Event Guide and Activity

Suggestions

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Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser

Joyeux Nol, friends! (Thats French for Merry Christmas!)

As every fancy girl knows, its never too early to start preparing for Christmas, the
most splendiferous holiday of the year! There are ornaments to be made, cookies
to be decorated, cards to be mailed, presents to be wrapped, carols to sing, and so
much more!
What better way to get ready for the festive holiday season than to host a fabulous
fete for your favorite fancy friends? This event kit, complete with suggestions,
reproducibles, and giveaways, will help you plan, throw, and enjoy a spectacular
event for your guests.
Not only will everyone have the merriest time, but
also theyll leave your event equipped with a plethora
(thats fancy for huge amount!) of materials, ideas,
and inspiration for celebrating the holidays with
their own families!
And, as Nancy proves once again in Fancy Nancy:

Splendiferous Christmas, nothing is more joyous

than a little fancying up for Christmas!

Happy holidays!
HarperCollins Childrens Books
Marketing Department Elves

www.fancynancybooks.com
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Event Suggestions
Any holiday gathering that promises to be super festive requires careful planning and
lots of creativity. Luckily, Mrs. Claus, who is one fancy hostess, agreed to share her secrets
with all of you. Follow her suggestions below for hosting a very merry event!
Make a guest list (and check it twice): Use the template in this booklet to

create customized event invitations to distribute in the weeks leading up to your

fancy fete. Fill in the event details, photocopy, cut along the dotted lines, and
send the invitations to everyone on your guest list. Consider adding a sprinkle of
snowflake-shaped confetti to each envelope!

Seasonal dressing: Let the season be your guide when selecting the perfect

accessories to dress up your hostess outfit. Wrap yourself in a garland boa or

a piece of sparkly fabric. Ribbons, bows, bells, and artificial holly leaves make
splendid hair ornaments in addition to gift toppers. Use seasonal items in creative
ways and ask your young guests to do the same, so that everyone looks
especially festive.

Deck the halls: Spruce up your event space by adding some holiday cheer to

the usual mix of balloons and streamers. Decorate with homemade paper snowflakes, ribbons, garland, bells, candy canes, pinecones, and evergreens! Purchase
and hang inexpensive stockings, mittens, or ornaments. Remember: Theres no
such thing as too much tinsel!

Holiday greetings: Being a gracious hostess is essential! Greet each of

your
guests personally upon their arrival and introduce them to one another, so that
everyone feels welcome. Create personalized name tags for your guests, using
the template in this booklet.

Splendiferous story time: Add some embellishment to your reading of Fancy

Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas to make it even more memorable. Use props to
bring to life the sophisticated (thats fancy for not easy) vocabulary and newlyintroduced concepts. Pass around a fragrant evergreen branch (select one with
soft needles) to demonstrate the word aroma. Show an ornament or tree
topper from your own childhood and explain the notion of family heirlooms
and traditions. Discuss other holiday traditions like caroling, decorating cookies,
hanging stockings, and leaving out milk and cookies for Santa Claus.
Event wrap-up: After leading your guests through the activities in this book-

let, treat them to one final flourish. Send everyone home with a small favor (like a
piece of holiday ribbon or gift wrap) and a warm farewell!

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Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Splendiferous Invitations

Use these invitations to let everyone know about your fancy holiday fete. Simply fill in the
details, photocopy, cut along the dotted lines, and distribute to as many people as youd like.

Youre invited

to rejoice in the holiday season Fancy Nancystyle!

Place:
Date:
Time:
RSVP:
Please come bedecked in your most festive holiday
attire and get ready to have a holly jolly time!
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Youre invited

to rejoice in the holiday season Fancy Nancystyle!

Place:
Date:
Time:
RSVP:
Please come bedecked in your most festive holiday
attire and get ready to have a holly jolly time!
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

JOYEUX Nol!
My name is:

JOYEUX Nol!
My name is:

www.fancynancybooks.com

My name is:

JOYEUX Nol!
My name is:

JOYEUX Nol!
My name is:

JOYEUX Nol!
My name is:

Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted

by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

JOYEUX Nol!

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

My name is:

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

My name is:

JOYEUX Nol!

