Projects for adults
Ribbon tree:
Create a little ribbon tree with instructions from www.Michaels.com. For this craft, you will need a Styrofoam Cone, 3 inches by 11 inches, different ribbons, sequin pins, scissors and a ruler. Cut the ribbons into 4-inch pieces, fold ribbon in half and use pins to attach to cone; start at bottom of cone and arrange loops next to each other until the cone is full of ribbon loops.
Glass ball ornaments: Turn clear ornaments into something spectacular with this idea from www.homemade simple.com. Fill glass ornaments, which are available at most craft stores, with tinsel, greenery, ribbon, yarn, sequins or feathers for a unique look.
Simple arrangement: Make your table standout with a simple, yet elegant arrangement idea from www.hgtv.com. Fill a tall glass cylinder with branches for a touch of drama.
Candle centerpiece: For a quick, yet beautiful centerpiece, use this idea from www.hgtv.com. Place a large 3-wick pillar candle in a glass fruit bowl and surround it with holiday-colored potpourri.
Light-up walkway: Extend your holiday outside with this project from www.plannedperfectly.net. Line your walkway with mason jars filled with Epsom salt and votive candles to welcome guests.
Projects for children
In all this crafting frenzy, don’t overlook the talents of little helpers. Kids love to do crafts. Kids can cut out snowflakes from printer paper, decorate with glitter, and hang from the ceiling to create an indoor winter wonderland. Check out local craft stores for simple, inexpensive ornaments kids can paint or color. And don’t forget about some edible treats — cut cookie dough into holiday shapes and let the sprinkles fly.
Kimberly Bogan, second-grade teacher at Shaw Elementary in Beavercreek, recommends these three kid-friendly crafts:
Handprint ornament: Use a plain, colored ornament ball, and have the child put hands in white paint and then grab the ornament to reveal handprints. Once the paint is dry, transform the fingers into snowmen.
Reindeer ornament: Trace child's shoeprint onto brown construction paper or cardboard and cut out (with heel on top, this becomes the reindeer's face). Trace child's hands on red construction paper, cut out and glue onto the back of reindeer face shape with fingers out to look like antlers. Cut two ear shapes out of brown paper and glue at the base of antlers. Adhere googly eyes and a red pompom for a nose. Between the two antlers, punch a hole for a string to hang on the tree.
Give Santa a hand: Trace child's hand with fingers down. Cut out and embellish the fingers with cotton balls to create Santa's beard, and color in the top of the hand to create Santa's hat, glue cotton balls around brim of hat and at the tip of the thumb. Draw on Santa's face and rosy cheeks.
Snowglobe: Make your own snowglobe with instructions from Jane Bull, author of "The Christmas Book," 50 activities for a fun-packed celebration. Bull suggests using a small jar with a tight, screw-top lid. Make sure it won't leak. Pour a bit of glycerine in the jar and add glitter. Fill the jar up with water and stir. Use one part glycerine to two parts water. With strong adhesive, glue a plastic toy to the inside of the jar lid. After toy is stuck, Bull recommends putting glue on the inside rim of the lid and the outside of the jar. The lid can be adorned with ribbon. Secure the lid and unleash your little storm.
Ribbon chains: Update paper chains by using ribbon. With instructions from Better Homes and Gardens (www.bhg.com) create elegant chains by cutting 1 - 1 ½-inch-wide ribbon into 6-inch lengths. Bring ends together and affix with double-sided tape. Choose another ribbon strip and bring ends together through the first loop. Wrap them around the tree or across the mantle.
Holiday napkins: Bring holiday cheer to the dinner table by decorating napkins from Disney's www.Familyfun.go.com. Cut out festive shapes like a Christmas tree, dreidel or reindeer from felt and attach with fabric glue onto machine-washable napkins. Add sequins and mini pom-poms to complete the look.
Spell-it-out: Scrabble says a lot with this project idea from Serena Thompson, author of "The Farm Chicks Christmas," highlighted on www.countryliving.com. Spell out a holiday message like "Dear Santa" with the tiles. Thompson suggests painting the holders white to make the message stand out.
About the Author