Christmas Crafts

**QuilterMom** · 07-09-2002, 08:01 PM

Birdhouse Ornaments

For each ornament you'll need.....

1 unfinished wooden birdhouse ornament (approx. size 5 1/4" high)
A piece of fabric to cover the base of the ornament
Twigs to cover the roof of the birdhouse
Design Master glossy wood tone spray
Hot glue gun

Spray the birdhouse lightly with the wood tone spray and allow to dry.

Remove the base from the ornament and remove any nails from the base.

Trim the fabric to fit the base of the ornament and press the raw edges to the wrong side. Wrap the base with fabric and glue into place.

Glue the base to the bottom of the ornament.

Glue twigs to roof of birdhouse, trimming as desired.

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Shooting Stars Ornament

For each star you'll need:

- Two 1-inch wooden stars (you can find them already pre-cut in most craft stores)
- Acrylic craft paint (metallic silver or gold plus your choice of other colors)
- A 12-inch piece of silver or gold pipe cleaner
- A 1-inch mini spring pin clothespin
- Craft glue

Paint one side of each wooden star with silver or gold paint and let dry completely. Decorate the stars any way you wish with another color of paint (dots, squiggly lines, etc. - let your imagination soar!) and let dry completely. Wrap the pipe cleaner tightly around a pencil, leaving one inch straight at each end. Pull one end through the center hole in the spring pin clothespin and twist it around itself to fasten in place. Glue the stars together with craft glue (with the painted sides of the stars facing outward) and sandwich the other straight end of the pipe cleaner in between the stars. Hint: Clamp the stars together in place while the glue dries (about an hour to an hour and a half) with a few extra spring pin clothespins. Use the spring pin clothespin to attach the ornament to your Christmas tree and enjoy!

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Reindeer Ornament

Popsicle Stick
Brown Acrylic Craft Paint
Pipe Cleaner
Wiggle Eyes
Tiny Red Pom-Pom
Thin Ribbon (your choice of color)
Glue

Paint the popsicle stick brown, if desired. Let dry completely. Cut a piece of ribbon about 10-inches long and tie the ends together to form a circle. Glue it to the top, back of the popsicle stick. This forms the hanger for the ornament. Cut the pipe cleaner in half and fold it into a V shape. Glue it just below where you glued the ribbon. This will form the antlers. Glue the wiggle eyes and pom-pom nose on the opposite side of the popsicle from the pipe cleaner and ribbon.

**QuilterMom** · 07-09-2002, 08:03 PM

Here's an easy idea for old glass ball ornaments that are fading or chipping - can use this on clear glass ball ornaments as well.........

Spread a thin layer of glue over the ornament (do in a small section at a time) and then shake glitter over the glue. Allow to dry and keep working in sections until the whole ornament is covered in glitter.

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Candy Garland

Here's a cute garland idea.

~ Wrapped round peppermint candies (red or green)
~ wrapped miniature candy canes (red, green or multi-color)
~ Thin, decorative red ribbon, cut into 5-inch pieces

Take a 5-inch piece of ribbon and center it behind the straight portion of a candy cane. Tie the ribbon in a knot around the candy cane. Take one end of the ribbon and tie it into a knot around the end twist of a peppermint candy wrapper. Repeat the process with the other end of the ribbon and another round peppermint candy. Continue this process until it reaches the desired length.

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Button Garland

You'll need: An assorment of buttons in various sizes and colors, a hot glue gun, and garden twine

Spread out all the buttons and place small buttons with larger ones to balance out the weight. Put a dab of glue on the back of one button. Place the twine on top and wait until the glue hardens completely before gluing another button on top (so you have a button showing on each side of the twine - 2 buttons back to back). Repeat this process for the entire length of twine, spacing the buttons evenly apart.

Drape around your Christmas tree!

**QuilterMom** · 07-09-2002, 08:06 PM

Snowman Jar

This is so cute! It would be perfect to make to fill with a mix and give as a gift or just fill it with candy.

You need:

A 32-ounce mayo jar with lid
A 2 1/2" diameter plastic foam ball
A paring knife
Snow texturing medium
A small flat paintbrush
A pencil
A 5" x 18" fabric strip
Black felt
A 3" length fo orange paper twist (untwisted)
Six straight pins with black heads
Two 6" long twigs
A 4" diameter black felt hat
A 1 3/4" diameter artificial sunflower
Spanish moss
An artificial bird that will fit on top of the hat
Three 3/4" diameter black buttons
Craft glue

Use the knife to cut 1/4" from one side of the foam ball, forming a flat surface (this will be the bottom of the ball). Glue the bottom of the ball to the top of the jar lid.

Use the paintbrush to apply snow texturing medium to the ball; allow to dry completely.

For the nose, cut a 1" x 3" length from the orange paper twist. Roll the paper twist into a 1" long cone shape. Use the pencil to make a small indentation at the center of the snow covered ball for the nose. Glue the nose in place.

For the eyes, cut two 1/4" diameter circles from the felt. Glue the eyes in place.

Insert the pins into the ball to form the mouth into a smile.

For the arms, glue twigs to the sides of the jar lid.

For the scarf, tie the fabric strip around the bottom of the ball.

Form the moss into a nest shape; glue the nest and bird to the top of the hat. Glue the sunflower to the front of the hat. Glue the hat to the top of the ball.

Glue the buttons down the front of the jar in a row.

