Jingle bells, jingle bells - ho, ho, ho!
Yeap, it's that time of the year when kids at the signal have started selling Santa hats, when the Emporium Mall has put an inflated Santa at their entrance, when Agha's and such have started selling christmas tree decor. There is no snow, no sleigh, no SALE and possibly no gifts, but just a reason to celebrate.
And in this spirit why get left behind.
Here are few fun decorations you can make, of course you can buy the ones in the stores but where is the fun in that, pssh.
TWO:
Instructions:
THREE:
Instructions:
Yeap, it's that time of the year when kids at the signal have started selling Santa hats, when the Emporium Mall has put an inflated Santa at their entrance, when Agha's and such have started selling christmas tree decor. There is no snow, no sleigh, no SALE and possibly no gifts, but just a reason to celebrate.
And in this spirit why get left behind.
Here are few fun decorations you can make, of course you can buy the ones in the stores but where is the fun in that, pssh.
Christmas ornament you can make with colored papers or magazine
pages.
ONE:
The instructions:
ONE:
The instructions:
1. Cut
out 10 paper circles (any size, as long as they're all the same). Text weight
paper will be easier to work with than cardstock.
2. Cut each circle along the radius.
3. Put a small piece of double-stick tape on each side of the cut near the edge of the paper.
4. Flip
the circle over so the taped side is down; then pull each flap across the
circle toward you and twist to form a cone. Press the taped ends down to
secure. You should end up with two cones that look vaguely like a fortune
cookie. Do this to each of your 10 circles.
2. Cut each circle along the radius.
3. Put a small piece of double-stick tape on each side of the cut near the edge of the paper.
4. Flip
the circle over so the taped side is down; then pull each flap across the
circle toward you and twist to form a cone. Press the taped ends down to
secure. You should end up with two cones that look vaguely like a fortune
cookie. Do this to each of your 10 circles.
5. String
the double cones together with a needle and thread. Make sure they're gathered
snugly in a ball and tie a knot. Use the trailing ends of the thread to make a
loop for hanging.
Here's one made from magazine pages. If you like
recycled crafts, give it a whirl.
Here's one made from magazine pages. If you like
recycled crafts, give it a whirl.TWO:
You'll need:
Paper,
scissors, a circular object for a template, a ruler, pencil, needle, thread,
rubber band, and glue.
1. Cut out ten paper
circles, using a jar lid or CD for a template. (My circles are 5" in
diameter. I stacked sheets of computer paper and cut out several circles at
once.)
2. In each circle, cut
eight evenly spaced slits toward the middle, stopping about a half inch from
the center point.
3. With a pointed pen or
sharp pencil, curl each tab into a cone and secure with a dot of glue. If you
can pull off a tightly rolled perfect point, congratulations. I was running a
little low on patience and settled for "sort of pointy," which I
think also looks nice.
4. Cut two small pieces
from a wide rubber band. These will hold the ornament together at each end.
5. Thread a needle and knot
the ends of the thread together. String on one of the rubber band pieces.
6. Push the needle through
the centers of five stars with their flat sides face down. Turn over the
remaining five stars so their flat sides are facing up and thread them on,
followed by the second rubber band piece.5. Thread a needle and knot the ends
of the thread together. String on one of the rubber band pieces.
7. With a chopstick or
pencil, push down on the rubber band to compress the stars into a ball while
pulling upward on the string with your other hand. The rubber should hold the
stack together without requiring a knot. Adjust the paper cones as needed to
make a pleasing shape.
8. Tie a loop in the thread
for hanging if desired.
THREE:
Instructions:
1. Cut the paper into
strips that are 3.5" long and 0.5" wide. (This makes a small ornament
about 3" in diameter.) Cut 9 strips of each color. Cut two 0.75"
circles. Tracing around a penny works nicely.
2. Fold the paper strips in
half. A crisp fold isn't needed; just a light crease will do.
3. String a bead onto a
length of thread. Then push both ends of thread through the needle so the
thread is doubled.
4. Poke the needle through
one of the circles to string it next to the bead. Then string on all the paper
strips near one end, alternating colors.
5. After all the paper
strips are added, begin threading the opposite ends onto the string. To do
this, start with the strip you put on first (the one next to the paper circle).
Take its loose end and push the needle through it. Continue threading on the
paper strips in order. They'll naturally begin to fan out as you go.
6. Add the second paper
circle.
7. Pull the needle off the
thread. Feed the bead onto one of the loose ends of thread, then tie both ends
of thread in a knot to hold the bead on next to the circle. If your ornament hangs
a little crooked, thread the needle again and push both ends of thread up
through the underside of the bead and out through the top so both ends of
thread emerge. Tie off a loop and hang that spaceship.
Play with the colours, be creative!
