~*~ Another ornament idea, trash to treasure style, is to convert all the unwanted McDonald Happy Meal toys into ornaments by spraying them with Glitter spray, adding a sprig of holly and a ribbon hot glued to it to hang. Makes a great present topper, I use my as name tags by using a paint pen to put the child's name and date on the ornament when I am done. ~*~ Fish Bowl Snowman 1 lg. fish bowl 1 sm. fish bowl Black buttons Baby toboggan Ribbon (to match the hat) Popped popcorn (enough to fill the bowls) Instructions 1. Fill each fish bowl with popcorn. 2. Stack the fish bowls with the openings together and glue. 3. Glue buttons on for eyes, mouth, and buttons down the front. 4. I got a small plastic carrot to use for the nose. 5. Put on the hat and tie the ribbon around his neck. 6. Place some holly in the hat if you like. ~*~ Snowman Pin 1 peanut in the shell black fine line marker black felt white glue scrap fabric pin back clip hot glue gun white paint/ paint brush Paint peanut with white paint, let dry. With felt, make stovepipe style hat and glue with white glue. Attach to top of peanut. Cut fabric scrap into small strip and tie on peanut as a scarf, trim as necessary. Use black marker to add face, buttons, etc., attach pin back clip to back. ~*~ Angel idea for cola cans Remove tab from cans. Paint side and bottom of cola cans white or whatever color you like. After paint is dry, bend can in half. Paint face on top of can using the opening for the mouth. Add spanish moss for hair and raffia for wings. Add halo. These are absolutely adorable and very inexpensive to make. ~*~ Yesterday I made an ornament (well, I made a few:o) I took a large clear glass ornament, cut a piece of heavy-weight laminating film into a circle, a little smaller than the largest part of the ornament.(Yes, I found clear acetate paper at Hobby Lobby, BUT it was $8 for a pack of 2!!!, so I got this:o), I pealed the backing off..rolled it up and poped it into the ball. Using a pair of tweasers (I found them in the bead section:O) I straightened it up. I held a tube of superglue with my tweasers and swirted it around the edge of the film. Let dry. ****IT TAKES THINGS MUCH LONGER TO DRY INSIDE THE BALL!!!!*** Then I cut a small circle out of some clear plastic (it went to the packaging to my ornaments:O) and super glued my ornament to it. BECAUSE I had to go and get winnie the pooh, and I started with tigger, who was only standing on one foot:o) anyway, I put some glue on the underside of the plastic circle with my tigger on it,and held him by the nose with the tweasers as I set him down on the middle of the ball. Let dry. I took my snow paint and put a coat on the clear piece where tigger was standing. Let dry. That took forever to dry:o) Then I painted snow on the outside of the ornament, very thick on the bottom, and getting lighter as I went towards the top of the ornament. Let dry. I also added some clear glitter to the inside of the ball and shook it all around. I found these mini snowflake ornaments. I tied one's string to the metal top, letting it hang down from the top, center of the ball. Then I put the lid on. When I find some ribbon I like I'll put that on the top too:o) ~*~ Fill a ball 1/2 way with water, add a small carrot (they make these..or make some with polymer clay) 9 or so black beads (eyes, mouth, and buttons) a tiny black hat (I'm in Texas and use a small cowboy hat), put a CORK on it. I am here to testify that super glue doesn't work!! Neather does Modge podge. And wax doesn't work eather..plus it looks messy! LOL Find some corks..cut them to fit, and seal the ball with that, then simply put on your ball "lid" decorate with a tag that says, Florida snowman! OR You can poor hot glue into the ball, dropping a few beads, here and there, then a hat and carrot on top..it will make it NON spillable:o).....but I like the water better:o) ~*~ I have an idea for you regarding for a church craft...for several years I did a fund raiser at our church and what I did was used plain glass ornaments that I purchased for under $2.00 a dozen at Walmart. Then I embellished them with some holly (cut up a pick usually about .33/ea) Write the name of your church or group on the glass ball with fabric Scribbles fine tip paint and sprinkle it with glitter. It really presents itself well and we sold tons of them for $5.00 ea. ~*~ Glitter and Sugar Ornaments (makes about 4) 1/2 sugar 1 teaspoon glitter (any color but clear) 1 teaspoon water cookie cutters w/ backs bowl measuring cup yarn or string (for hanging) spray sealer straw (cut into 4 pieces) 1. Pour 1/2 cup sugar into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon glitter and mix well. Add 1 teaspoon water and mix until the sugar is evenly moist. 2. Press the sugar into the cookie cutter, and insert a piece of the straw to form a hole to hang it with. Then tap the ornament gently onto a plate. Let dry overnight. 