Homemade
for the
Holidays
Crafts special
BONUS CHAPTER
Crafts 3
Autumn pom pom wreath
4
Pine cone turkey craft
5
Sock turkey craft
7
Yarn pumpkin garland craft
8
Turkey windsock
9
Tube sock snowman
10
Pine cone holiday trees
11
Photo collage board
12
Mason jar holiday lights
13
Jolly snowman tealight ornament
15
Homemade holiday ornament
16
Iceblock lights
AUTUMN POM-POM WREATH Welcome fall with this cozy and colorful wreath! This is not a 15-minute craft, but your time will be well worth the end result.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Yarn in various colors
1. Tie the ribbon around the top of the wreath form to hang when finished.
Scissors Styrofoam wreath form Hot glue gun Ribbon, about 2 feet
tip
Many craft stores sell pom-pom makers if you want to speed this project up!
2. Cut a string from the yarn approximately 8-10� long. Set aside. 3. From the ball of yarn, wrap string around your hand, approximately 50 times. 4. Carefully slide yarn off your hand and tie the shorter piece of string tightly around the middle of the yarn. 5. Cut the inside of the yarn loop to form the yarn pom. 6. Trim the pom to your liking. 7. Repeat the steps until you have all the colors and poms you want. 8. Glue pom-poms to wreath form in a pattern.
3 | CRAFTS
PINE CONE TURKEY CRAFT This pine cone turkey craft is a cost-effective way to decorate for Thanksgiving or even to entertain kids while waiting for the big meal!
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Pine cone
1. Cut turkey beak out of orange felt.
Craft feathers: orange, yellow, brown, or maroon shades
2. Glue googly eyes to pine cone. 3. Glue orange felt triangle beak to pine cone. 4. Insert feathers into pine cone; can be glued to secure but not always necessary.
Googly eyes Orange felt Glue gun
tip
These little turkeys would also make creative place markers at Thanksgiving dinner!
SOCK TURKEY CRAFT Find a lonely sock and make this friendly little turkey to set on an entry table, dining table, shelf, or even the porch to welcome friends all fall long.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Craft foam
1. Funnel rice into brown sock to desired size.
Orange felt
2. Tie rubber band around sock to close and shape like the body of the turkey.
Craft feathers in yellow and orange Thin orange ribbon Googly eyes Red pipe cleaner Scissors
3. Continue to funnel more rice into the sock to desired size for head. 4. Close off the head with rubber band. 5. Fold remaining part of sock down over the head to form the hat. 6. Cut feet out of orange felt.
Glue guns
7. Cut triangle out of orange felt for the beak.
Brown sock
8. Glue googly eyes to head of turkey.
Funnel
9. Glue on triangle beak.
Rice 2 rubber bands
10. Tie orange ribbon around the turkey neck to conceal the rubber band. 11. Affix red pipe cleaner to center of ribbon to create the turkey wattle. 12. Glue feathers to the back of the assembled turkey in whatever color pattern and fullness you choose. 13. The final step is to glue the feet to the bottom of the turkey.
tip
5 | CRAFTS
If your sock does not have a contrasting band across the top, use ribbon to make the brim pop!
YARN PUMPKIN GARLAND CRAFT This pumpkin garland is such a fun and simple way to add a touch of the season to your home!
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Orange yarn
1. Wrap yarn around your hand. (The more you wrap around your hand, the more full your pumpkin will be.)
Twine Scissors Green pipe cleaner
2. Slide wrapped yarn carefully off your hand and onto your crafting surface. 3. Tie string around the yarn so that it holds everything together. 4. Attach a 3� piece of green pipe cleaner to top of pumpkin for the stem. 5. Attach assembled pumpkin to twine. 6. Repeat steps for desired number of pumpkins on garland.
TURKEY WINDSOCK TOILET PAPER ROLL These windsocks are a fun and festive craft to tackle with your little turkeys!
SUPPLIES Toilet paper tube Brown paint Foam brush Hot glue gun Feathers Ribbons in fall colors Orange foam sheet Large googly eyes Red pipe cleaner DIRECTIONS 1. Paint the entire tube brown (probably will need 2 coats). 2. Glue feathers to inside of the back end of the tube. 3. Cut ribbon to hang windsock. Make sure the top of the ribbon where the windsock will hang is taller than the feathers on the tube. 4. Glue ribbons to the other open end of the tube all the way around the inside. 5. Cut ribbons to desired length. 6. Glue on googly eyes. 7. Cut beak in a long triangle shape out of the orange foam. 8. Glue to tube for the beak. 9. Shape red pipe cleaner in the shape of turkey wattle. 10. Glue to turkey face.
CRAFTS | 8
TUBE SOCK SNOWMAN Gather up those mateless socks and transform them into meltproof snowmen. So simple, this is a perfect holiday craft for the whole family!
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
All-white tube socks
1. Use a funnel to fill 1 white tube sock with rice.
Tube socks in varying colors or styles (for the hat)
2. Once you have a good amount of rice in the sock, knot the top near the end of the filling and trim the excess fabric.
Rice (about 3 cups per snowman) Funnel Rubber bands Small buttons (to decorate the body) Small buttons (for the eyes and mouth) Diamond-shaped plastic bead (for the nose) Burlap or other ribbon (for the scarf) Scissors Hot glue gun
9 | CRAFTS
3. Roll a rubber band down the white tube sock, making 2 round sections (like snowballs). 4. Using the colorful/patterned sock, cut off the toe portion and fold it as shown to make a winter hat. Place it on the head of the snowman. 5. Glue 3 buttons down the center of the bottom portion. 6. Glue the eyes, then the nose, then the mouth, as shown. 7. Tie the ribbon around the neck of the snowman. 8. If you like, repeat the process with slightly different colors and button placements to create a companion snowperson!
