Ring in the New Year with Crafts, Food & Fun

Looking to celebrate the new year with a bang? Here are 15 crafts, snacks, and faux-cocktails for the perfect family-friendly New Year's bash.

By Janna Oberdorf from Parents Magazine

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Confetti Hats

Burst out the fun with these party hats, exploding with curly ribbons. Tie together a bunch of ribbons and use a scissor to curl each one. Then, poke a hole through the top of the party hat and thread your ribbons through -- spread them out and let them cascade in all directions.

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Courtesy of Suann Song
New Year's Bingo

Download these one-of-a-kind Bingo boards, full of New Year's images like balloons, confetti, streamers, and noise-makers. Then, see who can get bingo before the final countdown begins.
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Courtesy of Up Imagery
It's a Tie!

Get fancy this year and dress up your holiday outfit with this silly bow tie accessory. Recycle some paper or pages from a magazine and accordion fold them together. Then, bundle and cinch them in the center and tie a bow around your neck with sequin string.
- Visit A Fabulous Fete for more details on It's a Tie!
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Courtesy of Anna and Blue Paperie
Cupcake Topper

Make even the simplest cupcakes look festive and fancy in just a few easy steps. Download this adorable "Happy New Year" free template, cut it out, and adhere it to a lollipop stick. Stand the tag on top of every cupcake to turn a vanilla decoration into a chic treat.
- Visit Anna and Blue Paperie for more details on Cupcake Topper.
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Courtesy of Kelli Crowe
Time Capsule

Capture the year's memories and bottle them up in a time capsule at the end of every year. Insert a family photo in a jar, and fill it with your favorite mementos of the year.
- Visit Kelli Crowe for more details on Time Capsule.
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Courtesy of Lori Marie: Pretty Little Things
Blowing Bubbles

Save yourself from having to clean-up the New Year's confetti mess. Instead, make these mini bubbles bottles and have all your guests fill the air with a completely mess-free celebration.
- Visit Lori Marie: Pretty Little Things for more details on Blowing Bubbles.
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Courtesy of
Party Poppers

End your bash with a bang with these treat-filled party poppers. Fill a recycled toilet paper tube with lots of goodies, and then wrap the tube in red tissue paper. Add a cracker snap (you can find these at local packaging specialties stores), and then wrap again with patterned cardstock.
- Visit Little Birdie Secrets for more details on Party Poppers.
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Courtesy of Backstitch Baby
Disco Ball

Make your own festive ball drop by gluing or pinning sequins all over a Styrofoam ball. Hang it from the ceiling to add some sparkle to your New Year's party
- Visit Backstitch Baby for more details on Disco Ball.
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Courtesy of Bake at 350
Tiara Cookies

Celebrate the New Year in style with these princess-themed sugar cookies. Bake your dough in the shape of a tiara, and then pipe on "Happy New Years." Finish with a little sparkle by painting warmed corn syrup mixed with water over sparkling/sanding sugar.
- Visit Bake at 350 for more details on Tiara Cookies.
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Courtesy of The Mother Huddle
Mirror Ball

Bring a little Times Square into your home by crafting this sparkly mirror ball and building your own ball drop. Just cover a large Styrofoam ball with small craft mirrors and jewels, and hang from your ceiling. Turn on some bright light and party under the glittery glow.
- Visit The Mother Huddle for more details on Mirror Ball.
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Courtesy of Paper Source
Paper Party Hats

DIY your own party hats this year with this glittery gold craft. Just wrap some gold paper into a cone shape, and add some bling with rhinestones and sequins. Leave a small hole in the top of your cone, and let black and white paper strips pop out of the spout. Finally, attach a ribbon to fit around your kid's chin, and add a "Happy New Year" sign on the front.
- Visit Paper Source Blog for more details on Paper Party Hats.
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Courtesy of A Subtle Revelry
Confetti Pom-Poms

Spread some holiday cheer with these celebratory pom-poms. Cut a circle from left over wrapping paper, and then cut strips towards the center, leaving a 1" circle intact in the middle. Pinch together at the top, and attach to some string, ribbon, or paper strips to hang.
- Visit A Subtle Revelry for more details on Confetti Pom-Poms.
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The Decorated Cookie Blog
Clock Pops

Ticktoc, ticktoc -- you can make this countdown clock in just a few minutes! Cut cookie dough into circles and then bake them with lollipop sticks already inserted. Decorate the face of your clock with frosting and add a minute and hour hand to show the countdown to midnight.
- Visit The Decorated Cookie Blog for more details on Clock Pops.
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Courtesy of A Subtle Revelry
Countdown Treats

Crack open a special message or treat every hour of your countdown. Start by wrapping embroidery thread around a balloon and then dredge your covered balloons into a bowl of fabric stiffener. Once they're dry, pop and remove the balloon, and then cut each circle in half. Fill the cups with treats or special New Year's resolutions, and then tie the cups together with red ribbon to seal.
- Visit A Subtle Revelry for more details on Countdown Treats.
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Courtesy of The Decorated Cookie Blog
Marshmallow Countdown

Warm up your New Year's party -- give your kids some hot cocoa and let them build their own stack of marshmallows to create an edible countdown. Load some marshmallows on skewers or lollipop sticks and use edible pens to write a number countdown. Dip them into your hot cocoa and eat as the final countdown begins.
- Visit The Decorated Cookie Blog for more details on Marshmallow Countdown
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Kang Kim

Make a Mocktail

Pump up your holiday party with delicious drink recipes that are fun for kids -- and adults.

(1) APPLE PIE PUNCH

For Kids: Mix together 4 ounces apple juice, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and ? teaspoon Grenadine syrup. Top with crushed ice and garnish with an apple slice.

For Adults: Sub 1 ounce of apple juice with light rum

(2) CRANBERRY SPARKLER

For Kids: In a shaker, mix together 4 ounces cranberry juice, 1 ounce orange juice, and one teaspoon honey. Pour over ice and top with chilled club soda.

For Adults: Sub champagne for club soda

(3) PEPPERMINT SHAKE

For Kids: Shake together 3 ounces low-fat milk, 2 ounces French Vanilla half and half, a drop each of peppermint extract and vanilla extract, and two drops of green food coloring with ice. Strain into a glass and garnish with crushed candy cane.

For Adults: Sub in 1/2 ounce vodka and 1 1/2 ounces Bailey's Irish Cream for half and half

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