Christmas Tree Ornaments

Have some friends over for an ornament making party. You'll just need some simple, inexpensive materials to make some ornaments you will be proud to put on your tree or give away as a gift. These are great to give as a hostess gift or to take as a gift to parties you attend.

Glitter Ornaments

What you’ll need:

• Alcohol
• Paper towels
• Tacky glue
• Glitter
• Double sided tape
• Glass ornaments
• Small brush
• Acrylic paints
• Permanent markers
• No-lead solder
• Ribbon

What to do:

• First, to remove oil & finger prints, clean your ornaments with alcohol
• With tacky glue dispenser, draw some designs on the ornaments (Tacky glue works best because it doesn’t run as fast). Work on half of the ornament at a time. Rest the ball inside a cup so that glue is not touching and can dry a bit. Work on the next ornament then go back to the first one to check if it is dry enough to add glitter. If so, add glitter and rest again in cup.
• Work on several ornaments at a time. You may hang the ornaments to dry over a broom handle or stick with wire or pipe cleaners.

Double Sided Tape Ornaments

This is quicker than the glue. However, the designs are more limited. They are very impressive because the glitter lines will be even and straight.

• Clean ornaments
• Remove hangers
• Apply double sided tape just about 1/8" – 1/4" below the top of ornament so that the hanger will slip over when finished.
• Smooth tape down if necessary.
• Apply fine glitter to tape.
• Brush off excess glitter on ball with a small brush.
• Add a pretty ribbon and hang!

Personalized Ornaments

Take this to your next Christmas party!

What to do:

• With acrylic paint, print a simple design on top and bottom of a 4"-6" frosted glass ornament.
• With a permanent marker, write the family name and year around the middle.
• Add a pretty ribbon and wrap in a box or bag with pretty tissue. You will be remembered every year as they trim their tree!

Contemporary Swirls

What to do:

• With acrylic paint, brush broad strokes around ornament (clear or frosted).
• When dry, use silver or gold metallic paint to dry brush broad strokes. That will add luster.
• You may use the hanger given or to make it look more contemporary, wrap some soft aluminum wire or non-lead solder wire for hanger.
• Use a clear adhesive to attach wire to ornament. (These sell in exclusive shops for $15-$20 a piece!) Make six ornaments and you have a great gift!

"Handmade" Hanukkah Menorah

Children can learn so much by making this. The eight candles are for each day celebrated. The tallest candle is called the Shamash and is used to light the other candles. Blue, white and yellow are traditional colors. Blue and white are the colors of the Israeli flag. Yellow symbolizes the glow of the Hanukkah candles.

What you’ll need:

• White & yellow Tempera paint
• Dish detergent, orange & blue
• Dark blue construction paper
• Poster board (to mount it on)
• Paper plates/trays

What to do:

• Prepare a shallow tray with white tempera paint mixed with a little dish detergent.
• Press child’s hands one at a time in paint and then press on to a sheet of construction paper as shown.
• When handprints are dry, have child paint the Shamash or tallest candle that extends up from thumbprints.
• Finally, paint orange flames with each fingerprint so that it looks like a lit Menorah.
• Add a yellow star and a blue base to Menorah for finishing touches.

Dreidel Thank-Yous

What you’ll need:

• White paper
• Scissors
• Crayons or markers
• Envelopes

What to do:

• Draw or trace a dreidel and cut it out.
• Fold each side to middle and write "Thank You" on flaps.
• Decorate in Hanukkah colors of blue, white and yellow.
• Write or draw message inside and sign your name.
• Put in an envelope or deliver!

Kwanzaa Candles

An easy, inexpensive candle display for your holiday table!

What You’ll Need:

• 3 red votive candles
• 3 green votive candles
• 1 black votive candles
• Terracotta plant dish
• Dried black or multi-colored beans

What to do:

• The seven candles represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
• The three red candles are placed on the left to represent the struggle.
• The middle candle is black, representing the people and the three green candles on the right represent the future.
• Place your candles in the dish accordingly, and add your black beans to the dish to decorate.

Kwanzaa Placemat

What you’ll need:

• Construction paper, black, red and green
• Tape
• Clear contact paper or have it laminated at a copy center

What to do:

• Cut black construction paper into10 strips measuring 24" x 2".
• Lie them side by side; use a long piece of tape to secure at the top.
• Cut red construction paper into 6 strips measuring 22" x 2".
• Cut green construction paper into 6 strips measuring 22" x 2".
• Weave the red and green (altercating) through the black paper.
• Once completed, cover both sides with clear contact paper or have laminated.