What a fun and creative painting that you can do with your children. Use tempura (finger) paint and glitter (for the tree branches and star). Thicker paper works well – poster board works great – just cut it down to size! Make one each year to compare hand sizes.
You will need six Popsicle sticks. 2 need to be cut in half – one needs to be cut at the 3/4 area. Precision is not necessary and this is a really great project to do with kids. 2 of the halves are used for the sides. 2 of the halves make up Joseph and Mary. The 1/4 cut is used for baby Jesus and the 3/4 is used for the Angel. Attach with hot glue or Elmers glue. Paint using the picture above as a guide using tempura paint. The little finishing touch on the front is made from slivers from a Popsicle stick and some taffeta.
How cool – but even better – how simple it is to make these. We like simple and great crafts – and this one is edible too. Yumm. You could use any regular sized candy canes to do this so color combinations are endless. These would work great as gifts as well.
The middle uses a cap from a two liter bottle to provide support while making this wreath. Use hot glue and attach 9 sets of candy canes back to back. Attach these to the cap first and then to the next set of candy canes as you make your way around. Hot glue the tilps of the ‘hook’ together from one to another and secure well to cap. It i important to provide a good strength so it does not come apart. This is topped with a snowflake flat ornament but any ornament that is flat would work.
Some different options for you is to back each candy cane with lace ribbon that comes out on both sides so it can be scene from the top side. Also, it the pictured wreath you could add snowflakes that are much smaller at each joined pair of candy canes.
I always love to recycle and pallets are so cool to use right now because of their country rustic charm they give to your creations. The base is made from a 1.5′ and 2 6″ x 5″ cut pallet boards. These pallets lengths are 5″ wide so you will need to adjust your cuts to work with the width of boards you have. The tall board making the trunk is 4.58′ by 5′ board. The branches are made from 3.5′ – 3′ – 2.5′ – 2′ – 1.5′ – 1′ – 8″ x 5′ planks. All are fastened with wood glue and srcews to ensure it being secured. You will not be spray painting this unless you want a solid coverage. The tree pictured is meant to be rustic so use poster paint (to keep it cheap) and rub it on with a paper towel that has been dipped into the paont and then brushed off on newspaper. This ensures it has no dark and light spots but more uniform. This will allow the wood roughness to come through. You can sand paper the edges if you want to give a more rustic charm. You can also use a very light stain over the entire project to provide age. Just make sure to wipe a section of stain on and wipe it off. You only want the appearance of aging not a heavy coating of stain.
Designing with tubing from paper towels of toilet paper rolls can be never ending. This design is very simple (and cheap YEAH) and can be made by children or adults. The tube was cut in 1.5″ increments – measured with a ruler then cut. If you just haphazardly go cutting it will show in the end product. After the tube is cut use spray paint to cover five all red and 33 green. Spray two coats and flip to other side and spray a coat to ensure a good covering. fold the tube to make a leaf design like in the picture. Assemble as shown using hot glue or Elmers glue. If you use Elmers glue use paper clips to hold together as you go and until dried! You can skip the poinsettia if you wish and glue on a large ribbon or silk poinsettia flower. Hang by using a ribbon tied to top.
Country & Victorian Times 