One of our family’s traditions is making Christmas decorations every year. We cover the kitchen table with newspaper (the Lakes Region Weekly, of course) or an old plastic tablecloth, crank up the Christmas carols and spread out the supplies.
Sometimes we have a plan in mind when we begin; often we don’t. But at the end of the evening, we’ve each created something to hang on our tree or grace the hearth. And, more importantly, we’ve shared fun and relaxing hours with each other.
If you enjoy the same tradition at your house or if you’d like to start this year, here are a couple of ideas that use materials straight from Mother Nature. And since you have to gather supplies from your yard, enlist the kids to help and start your family time from the outside in.
Please remember, when making crafts with children, limit their tasks to those that are age appropriate. Use craft glue instead of a hot glue gun with younger children or make sure you do the gluing. An adult should use the power drill or make sure that a teenaged child has received proper instruction as to its operation.
Pinecone Angel
Materials:
2 pinecones – one larger for body, one smaller for head
An opened milkweed pod – try to find a pair still attached
Two matching small, pointed shells for feet
1 glittery, colorful chenille stem (pipe cleaner)
Thin gold braid, ribbon or chenille stem for halo
A bit of excelsior or sphagnum moss for hair
Acrylic craft paints
Craft glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks
Other materials as desired – glitter, trim, accessories
Glue small pinecone to the tip of large cone (you may have to break off a bit of the tip to make them fit). A craft bead can be used in place of small cone. Glue milkweed pod wings to back of large cone.
Using paints and/or glitter, decorate the large cone and the wings as desired. When paint is dry, glue on shell feet and twist chenille stem around top of large cone for arms. If you wish, have the angel hold something. I used a small wooden star, drilled a hole on one edge and glued half a toothpick in the hole.
Glue excelsior hair on top of head and add halo. If using a craft bead for head, paint on a happy face. Hang from tree with ribbon or fine cord.
Birch Reindeer
This craft is especially good for older children and for dads and sons (they like sawing wood and drilling holes).
Materials:
Birch branches or small logs (please don’t cut down trees for this – we found ours on the ground)
Smaller branches for antlers
Cotton ball for tail
Red pompon for nose
Googly eyes
Felt for ears, if desired
Pruners and/or branch clippers
Saw
Power or hand drill
Hot glue gun and glue sticks or wood glue
These reindeer can be all sizes. Find a small log and cut to the correct length for the body. Using a smaller diameter log, cut one-third to one-half the length of the body for the head. Cut four sturdy sticks for legs (make them longer than you think you’ll need – trust me) and one shorter stick for the neck.
Mark the body and drill holes, using the appropriate diameter drill bit(s), for the legs and neck. Leg holes should be drilled at an angle so legs will spread out a bit. Mark and drill holes in head for the neck and antlers (antlers will most likely be smaller in diameter so be sure to use a smaller bit).
Dry fit all pieces first to make sure they fit and that the deer stands up. Trim legs as needed at this time. Then affix each piece with glue.
Glue on cotton ball (pulled into shape) for tail. Glue on eyes and nose. Fasten ears, if desired.
You must do much of this project for younger children. But let the kids use craft glue to stick on the features. They can also draw on a mouth and add glitter to the antlers, if desired.
I hope you have fun with these projects created from nature. And if you have some projects of your own, please share them with me – maybe you’ll be featured in the next column. Enjoy the season.
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