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Glittering Pinecones

You need:
Pine Cones
Red oxide spray primer
Gold and silver spray paint
Hot glue gun and all-purpose glue
Fine paintbrush
Assorted colors of glitter
Ribbon

Spray paint the pine cones with the red oxide primer. Make sure each cone is well covered with the primer. Allow to dry for 1 to 2 hours. Spray the cones several times with gold or silver spray paint. Be sure to cover the whole cone well. Let dry completely. Apply hot glue to the tips of each cone. Alternatively, apply small dabs of glue onto the cone tips with the paintbrush. Working quickly, sprinkle the glitter onto the cones so that it sticks to the glue covered tips. Use a saucer to catch the excess glitter. Glue a ribbon formed into a bow to each cone if you wish to hang the pine cones.

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Christmas Stocking Jar Topper

This makes a topper to fit a regular canning jar - great for mix recipes you may be giving as Christmas gifts!

Women's crew-style sock (red)
A cotton ball or small piece of polyester fiberfill
8-inches of 1/8" wide ribbon (green)
A 1/2" diameter jingle bell

Place the cotton ball inside the toe of the sock. Knot the ribbon around the sock just above the cotton ball. Thread the jingle bell onot 1 ribbon end and tie the ribbon ends into a bow. Fold the sock cuff in half and then fold in half again. Place the "cap" over the jar lid.

**QuilterMom** · 07-09-2002, 08:08 PM

Canvas Stocking

You need:

A 14" high canvas stocking
Three coordinating fabrics
A 1 1/2" x 18" torn fabric strip for the bow
Paper-backed fusible web
Three 1" diameter buttons
One 3/4" diameter button
A black permanent felt tip pen
Pinking shears
Craft glue

Place the stocking wrong side up on the paper side of web. Draw around the stocking. Leaving a 1/8" border, cut toe, heel, and cuff shapes from the drawn stocking on web. Fuse the shapes to the desired fabrics; cut out. Fuse the toe and heel to the stocking.

Use the pinking shears to trim the top and bottom edges of the cuff. Fuse the cuff to the stocking.

Use the felt tip pen to draw three H's going down the front of the stocking (make them as plain or fancy as you wish). Use the pen to draw "stitches" along the outside edges fo the heel, toe and cuff. Glue one 1" diameter button beside each H.

Tie the fabric strip into a bow and glue to the cuff; fringe the ends. Glue the 3/4" button to the know of the bow.

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Christmas Card Box

You need.....

A wooden box
Metallic gold spray paint
Mod Podge (matte)
Christmas cards
1/4" gold braid trim
A foam brush

Spray paint the box. Allow to dry.

Cut desired pictures and words from the cards. Arrange on the box lid and use the Mod Podge to glue them to the lid. Allow to dry.

Apply two coats of Mod Podge to the lid, allowing to dry between coats.

Use the Mod Podge to glue the braid trim along the top edges of the lid. Allow to dry.

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Candy Cane Jar

You'll need:
An 8-inch round jar with pop-in lid
Two heavy duty rubber bands
40 (6-inch tall) candy canes in clear cellophane wrappers
Thick tacky glue
1 1/4 yards of 1 1/2-inch wide red-and-green ribbon
Two small Christmas charms (gingerbread men, candy canes, Santa, reindeer, star, etc.)

Remove the lid from the jar. Place the rubber bands around the jar 1-inch from the top and bottom edges. Position the candy canes (still in the wrappers) between the rubber bands and jar, encircling the jar. The top of the candy cane should be facing outward away from the jar. Pull a few candy canes away from the top edge of the jar and squeeze tacky glue behind them. Repostion the candy canes. Let the tacky glue dry before gluing any more candy canes. Repeat for all the candy canes (be sure to let the tacky glue dry between applications). Make sure all the candy canes are standing up straight. Move the rubber bands to the middle of the candy canes. Tie the ribbon into a bow around the candy canes on top of the rubber bands. Trim the ends of the ribbon as desired. Glue on charm to the knot of the bow and glue the other charm to the top of the jar lid. Fill jar as desired and enjoy!

**CAGmomof2** · 07-29-2002, 04:00 PM

Thank you for this lovely craft idea I think I will try to at least make one to put on our tree for Christmas!!

**QuilterMom** · 07-31-2002, 09:23 PM

More ornament ideas.............

- Fill clear glass ball ornaments with tinsel (icicles). Use a pencil to push the tinsel into the ornament.

- Fill clear glass ball ornaments with potpourri.

- Take Styrofoam balls and use headed push pins to attach sequins all around the ball. Cut a length of ribbon to form the hanger - position the two cut ends under a sequin so that a pin goes through the ribbon to hold it in place.

**Sara Noel** · 08-02-2002, 03:30 PM

Adding to your list. I found a few online.

http://family.go.com/crafts/cutpaste/craft/mintpost/

http://family.go.com/crafts/drawpaint/craft/wishspool/

http://family.go.com/crafts/season/craft/mouseorna/

Sara

**dz_blonde_girl** · 08-03-2002, 08:16 AM

I always wanted to try using small amounts of different colored, watered down slightly, acrylic paints and swirling them around inside clear chrismas balls..... ther must be instructions for that out there somewhere.

**Michelle** · 11-24-2002, 11:01 AM

**captclearance** · 11-24-2002, 11:19 AM

Those are great ideas.....
try rolling the old bulbs in crushed potpourri too...

**heaven** · 11-24-2002, 11:44 AM

we were just talking about the orniments with colors the other day. all you have to do is take tempura paints and pour small amounts inside and turn so that it runs in the directions that you want. do it all the way around. A eye dropper would get them just in the areas that you want them in.