Pin Wheel Christmas Tree Ornaments

If you are familar with my Pin Wheel Halloween Wreath, you will see that these ornaments are done the same way. The easiest way to make these is with double sided paper, but with just a little more effort, it can be done with single sided paper as well. 

Supply List

Double Sided Christmas Paper -if possible,

(or single sided Christmas paper see ***)

Buttons

Thin Ribbon- matching color

Glue Stick

Tacky glue

1. You will cut 1- 5 inch squares of the double sided paper for each ornament.

***If you are using single sided paper you will need to cut 2- 5 inch squares for each ornament. Using the glue stick, rub glue along all four sides of the wrong side of one square and place a different patterned paper on top, placing wrong sides together. You will then have one doubled sided square. As you make the pinwheels you will see why you want a different pattern for each side.***

2. Using the picture below and following the black lines, have your child cut the square, from each corner toward the center but do not go completely to the center.

3. Look at the pictures below to see how to form the pinwheels. Using the glue stick, place glue in the center of the paper. Then starting at the bottom left corner, take the corner up to the middle and place in the center of the paper onto the glue. Put more glue on top of the point you just placed in the center and place the next corner in the center of the paper. Place glue in the center before each corner, continue with the next two corners.

4. Place tacky glue in the center and place one button in the middle.

5. Turn the pin wheel over.

6. Cut a piece of matching ribbon long enough to fold in half and use as a hanger for on the tree.

7. Place glue on the back of the pinwheel and place ends of the folded ribbon in to the glue.

8. Let dry. Hang on the tree!

Candy Cane and Icicle Christmas Tree Ornaments

This project is one that my Grandma O. was making more than 20 years ago. Not sure where she found it, but I see you can now buy kits to make these. I prefer to buy everything separately as this is an inexpensive project that the kids enjoy, and will keep them busy for a while. Once the kids are done with these ornaments they will want to make more. All supplies can be purchased at Micheal's, Jo Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby or your local craft store.

Candy Cane Supply List

1 Package of White Chenille Pipe Cleaners

Tri Beads- WHITE

Tri Beads- Red or Green

1. Cut the pipe cleaners in half.

2. Place 3 colored beads on the pipe and bend one end of the pipe wire over a bead to prevent them from falling off. Next place 3 white beads on the pipe and move all of the bead to the end. Continue with 3 colored and then 3 white until the pipe is full. Leave a little pipe to bend over a bead at the other end as well.

3. Bend one end over your finger to shape it into a candy cane.

Icicle Supply List

Silver Chenille Pipe Cleaners-1 Package

Paddle Wheel Large Beads (or sunburst) -Clear

Tri Beads Clear

Facet Crystal Beads 8mm-Clear

Facet Crystal  Beads 6mm-Clear

Rondelle Crystal Beads-Clear



For this ornament, we will work from the bottom up. Starting with the Rondelle beads.

1. Place 7 Rondelle beads on the silver pipe cleaner. Bend the very end of the pipe over the last bead to keep them from falling off.

2. Next place 5 of the 6mm crystal Facet beads on the pipe cleaner and push down to the other beads.

3. Place 3 of the 8mm crystal Facet beads on the pipe cleaner.

4. Place 3 Tri beads on the pipe cleaner.

5. And lastly, depending on how much of the pipe cleaner you have left, place 3-4 large Paddle Wheel beads on the pipe cleaner. Making sure to have enough of the silver pipe cleaner showing to bend over your finger for hanging on the tree.

Wintery, Wonderful Snowman

I found this snowman in an old copy of the "Family Fun" magazine. It was only the picture of the snowman along with a group of children who had made them, no instructions. I am not sure if it was a craft from the magazine in a previous issue, or if it was an entry from a family, but I took the picture and just starting winging it. The first thing you must know about this project is that it is made from a paver. In other words, a brick, and it is not the lightest project to do. It is called a "Euro Paver" and can be found at home improvement centers such as Menard's, Home Depot, Lowe's, or most garden centers that also have patio building materials.

The paver looks as if it is two bricks, one brick on top of another, but it is all one piece. The shape of the paver is an octagon shaped bottom, with a square top. You can see this better in the supply picture below.

