Last-Minute Holiday Crafts

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 Dec 2008 10:50 AM

These simple, yet festive craft ideas are so easy to make you could put them together the night before your holiday guests arrive. Even better, have the kids join in and you can get the crafts done and your house decorated in half the time.

PIPE CLEANER CANDY CANES

Materials:

Green pipe cleaners

Red pipe cleaners

White pipe cleaners

Directions:

Take two different colored pipe cleaners and match up the ends. Next, twist each pipe cleaner around each other all the way to the other end. Then, curve one end of the twisted pipe cleaners and presto--instant decorative candy cane.

Another way to make these fun candy canes is to take two different colored pipe cleaners and match up the ends. Next, find the middle of the pipe cleaners and cut in half with scissors or wire cutters. Then, twist, curve and you're done.

SNOWBALL ORNAMENTS

Materials:

Knitting needle or chopstick

Funnel

Clear glass ball ornament

Artificial snow

Silver glitter

9 metallic pom poms

Ornament hook

White craft glue

Paper towel

Directions:

Remove the hanger and cap from the ornament.

Wash and dry the outside of the ball completely with a paper towel.

Using a funnel, pour the glass ball 3/4 full with artificial snow.

Pour a small amount of silver glitter into the glass ball. Cover the opening of the bottle with your thumb and shake the ball to combine the glitter and the artificial snow. If they don't mix together well just by shaking, take the knitting needle and use it to stir the glitter and snow. Some of the glitter will fall to the bottom of the glass ball and some will stick to the inside of the ball.

Replace the ornament's hanger and cap.

Squeeze a generous drop of white glue on the glass ball next to the edge of the cap covering the opening of your ornament. Press one of the metallic white pom poms into the white glue and hold it in place briefly until secure. Continue adding pom poms around the cap until you have used up the nine pom poms. Hold the pom poms down until they adhere to the ornament. Let the glue dry completely before hanging.

Add a hook and your ornament is ready to hang.

Related Articles:

Making Homemade Holiday Gifts

Holiday Crafts for Kids: Cards and Ornaments

What To Do with All Those Holiday Cards

What Do You Do With Pictures of Other People's Kids?

The Family Christmas Photo

Who's In Your Christmas Card Photo?

How to Make Homemade Christmas Wrapping Paper and Ornaments

How to Make a Simple and Festive Christmas Wreath

Fun with Fruitcake--The Best Gag Gift of the Season

Making Edible Garland for Your Christmas Tree

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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