are easy to make and even more fun to play with.

Lynda Hannan says, "Jack (4) and Katie (21 months) had fun with the puzzles, although Mom had to do most of the construction work. They liked coloring the picture." Another mom reports, "This was relatively quick to do and the kids liked it. I think they would like to do it again, especially after the holidays are over and they need something less Christmas-like."

An older child or adult should do the cutting. Beth S. of Iowa made it a family project. "We all (adults and teens included) had to try them out!"

To make the puzzle, you'll need a small plastic margarine tub with a lid . Cut a 1-inch band from the top of the tub. (Save the bottom part for another project.) Use the top band to make the outside ring of the puzzle. Trace around the band twice--creating separate circles--on corrugated cardboard and then cut out the two circles. Trim one circle to fit exactly inside the bottom of the band.

The object of the puzzle game is to shake beads into the holes in a holiday picture. Draw a simple holiday picture on the trimmed cardboard circle. Choose a picture that will be highlighted when the beads are all in place. A wreath or Christmas tree works well for Christmas. You might draw a menorah for Hanukkah or a kinara for Kwanzaa, then use yellow beads as flames for the candles.

Once you have drawn the picture, use a ballpoint pen to poke holes through the picture (so the beads can roll into them). Press the cardboard circle, picture side up, inside the bottom of the band. Squeeze glue around the edge of the second (plain) piece of cardboard, and glue the bottom of the puzzle over it. Place a craft bead in each hole of the puzzle.

Cut out the center of the lid of the margarine tub. Tear off a square of clear plastic wrap . Secure the wrap by snapping the rim of the lid over the top of the puzzle. Trim off any excess plastic wrap around the edges.

Tip the puzzle to spill the beads out of the holes, then try to shake them all back in place. The LaClair family-Ryan (12), Rachel (9), and Christine (5)-plan to make these as Christmas gifts for some friends. Peggy LaClair says, "We put a strip of wrapping paper around the bottom of our containers to dress them up a bit. Also to cover the words on the containers."

TAKE IT FROM ME:

"Punching the holes close together makes the puzzle easier to use for young children. My two older children have the holes more spread apart, which makes the puzzles harder."

--Peggy LaClair

"We used gold and silver beads that were left over from a jewelry-making kit. The gold beads really popped out on the background of the green wreath."

--Lynda Hannan

This article © 2001-2004 Studio One Networks.

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