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

JOYEUX Nol!

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

My name is:

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

JOYEUX Nol!

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

My name is:

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

JOYEUX Nol!

Event Hostess: copy onto Avery #5163

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser.

Reproducible Name Tags

Dear Santa Claus

Writing a letter to Santa Claus has been a Christmas tradition of children for many years.
Use the simple tips and sample letter template below to craft your own holiday message to Santa.
d Start your letter with a greeting, also known

l Tell Santa the two or three presents youd most

f Since Santa hears from you only once a year,

m Close your letter by thanking Santa and signing

c Remind Santa of the good things youve done this

i Give the letter to an adult to send; theyll put it

as a salutation.

its polite to ask how he and the elves have been.

year. For example, have you helped your parents by

putting away your toys? Have you been nice to your
sister or brother?

like to have for Christmas.

your name.

in the mail and make sure it gets to Santa in time

for Christmas.

Santa Claus
North Pole, Alaska 99705
Dear Santa Claus,
Merry Christmas! Are you and your elves busy getting ready for the holidays? My family sure is!
I have been very good this year. I have helped my mom and dad by


.
This year, I hope you will bring me some fun presents. Some things that I would like this year
are:
,
,
and

Thanks for bringing me presents every year, Santa!

Love,

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Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Colorful Greetings
Use the guidelines below to make a one-of-a-kind (thats fancy for special) holiday card to
send to family and friends this season. Simply color, cut, photocopy, sign, stuff, and send!
d Color the image of Fancy Nancy, adding your own trimmings to the background. Draw holly leaves, silver
bells, or a candy cane border.

f Ask an adult to help you cut around the dotted lines, make color copies of your colorful creation, paste or
tape onto card stock, and place each card in an envelope for everyone on your familys mailing list.

c Remember to personalize the cards with your signature and special message.

Joyeux
Nol!

With love from Fancy Nancy and

the

Family

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Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Gift Tags Galore

Make your own gift tags and make each gift you give that much more magnificent. Your family
and friends will surely feel the love and care youve put into presenting their presents.
Here are several crafty ideas for improvising (thats a fancy word for using whatevers
around to make something) your own gift tags. Work together with an adult, please!
d Collect holiday cards from Christmases past. Outline

the shapes of cookie cutters onto the cards and cut

out the designs. For a fancier effect, use scallop-edged
scissors. Make a hole at the top of the tag with a hole
punch, and thread ribbon through the hole.

f Keep em guessing with top-secret gift tags! Use a

white crayon to write the name of the gift giver and

the gift recipient on white construction paper tags.
On Christmas morning, take turns running a colored
marker over the tags to reveal who gets each gift and
who gave it!

m For these handy gift tags, youll need the mitten template and materials

listed below. With help from an adult, cut out the mitten shapes and use
them as templates to trace onto colored or decorative paper. Then cut out
each pretty paper mitten and punch a hole through the cuff. Thread ribbon
through the hole for attaching. Personalize each gift tag with the name of
the gift recipient. Make as many mittens as there are gifts you have to give.
Suggested Materials: Colored or decorative paper (card stock),
crayons or pencils, scissors, hole punch, and holiday ribbon

www.fancynancybooks.com
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Its Ornamental
Homemade ornaments can really make your Christmas tree shine. Try this elegant paper
ornament craft: Itll come together with three snaps of a stapler and look simply smashing.

Suggested Materials:
d Colored or decorative paper
e Ruler
t Scissors
i Stapler
c Ribbon or gold cord

Instructions:
d Cut two 10-inch strips of paper, two

8-inch strips, and one 6 -inch strip.

e Each strip should be one to two inches

wide for the best results.

t Line up strips in the following order

(one on top of the other): 10, 8, 6 ,

8, 10.

i One set of ends should be even; staple

this end.

c Line up the other ends evenly (bending

the outer strips, as needed) and staple.

n To hang, knot the end of a gold cord

ch
Photo by Thomas Gots

or ribbon and place it between the

loose strips of paper at the top of the
ornament and then staple together.