I hope the children in your life have as much fun with this snowman as did all of the children in my community education classes. This one is a big hit. In the spring I will show you how to make an Easter Bunny using this same type of paver.

Supply List

1 Euro Paver

Silver chenille pipe cleaner

White Paint-indoor/outdoor

Black Paint

Tacky Glue

2- 2 inch pom poms, any color

18 inch piece of Fleece

foam brush

small stencil brush

small art brush

carrot nose, make form orange poly clay or buy one

scrap piece of felt or soft material

***For the carrot nose you can try to find a little carrot at a craft store. (I have found them in the past.) Or you can make carrot noses out of polymer clay. Just take a small amount of the clay, roll into a ball and then roll between your thumb and finger (like a small hot dog) to make a carrot shape. Just keep one end fatter than the other end. Then bake according to the package directions. VERY EASY***

Before you get started cover the working area with newspaper or an old vinyl table cloth.

1. Paint the snowman completely, front, back and sides, with the white paint. The first time you paint it, the paint will soak into the brick. The brick will need to be painted 2-3 times before it looks good and coated well. But don't worry, kids love to paint. Let it dry for about 10-15 minutes between each coat.

2. The white paint will dry fairly quickly and once it is dry it is time to paint the eyes. Lay the snowman flat, making sure the best side is facing up. Using the small stencil brush, (or art brush) and black paint, paint two circles for eyes.

3. With the same brush and black paint, paint three coal buttons down the front of the snowman.

4. Using the small art brush and black paint, make dots to form the shape of a smiling mouth.

5. Cut the chenille pipe cleaner in half. It should reach from one side of the "head" to the other side. This will be the top part of the ear muffs.

6. Keeping the snowman laying flat, glue one end of the chenille pipe cleaner to the side of the head where an ear would be. Then glue one of the pom poms on top of the pipe cleaner. Bend the pipe cleaner over the head and glue pipe to the other side and the last pom pom on top of the pipe. Hold both pom poms for a few minutes until glue has set.

7. Glue on the carrot nose and hold in place for a moment.

8. Using the piece of fleece (approx. 1 1/2 inches wide by 18 inches long) snip both ends about 1 inch long, so that it looks like it has a fringe. Lift the snowman and lay the piece of fleece under the snowman's neck. Wrap around the neck and tie it off to the side.

9. Cut a piece of felt or soft material the same size as the bottom of the paver and glue onto the bottom.

This will keep the paver from scratching the floor or table.

You know have a wintery, wonderful, Snowman for indoors or out.



Turkey Time

Turkey Time takes about the same amount of time as most of my projects, which is around one to two hours, at the most. As always, it depends on the ages of the children and how much of the project you let them do on their own. This one also take just a little more patience, both yours and your child's. But don't be put off by my comment, it is really a pretty easy project. And a fun one!

Supply List



1 clay pot  2 1/2 inch

1 Doll head/Knob 1 1/2 inch

Tacky Glue

Brown Paint

Red Paint

Yellow Paint

Light Pink Paint

Small foam paint brush

Small artist paint brush

Piece of ribbon

Raffia

Button

Black Sharpie/Marker

**Optional: Tan paint**

1. Using the small foam paint brush, paint both the pot and the wooden ball with the brown paint. The  bottom of the pot will become the top for the head. So be sure to paint the bottom. As always when  paint clay pots, the pot may need two coats of paint before the clay color is gone. If the wooden ball has a hole in the bottom put the ball on a tooth pick when painting. This makes it so much easier to paint.

2. It won't take long to dry. Once dry, with the pot upside down, glue the head onto the pot.

3. Now for the painting fun ! I use a sharpie or thin marker for the eyes.

4. For the rest of the painting you will use the small artist brush. Use the yellow for the beak. The best way to paint the beak is to paint a triangle, just make sure the point of the triangle is pointing  downward.

5. Next, while still using yellow, paint the feet. This is very easy. First make a wide V, and then a line  down the middle of the V.

6. For the turkey waddle under the beak, use red and paint two tear drop shapes.

7. For the blush on the checks I put a little paint on my finger, wipe it off a little and then rub my finger on the checks until I get the amount of color I want. Not too much. You want a light blushing.