3. The next day use spray sealer and coat them well. 4. When they are completely dry add yarn or string and hang. ~*~ Clothespin Angels Spray paint your clothespins gold, purchase some toole (cheep fishnet stuff) and spray it with glitter cut int 12-18" squares. Push the ball part of the clothes pin into a styrofoam ball, I painted mine first , but you could leave white. Place 2 squares of the toole over the head of the angel tie a ribbon around the neck, under the ball, add a halo, Viola - Angel which you can sit on a tree branch by slipping her little legs over the limb. They look real nice on the tree. Kind of fairy looking.........add to them or keep them simple. Also, If you want them to stand. Glue a heart shape wood piece to the bottom of their legs and they stand upright. ~*~ Kitchen Towel Christmas Gift I found a buy last year on some RED & WHITE checked ones and I did this:I baked a loaf of banana nut bread (or your favorite) and wrapped it in plastic wrap then tied the loaf up inside the kitchen towel. I usually make an "annual" angel ornament of some type each year and I tied ribbon around the bundle like a package, attached one of my ornaments and then gave them as gifts to "teacher, neighbor, pastor, mailman, lemonade mom in the neighborhood..." Everybody loved them.....I stole the idea from my Mom, she has done that for years, without the cutsie ornament on top. That was my addition. ~*~ Tree Skirt Find a plain tree skirt. Best if not fuzzy. Buy some Christmas stencils and craft paint. Help kids to sponge the stencils to create fun designs on your new family Christmas Tree skirt. ~*~ Reindeer Poop I found a really long reindeer poem, so I made up a new beginning and made the poem shorter. This year as Santa made his Christmas rounds, Guess what was all over the neighbors grounds? Every time Santa made a stop Those little reindeer would leave a "plop". I cleaned them up, but to toss them seemed a waste, So I saved them, thinking you might like a taste! I heard Santa exclaim as he rose in the sky, "Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!" ~*~ Spaghetti Wreath Ornament Glue Spaghetti Alcohol Green Food Coloring Hole Punch Red Construction Paper Ribbon Wax Paper Hot Glue Gun 1. Break the spaghetti into smaller pieces (about 2-3 inch pieces) 2. In a plastic bag add a little alcohol and green food coloring, mix. Next add the spaghetti and mix it in the bag until all the spaghetti turns green. 3. Dry the spaghetti over night. 4. On wax paper draw a glue circle the size of the wreath ornament you want to make. Then start adding the spaghetti pieces. Add glue as needed. 5. When the wreath is the size you want add a few red circle (use the hole punch and the red paper to make these). 6. Let dry. This could take a few days. When it is fully dry hot glue a ribbon on the back to hang. * You can use a sealer on this before you add the ribbon. ~*~ Cookie Cutter Star Frame Ornament Designed by Annabelle Keller These easy-to-make ornaments are a wonderful holiday project the entire family can enjoy. Personalized with your own special photographs, these fabulous ornaments embellish your tree with a sparkle of memories. So fast and simple, even the kids can join in the fun! SUPPLIES STYROFOAM brand plastic foam: (1) ½" x 12" x 36" sheet Acrylic paint - Brilliant Silver 4mm silver beads ½" silver sequin pins 6" length silver chenille stem Photo (sized to fit frame opening) Sliver or light blue card stock (to cover back of frame) Thick white craft glue Cookie cutters: 3 ¾" - 4" star 1 ½" round General tools and supplies: scissors waxed paper pencil round toothpick paint brush INSTRUCTIONS Using star cookie cutter, cut ornament shape from sheet of STYROFOAM. Using round cookie cutter, cut picture opening. Rub a scrap piece of foam against edges of cut-out to smooth finish. Paint frame and let dry on wax paper.Place beads on pins, dip in glue and push into foam. (See photo.) Using toothpick, make a hole in the top point of star. Twist ends of chenille stem together to form hanger and glue into hole. Trace round cutter on photo and cut out ¼" outside traced line. Glue photo behind opening of star. Trace star on card stock and cut out 1/8" inside traced line. Glue to back of frame. ~*~ Things to do 3-4 Days before Christmas shop for last-minute food items make or buy ice for festive drinks boil ham and refrigerate On Christmas Eve prepare as much as the festive meal as possible defrost frozen foods, allowing 24 hours for large turkey or goose set the table ,if possible hang stockings put out note and lunch for Santa ~*~ Holiday Tips 1. To freshen soiled holiday candles and artificial holiday florals, wipe with rubbing alcohol. 2. To re-use gift wrap, turn paper wrong side up, spray lightly with starch, and press with a warm iron. 3. Save pretty bows from packages in plastic bags. Blow the bag up before tying it shut to keep the bows from being crushed. 4. Butter the outside cut on cheese to keep it from drying out in the refrigerator.