Christmas Crafts

I love Christmas crafts!  They just make me happy.  I think it's because they remind me of Christmas break in school.  It was such a magical time.  You're home from school, wondering what Santa will bring, getting to enjoy all sorts of special treats.  My Mama and I would make crafts together.  It didn't take much, we usually used what we found around the house or in the yard, but it was so much fun.  We made memories that will last a lifetime.

Here are a few cheap and cheerful crafts you can make with your family (along with some special memories):

CANDY CANE REINDEER

candy canes
pipe cleaners
pom poms
googly eyes
glue
scotch tape

Tape two candy canes together to look like antlers.  Wrap a pipe cleaner or two around the middle of the two candy canes.  Glue on eyes and a pom pom nose.  Easy!  These make great stocking stuffers or hang them on your tree!

CINNAMON ORNAMENTS

1 (4.12 oz) bottle ground cinnamon (or 2 small bottles)
3/4 cup applesauce
cookie cutters
skewer or chopstick
drying rack (any rack will do)
ribbon or yarn
paint, markers (optional)

Mix the cinnamon and applesauce together to form a stiff dough.  Roll it out with a rolling pin (or a glass) to 1/4 inch thickness (if the rolling pin sticks, rub a little cinnamon on it).  Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.  Make a hole in the top of each using the skewer.  Carefully lay the ornaments on a rack to dry.  Let them dry for a day or two at room temperature, turning them over occasionally (bonus: your house will smell amazing!).  When dry, tie a piece of ribbon through the hole to hang them.  You can paint them, write on them with markers or just leave them plain.  They smell fantastic!

BAKERS CLAY ORNAMENTS

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups water
parchment paper or aluminum foil
paint or markers
ribbon or yarn
glue

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Mix together the flour, salt and 1 1/4 cups water to form a dough.  If too dry, add a little more water.  Knead on a floured surface until smooth.  Form into shapes (to make 3D characters) or roll out and cut with cookie cutters.  Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and bake until set and golden, about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how thick your ornaments are.  Let them cool completely.  Then, paint them or color with markers.  Glue a piece of ribbon on to hang it.

GLITTER PINE CONES

pine cones
glue
water
glitter
paint brush
ribbon or yarn

Mix glue with a little water to thin it out a bit (no need to be precise).  Paint some of the thinned glue onto the pine cones and sprinkle with glitter.  Do as much or as little as you like.  Use any color glitter you like.  Let them dry on newspaper or a rack.  Glue a piece of ribbon on to hang it.

These are just a few crafts you can make this holiday season.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!