Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

I like crafts that use items I have laying around the house collecting dust.   The odd vase is a perfect example.   This particular idea could be used for many different seasons not just the Christmas holidays.

I made mine from some silk poinsettias I had laying around from years gone by, went out to the yard and clipped some branches off the pines trees (they needed trimming anyway) and gathered some pine cones.

Again, I am sorry I don’t have a picture of the one I made.  The camera is still on the blitz.  I have one on my Santa’s list, hopefully Santa will remember I really need one!

Make a vase filled with evergreens more stunning by covering it with fresh flowers. Remove the heads from roses or other seasonal flowers and then hot-glue them to a glass vase or other vessel.

Before purchasing any of the items, look around your house for items you can reuse.

Happy Holidays!

When illuminated, these votive holders cast an eyeful of moody shadows on the walls.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Glass votive holders
Black construction paper
Hole punch
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Black paint

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Tear a sheet of black construction paper into about a dozen small rectangles that measure roughly 1¼ inch by ½ inch. Use a hole punch to add two eyes to each piece.

Step 2  Brush a portion of a plain, glass votive holder with Mod Podge, affix a paper rectangle, then paint more Mod Podge over it. Add the other pieces the same way, making sure the edges overlap.

3. When the candleholder is dry, use a tiny paintbrush and black paint to add little round pupils inside the eyes.

I found this little craft at Family Fun, which is a great source for crafts for kids.  But when I saw it I thought how this doesn’t necessarily have to be only for Halloween.  Using different colored construction paper you can adapt it to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines Day or any gift giving time.  You could even get different colored tissue papers glue them to the back of the construction paper and then proceed as usual.  Hint:   I  found that using marker for the “eyes” was easier than trying to paint little dots!

Textured wallpaper turns gift boxes into special-delivery packaging.

From Better Homes and Gardens “Christmas From the Heart” Library

Use this basic technique to
decorate boxes of any shape
or size.
What You Need:

* Papier-mache box (available at crafts stores)
* 1 roll of textured wallpaper
* Tape measure
* Crafts glue
* Disposable dish or cup
* 2-inch sponge brush
* Sheer white ribbon, gold-edged
* White decorations as desired

Instructions:

1. Trace and cut wallpaper for lid and sides of lid. Place the box, top side down, on the wrong side of the wallpaper. Use a pencil to trace around the lid. Cut out the lid shape, adding a 1/2-inch margin for the tabs. Use tape measure to determine the circumference of each lid; add 1/2 inch for overlap. Measure the height of the lid; add 1/8 inch. Use these measurements to cut a strip of wallpaper for the sides of the lid.

2. Trace and cut wallpaper for box base and sides of box. Place the box base on the wrong side of the wallpaper. Trace around the base; cut on the traced line. Use tape measure to find the circumference of the base; add 1/2 inch for overlap. Measure the height of the base; add 1 inch for top and bottom tabs. Use these measurements to cut a piece of wallpaper for the base sides.

3. Prepare glue. Mix glue and a few drops of water in a dish until the glue is the consistency of light cream.

This is a fun way to keep track of the days until Christmas, especially for younger kids. It’s also a good way to get in a little counting practice if you make them count the days off each day.

What You’ll Need:

• The template below printed on yellow construction paper
• Red construction paper
• Green construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Crayons (optional)

What to Do:

1. Cut 13 strips of red construction paper that are about 1 inch wide and 8 inches long. Cut 12 strips of green paper with the same dimensions.

2. Print out the bell pattern below on yellow construction paper. Color with crayons if desired and cut out. (You could also decorate the bell with glitter, sequins, markers, etc. if you want.)

3. Roll one of the red strips of paper into a loop and staple it onto the bottom of the bell. Loop a green strip of paper through the red loop to get the chain started. Continue to alternate the red and green strips of paper to make a chain that has 25 links in it.

4. Hang the bell and chain up in a prominent place and tear off one link at the end of each day until Christmas.

Courtesy of Free Kids Crafts.com