Safety Note:
This ornament craft involves cutting and
stapling. Please ask an adult for assistance.

www.fancynancybooks.com
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Grateful Garland
This easy-to-make paper garland will spruce up any holiday tree, fireplace mantle, or doorway
and doubles as a clever (and gratifying) way to count down to Santas arrival.

Suggested Materials:
d Construction paper
e Tape
t Scissors
i Crayons, markers, or
glitter pens (optional)

Instructions:
d Cut out 25 strips of construction paper

in various colors, with help from an adult.

e On each strip, write something you (and

your family) are thankful for this season.

Use glitter pens and fancy lettering for
extra flare.

t Tape the strips together to form loops

in a chain.

i Each day of the month, beginning on

ch
Photos by Thomas Gots

December 1, snip off one loop and

count your familys blessings.

Make it Sweeter:
In place of plain construction paper, use candy buttons on paper
strips (aim for eight candies per strip, when you cut). Each loop
in this sugary garland contains an edible reminder of Santas
upcoming visit. Now, thats worth the wait!

www.fancynancybooks.com
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Holidays

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

SUNDAY

20

27

Write your letter

to Santa and send
it up North!

SUNDAY

13

MONDAY

14

MONDAY

28

i t e d

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

29
TUESDAY

Write a Christmas story

together as a family.
Have each person add
a line, then repeat.

22

15

Draw a wintery
Christmas scene.
Use glitter to make
the snow glisten and
stars twinkle.

Let it snow!
Make paper snowflakes
and hang them on
windows and doors.

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

23

30

Go caroling in your
neighborhood. Be sure
to sing the classics like
Frosty the Snowman!

16

Transform your holiday

masterpiece into a
greeting card for
everyone on your
familys list.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

THURSDAY

Happy New
Years Eve!

31

Bake a gingerbread
house using cinnamon
graham crackers. Put
together with icing and
decorate with bite-sized
candy pieces.

24

17

10

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

25

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

26

SATURDAY

Wrap it up: Use brown

paper bags, fabric, felt,
or unused wallpaper
pieces to package your
presents perfectly.

19

12

www.fancynancybooks.com

December 2009

Merry
Christmas!

FRIDAY

18

Hanukkah,
the Festival of Lights,
begins at sundown.

11

Craft a homemade gift

for your favorite teacher.
Think bookmarks
or magnets.

Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

MONDAY

21

Host a holiday cookie

exchange: Guests bake,
bring, and swap. Everyone
goes home with a whole
new batch of sweets!

MONDAY

Use this countdown calendar to help you

(and your whole family) get ready for the
fabulous and festive holiday season.

to the

Countdown

Triumphant Tree Topper

Take-Home Activity
In Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas, the magnificent tree topper that Nancy bought with
her birthday money breaks into many pieces. Grandpa and Nancy collaborate (that means work together)
to create an even better tree topper, using items they have on hand. Follow Fancy Nancys lead and
the instructions below to craft your own version of her homemade tree topper . . .
and make family memories while you make your masterpiece!

Suggested Materials:
m Cardboard party hat (with elastic)

c Silver and gold Christmas bows (star shaped)

t Three white paper plates

b Piece of decorative foil garland/tinsel

i White construction paper

a Decorative ribbon

o Assorted colored pipe cleaners and pom-poms

d Scissors, stapler, craft glue, markers,

and glitter (optional)

Instructions:
d Using a vibrant red marker, color the front of one paper
plate and the back of another.

e Glue one pom-pom to the end of each pipe cleaner, mixing

colors for a pretty assortment. Carefully add some twists and

curlicues to each pipe cleaner for extra ornamentation.

t One by one, glue or staple pipe cleaners around edge of the

white plate. To add bulk and to hide staples, glue the two
red plates onto the white one with each red side facing out.

i Cut out a giant star shape from the construction paper and
affix it to the front outermost paper plate. Add silver and
gold bows (and maybe a glitter border).

[ Make a bow with the ribbon and attach it to the plate. Trim
ribbon edges on the diagonal.

a For a final flourish, add a tuft of garland to the top of the

party hat and affix the hat to the back of the tree topper.
Hat should sit nicely on crown (top) of the tree; use elastic
to secure.

c Perch your splendiferous creation atop the Christmas tree.

Simply splendiferous!

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Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the copyright holder, HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.