Get Crafty!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Get crafty this holiday season with these of artful homemade Christmas ornament ideas

Winter Wonderland

  

 

Total Time Needed:

2-3 Hours

This ornament lets kids assemble miniature figurines and novelty items into magical "through the looking glass" scenes.

Materials

• 9-ounce clear plastic cup
• Silver poster board
• Pinking shears or decorative craft scissors
• Polyester batting
• Miniature trees (sold in craft stores; try the dollhouse or model railroad section)
• Miniature animals or people (sold in craft stores or online at BJCRAFTSUPPLIES.COM)

• 1-inch-wide mirror
• Tacky glue
• Fine glitter
• Pushpin
• Monofilament
• Several craft beads

Instructions

1. Trace the rim of the cup onto the underside of the poster board. Cut out the circle, but stay at least 1/8 inch outside the trace line so the base will be slightly larger than the cup.
2. Cut out a circle of batting snow that's the same diameter as the cup and set it atop the shiny side of the poster board circle.
3. Separate or snip the batting where you'd like to position the trees, figurines, and mirror pond. Glue the base of each item to the poster board, then smooth or fluff the snow around them as needed. Sprinkle the scene with fine glitter.
4. Use the pushpin to poke a hole in the center of the cup bottom. Thread a craft bead onto a 12-inch length of monofilament. Gather the ends together, letting the bead fall to the center of the line, and thread them up through the hole from inside the cup. String a few more beads onto the doubled line (outside the cup) and then knot the ends to form a loop.
5. Apply a line of glue along the edge of the poster board circle. Press the cup, upside down, atop the glue and hold it in place for 20 seconds or so. During the first 10 minutes of drying time, occasionally check the seal and press down gently on the cup, if required. Let the glue cure for a full day before hanging the on a tree.

Dangling Snowman

Total Time Needed: 1 Hour

It doesn't take a single flake to build this frosty character -- you can round him up with white foam, buttons, and ribbon.

 

Materials

• 3 round objects (we used a spice jar lid, the bottom of a yogurt container, and a mason jar lid)
• Scissors
• Craft foam, white and orange
• Glue dots

• Monofilament
• Buttons
• Permanent marker
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Using the round objects as patterns, cut out 2 white foam circles in each size.
2. Place one set of the circles on a flat surface, spacing them 1/4 inch apart. With glue dots, glue a 12-inch piece of monofilament across the circles as shown, then firmly press the matching circles on top.
3. Use more glue dots to attach buttons and an orange craft foam nose. With a permanent marker, draw on eyes and a mouth. Finally, tie a ribbon scarf around the monofilament at the neck, and then knot the line above the head to create a loop for hanging.

Sparkling Ice Crystals

Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

String up a few of these crystals, made of pipe cleaners and beads, and get ready for a flurry of compliments. For a cool twist, use silver pipe cleaners and pom-poms too.

Materials

• 12-inch white iridescent pipe cleaners
• Clear tri or sunburst beads
• Needle and fishing line
• White iridescent pom-poms

Instructions

1. Cut 6 pipe cleaners in half to create 12 pieces. Hold 11 pieces together and tightly wrap the last piece around the middle of the bundle, as shown, twisting its ends to secure it.
2.  Spread the pipe cleaner pieces into a starburst shape and thread about 5 beads onto each pipe cleaner half as  shown.
3. Using the needle, thread the pom-poms on the fishing line, then tie the snowflake to one end of the line.