PINE CONE HOLIDAY TREES Pop open a bottle, plug in your glue gun, and create a winter forest wonderland for your mantel.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
1. On the bottom of a pine cone, glue a wine cork. This will be the base of your Christmas tree.
Pine cone (size is your choice; ours were about 5 inches tall)
2. Lightly spray-paint the pine cone green. It doesn’t need to be completely coated—a light coat is better than a thick, drippy one.
Wine cork
3. Glue the star on the top of the pine cone.
Green spray paint
4. Toss on a little fake snow.
Small wooden star Optional additions: fake snow, glitter
tip
Add a little more glam by subbing metallic spray paint for the green!
PHOTO COLLAGE BOARD This fabulous DIY photo collage memory board is simple to create and an excellent craft for the kids to make for family members.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Craft glue/sealant (like Mod Podge or Elmer’s Glue-All)
1. Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the front of the wood board from edge to edge.
Sponge brush
2. Arrange and place the photos around the board, laying them out in a collage format. It’s okay to have things overlap if you want!
Wood board Several photographs or paper decorations Hanging twine (optional)
3. Once the pictures are in place, brush another coat of Mod Podge all over—across the pictures and all over the backing board. 4. Attach your hanging twine, if you’re using any.
tip 11 | CRAFTS
Use original photos (as opposed to photocopies) to avoid smearing the ink while using Mod Podge!
MASON JAR HOLIDAY LIGHTS Warm up your holiday display with Mason jar lights that are cute, easy, and incredibly budget-friendly.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
1 clean Mason jar with metal ring
1. Adhere vinyl sticker to clean, dry Mason jar.
Decorative pebbles Vinyl sticker (star, words, or whatever else you like) Silver or gold metallic spray paint Twine and/or decorative ribbon (other decorations, like our snowflakes, are optional) 1 battery-powered tealight candle for each jar
2. Spray-paint the outside of the jar. 3. When the paint is dry, carefully peel the sticker off the jar. 4. Fill the jar a third of the way with decorative pebbles. 5. Screw the metal ring back on top of the jar. 6. Tie a little bit of twine around the jar. 7. Place a tealight inside to illuminate your design from inside the jar.
JOLLY SNOWMAN TEALIGHT ORNAMENT This jolly little snowman tealight ornament is cute and clever—a charming addition to any Christmas decor.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
1 battery-powered tealight candle
1. Gently sand down the top edge of 1 side of the tealight.
Small pom-pom
2. On the rough edge, glue around half the top edge of the tealight and attach the pipe cleaner around the light. Leave a little part of the pipe cleaner unglued in the middle.
Red pipe cleaners/chenille sticks, cut in half Sandpaper or sanding block Decorative festive ribbon, about 1/2-inch wide and about 8 inches long Twine Fine-tipped black permanent marker Hot glue gun Scissors
3. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaners into little buns, like earmuffs, and glue those down too. 4. With the decorative ribbon, make a loop and glue together. 5. Glue the tealight on top of the ribbon loop, so it looks like a scarf hanging down. 6. Carefully slide the twine under the unglued portion of the chenille stick and tie it in a loop like an ornament hanger. 7. With a black permanent marker, draw eyes and a mouth. 8. Hang your snowman up somewhere, flip the switch, and let him light up your holiday season!
tip
13 | CRAFTS
Mix it up with different expressions and scarves to create an entire festive snowman squad!
HOMEMADE HOLIDAY ORNAMENT Create a pretty glass ornament to hang on your tree or gift to a friend.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Plain glass DIY ornament (available at craft stores)
1. Using the funnel, fill the ornament partially with the snow.
Craft snow
2. Attach the lid to close.
Funnel
3. Thread decorative ribbon through the ornament top and tie a knot.
Yarn or ribbon for hanging Decorative ribbon Vinyl lettering or sticker
4. Thread the yarn, twine, or ribbon you’re using to hang the ornament through the ornament top and knot it, making a large loop. 5. Attach vinyl lettering or a sticker to the outside of the ornament and smooth into place.
ICEBLOCK LIGHTS You can craft this stylish shelf or table ornament yourself—and it will fit your budget, your holiday decor, and your crafting skills.
SUPPLIES
DIRECTIONS
Clear glass block, found at hardware and crafting stores
1. Thread the bells onto the ends of the smaller ribbon.
Cord or twine Short strand of LED lights* (we used twine with LED lights already attached) Length of faux holly or vine from a craft store 3-inch-wide ribbon (enough to go around box and tie, about 2 yards)
2. Lay the cord alongside the vine; wrap the cord around the vine so you have a single length. 3. Holding both together, feed it into the glass block. You’ll want to get it all in there. 4. If using vinyl lettering or a sticker, adhere it to the outside of the glass block. 5. Wrap the ribbon around the block and tie it in a pretty bow. 6. Tie the smaller ribbon with bells in a knot around the big bow.
1/2-inch-wide ribbon 2 jingle bells Vinyl lettering or decorative sticker (optional)
tip
Make sure to use LED lights because they do not generate much heat!
CRAFTS | 16
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