One of the biggest offenders during the Christmas season is gift wrap. Most of it can't even be recycled, so you wind up with piles and piles in landfills the day after Christmas.

There are many different options for these crafts depending on the age and ability of the kids you're working with. I've listed a few adaptations below, but feel free to use your imagination: there are no wrong answers when it comes to crafting.

Homemade Christmas decorations aren't just fun and impressive looking, they can be very easy. You don't have to be Martha Stewart or have a few weeks of free time to turn out beautiful, easy decorations like these homemade Christmas baubles.

When it comes to a craft like this cute, fun mitten wreath, there are dozens of different ways to do it depending on the age and abilities of the children you're working with. For example, a kindergarten class could have each child make one mitten and (with the help of adults or older children) glue them onto a communal wreath to create a class decoration.

In my case, I have a sister who loves butterflies, so my example involves a butterfly mousepad. The cool thing with this craft, though, is that you could really do just about any theme you like. There are no limits to your imagination.

You can make some pretty amazing 3D snowflakes out of nothing but paper, tape, and staples, though. OK -- you need scissors, too, but that shouldn't be a problem. The instructions are a bit complicated, but once you get the hang of it, these make fantastic decorations and very versatile free Christmas crafts.

Don't worry if you don't have pinecones handy -- you can easily buy them at a local craft store. Better yet, you can get wonderfully yummy cinnamon scented pine cones at most department stores as Christmas draws near. That gives you best of both worlds -- Christmas crafts with Christmas smell!

Depending on the age of the children, you may want to set up some parts of this craft ahead of time. Otherwise, recruit older children to help -- little ones and bigger ones alike love helping with kids Christmas crafts, especially if it gets them out of school or homework.

Christmas crackers are perfect crafts for everyone. They're fun, and you can do them in a variety of styles so everyone from the very young to the very old can participate and make them as intricate as they like. Furthermore, Christmas crackers are a fun tradition, and the commercial ones are expensive and unimpressive. These are more interesting. They also make great holiday gifts.

Unfortunately, while still cute, our very youngest kids tend to make indecipherable cards with scrawls of crayons we have to label as trees and presents. Of course, this type of card has its place. But sometimes you want Christmas card ideas that double as crafts for children of various ages, or you may want something that looks a bit more impressive.

There are dozens of options with a simple craft like this. One thing I love to do is have the kids work together to make Advent calendars for one another. In my family, each child takes a special trip to the discount store to buy candies, treats, and tiny toys they think their sibling might like. Then we work together to create calendars for one another and hide the toys inside. It's a tiny gift from brother or sister every day of December.

Fortunately, not all easy Christmas crafts involve simple popscicle sticks and glitter (although on a side note, you'd be amazed what you can make from the simplest materials). You can make something fun and exciting that doesn't take longer than half an hour while you listen to your favorite Christmas carols. And if you decide to make these holiday soaps I'm about to tell you about, you'll have the perfect easy Christmas craft to use as gifts, decorations, and so much more.

The instructions are a little bit complicated, but again, the craft itself couldn't be easier. Just string your beads and feed the line back through each section -- after practicing the first few times, you'll barely have to look anymore. Your hands will know what to do.