Christmas Crafternoon Ideas
As much as I love seeing all the cute new trinkets in stores every holiday season, it gets a little exhausting to even think about purging and repurchasing so many things. When you feel like you need something for a little refresher, just make it! There are all kinds of easy ideas for holiday decor that can be done in one afternoon, and I’ve got a few just for you.
1) Baking soda dough ornaments; 2) origami starburst decorations; 3) pipe cleaner and bead ornaments; 4) painted ornaments
Starting out with a classic is baking soda dough ornaments. I’ve tried these and salt dough, and these come out much smoother and whiter, but do tend to crack up a bit if the mixture is too dry, so beware. All you need is baking soda, cornstarch, water, a rolling pin (or wine bottle) and some cookie cutters. Mix 1/2 cup of cornstarch with 1 cup of baking soda, and 3/4 cup of water (start with 1/2 a cup and slowly add more, you may need less) and stir in a pot on medium-low heat. Once it’s cooled, roll it out, then cut your shapes. Use a straw or knife to make a small hole near the edge for your string, and let dry overnight. You can bake these in the oven at 175 for about 1.5 hours, flipping them over every 20 minutes or so. Paint them however you like, and they can be sealed with Mod Podge once dry.
Not everyone has the patience for origami, but making these decorations can be a great mindless activity while watching TV or listening to podcasts. There are lots of variations for designs, so pick whatever you feel comfortable with. (I like this one, not too difficult but lots of pieces.) Origami paper is easy to find, but you can also use standard weight colored printer paper as well.
For those of you with kids, these pipe cleaner and bead ornaments can be a great activity. I recently found a jar of these Perler style beads at the thrift store, but you can find them at any craft store as well. Pony beads works great as well, especially for younger kids. Make tree shapes, or stars, or cut your pipe cleaners in half to create chain links. Go wild, use your imagination!
Lastly, create your own special ornaments with some paint or vinyl pieces. If you have a Cricut or Silhouette machine, this is a good way to use up tiny scraps. Most big craft stores sell plain plastic globe ornaments, and they have lots of different styles. Use acrylic paints to make little starbursts, hearts, portraits or names of loved ones, it’s up to the artist! If you’ve got steady hands and lots of patience, this can be a really enjoyable craft.
Which one of these crafts will you be trying? How did it turn out? Let me know!
