Making your own Xmas decorations fills your home with joy, but it can do so much more. It can bring people together for one of the happiest times of the season. You’ll have a wonderful time.
Candy Decorations
Project: Gumdrop Decorations
Even the youngest members of the family can take part in this, as
long as they’re old enough to walk. Just keep in mind that if your
children are anything like ours were, you’ll need more gumdrops than
it takes to make the decorations, because the rest of them will be
magically turned into big grins on children’s faces.
You will need:
- Toothpicks
- Bamboo skewers
- Lots of gumdrops of assorted sizes and colors
With younger children, you’ll have to show them how to do one or two
decorations, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly they catch on and
how inventive they can be. There’s no more creative mind than that of
a three-year-old turned loose with something that is easy and fun to
do.
You’ll find a number of terrific gumdrop ideas to start with in
Parties and Projects for the Holidays.
Project: Candy Garlands
Stringing popcorn and cranberry strands can become a tradition passed
from generation to generation. Children, especially, seem to take
enormous pride in seeing the product of their efforts hanging on the
tree.
But you don’t have to limit yourself to just those items. String
licorice and gumdrops for a truly whimsical touch. You can even make
strands with some uncooked pastas like wagon wheels or large elbow
macaroni.
Let your imagination and the texts for this course be your guides,
and you can’t go wrong.
Project: Handmade Ornaments
There’s nothing better to start with than the Styrofoam balls you’ll
find at any craft shop. They’re available in a wide variety of sizes,
and they’re light enough to hang from nearly any Christmas tree
branch.
To begin, stud the balls with sequins and beads, using straight pins
to secure them. Pin them on in patterns like stripes or spirals, or
however your fancy strikes you. Add multiple textures with pieces of
ribbon or even buttons.
You can use a stud earring that has lost its mate as a starting
point, and all that broken costume jewelry can be a wonderful
resource for pieces, too. Using broken jewelry parts can help you
create a family heirloom that will be cherished for generations.