8. Once the beak is dry, use the marker or Sharpie to make two SMALL dots, side by side.

9. Take a small piece of ribbon and tie a knot in the middle. Cut the ends to the size you want. Glue  under the "chin" of the turkey.

10. Glue a button on the belly and a bow of raffia or ribbon on top of that.

11. And lastly the feathers. This can be a little more time involved only because you need to hold the   feathers in place for a little bit. I like to use three different colors of feathers but any combo will  do. Put quite a bit of glue on the back of the turkey at the bottom rim. lay the feathers in the glue one at a time until you have all three in place. You can rearrange them as you need to, but you may also then need to add more glue afterwards. Hold in place for a few minutes.

***Optional*** If you look closely at the turkeys, you can see some speckles. If you choose to add the speckles you would do this just before gluing on the feathers. This is done by dipping a small, firm brush in the tan paint. Hold the brush in your hand with the brush end straight up in the air with the brush level with your thumb up in the air. Using your thumb, rub your thumb across the top of the bristles of the brush. This will lightly splatter the paint. I suggest you have the child practice on some newspaper before actually splattering it on the turkey.

HAPPY TURKEY TIME!!!!

Fall Corn Cob Family

Here is another fall craft that is fun, easy, and the kids will be proud of the end product. This is a project that a friend of mine and I used to do with K-4 grade kids in 4-H. They can go the simple route the way I did in the picture or they can use embellishments such as jewels, beads, buttons to add their own flair to the corn cob people. Such as adding a small piece of flannel to the baby cob for a blanket, or small jewels on the mom for earrings.
Corn cobs can be found at any feed mill. Some hardware stores carry it as well or try Menard's, Lowe's, or Home Depot. Go through your scrap material or ask family members for scraps before going out to buy material. It takes so little that it is hardly worth buying if you can avoid it. Bandannas and handkerchiefs work as well. Most everything you need can be found in your home, or Grandma's.

Supply List

3 corn cobs per family

small pieces of material

small googly eyes

scissors

ribbon

hat

yarn

raffia (or ribbon)

glue

small hearts (or bead/sequin for mouth)

The first thing you need to do before getting the kids started is to find one tall piece of corn (dad), one piece a little shorter (mom) and then cut one in half, (child). Use the cob half with the pointed small end.  A small hand saw works great for cutting the corn or a large pocket knife.

1. To find out how big of a piece of material you need for the cob, place the material open and flat. Stand the corn cob up and place on top of the material. You will then take one corner and pull it up against the cob so that it is just under half way up the cob. You can then eye ball how big you need to cut out a square. Go a little bigger if you are not sure. You can always cut it down if it is too big. (A 7 inch square is USUALLY big enough for Dad.) Depending on the age of the children, I like to let them do the cutting whenever possible. Do this for all of the corn cobs.

2. Apply glue around the entire bottom 1/3 of the cob and to the bottom.

3. Place cob in the middle of the material and one by one take each corner of the material and press against the cob. Bring the corner straight up the side of the cob. Turn and do the same for the next corner and so on.

4. Once the material is pressed firmly all around, take a piece of raffia or ribbon and tie around the cob at the top of the material. Do this for all three cobs.

5. Glue eyes and mouth on each cob.

6. For Dad-Glue on a hat and make a small bow for under his mouth.

7. For Mom-You will need to make some hair from yarn. This sounds harder than it is. Have the child wrap the yarn around all of your fingers about 10 times. Remove from your hand and cut yarn at both ends. Lay a piece of yarn on the table to use to tie the hair. Place the "hair" on top of the yarn and tie in the middle of the hair. Trim hair to length desired. See helpful pictures below.

8. If you want to add extra embellishments here is when you would do that.

9. Place a long piece of raffia or ribbon on the table. Lay the Dad and Mom next to each other on top of the raffia/ribbon. Place the child cob on top of the Dad and Mom. Wrap the raffia around all three and tie in a bow.

Your family is now complete. Set it out as a center piece on the Thanksgiving table or maybe on the mantle. Enjoy all Autumn long!!!