Simple Crafts

Paper Mache 

Though messy, this activity is limitless, very easy, and you probably have everything you need right within your house! We have made anything from masks to decorative bowls to nests for stuffed animals using paper mache!

You will need:

• Newspaper cut into 1 inch wide strips
• Cooking spray
• Aluminum foil
• Flour
• Water
• A bowl or object to use as your mold
• Paint

Directions:
1. Mix 1 part flour, 2 parts water until lumps disappear. It should resemble pancake batter
2. Flip bowl upside down and form foil
over bottom of bowl. Spray with cooking spray
3. Dip newspaper strips in flour mixture, removing excess paste. Place on aluminium foil covered bowl bottom until covered with several layers
4. Let dry then paint and decorate!

Salt Dough Ornaments & Keepsakes

​This craft is great for a wide variety of ages! You can even give these out as holiday gifts to the family!

You will need:

• 1 Cup of Salt
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 1 Cup of Water
• Cookie cutters, or hand prints
• Straw

​
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and water.
3. Mix all ingredients together until a dough is formed. Mixing by hand might be easier.
​4. On a smooth surface, roll out dough to about 1/2-inch in thickness and smooth out the top.

​5. Use cookie cutters, handprints, or whatever you like to cut out shapes in the dough. Don't forget to put a hole at the top of each ornament for the ribbon. I use a straw to create one.
6. Bake Salt Dough Ornaments for about 2-hours. Ensure that the dough is hardened before removing from the oven and no shiny or sticky parts are left. Bake for additional time if needed.
7. Remove Salt Dough Ornaments and let cool overnight before decorating.
8. Use acrylic paint to decorate your ornaments! I also seal mine with Mod Podge to help preserve my ornaments (Optional).

Winter Trees

​This is a fun craft for a large range of ages. You can display it on the wall or turn into "to" "from" tags! This one is inspired by Art Projects for Kids.

You Will Need:

• Watercolor paper
• Water color paint and brushes
• Painter's tape
• water
• Course Sea Salt (optional)
• DIY Puff paint, crayons, paper cutter, hole punch (optional)

Directions:
1. Using the painters tape, form tree shapes
on the water color paper. Get creative with boarders, "snowflakes", etc
2.Cover paper and tape in water color paint.
Add course sea salt on top of wet paint for textured look. Let dry.
3. When fully dry, remove tape. Add detail with puff paint, crayons, etc.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

​Not only is it important to feed the birds during these winter months, it has been entertaining and rewarding seeing them at the feeders.There's a lot of ways to make food for the birds, just make sure the ingredients don't contain a ton of sugar or  fillers.
You can make the traditional pine cone rolled in peanut butter and birdseed or if you don't have birdseed, try suet cakes! The attached recipe was provided by a local mama and makes 2 9x13 pans worth (12 cakes) so it's great for gifting or stocking up for the winter. The suet basket can be bought for $2 at most Wegmans! Happy Bird watching!

You will need:

• 2 c. quick cook oatmeal
• 4 c. boiling water
• 1 lb. lard
• 12 oz. peanut butter
• 3 1/2c. additional oatmeal
• 3 1/2 c. corn meal
• 3 1/2 c. cream of wheat

Directions:
1. In a large pot, cook 2 cups of oatmeal in 4 cups boiling water for 2 minutes
2.Add lard and peanut butter, mixing until dissolved on medium heat.
3. Take off the heat and add additional oats, com meal, and cream of wheat. Mix well.
4. Spread in a 9 x 13" pan and cut into squares after cooling

Kid Designed Wrapping Paper

I've been trying to get the kids more involved in the 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 side of Christmas and this gift wrap project really got them excited!⁣ You can use butchers paper or upcycle some large paper bags. Really any big piece of paper will do! At first we made potato stamps but eventually those were pushed to the side and the kids painted with their hands, feet, crayons, markers etc. and added personal touches for the recipient. They really got into it and I didn't have to buy more wrapping paper. Win win!

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