A Holiday Ornament-Making Party

Let guests get creative at a table stocked with supplies for making ornaments. For a bit of wintry atmosphere, suspend a bare branch from the ceiling using strong fishing line. It's the perfect spot to show off favorite ornaments and newly crafted ones.

You will need: 1.4-inch plastic ball ornament, double-sided tape, yarn, 5-inch saucer, card stock or scrapbook paper, tacky glue, twine

1. Wrap the ball in double-sided tape, then wind yarn around it until it's covered. Younger kids can wind at random, but older ones can also try a neat spiral. Tape the yarn's end at the bottom of the ball.
2. Trace the saucer to make a 5-inch-wide circle on the card stock. Cut out the circle and then cut the circle into quarters.
3. Affix double-sided tape to one straight side of a quarter circle. Roll the paper to form a cone, then trim the top edge to even it as needed.
4. Run a line of glue just inside the cone, then set the ball in place and let it dry. For hanging, add a twine loop.

You will need: tacky glue, 3-inch wooden disk (available at craft stores), tissue paper, thin ribbon, thick red and white yarn, tape, twine

1. Apply a thin layer of glue to one side of the disk, then center it on an 8- by 6-inch piece of tissue paper, glue side down. Add a thin layer of glue to the faceup side.
2. Fold the paper around the disk. Twist it candy wrapper-style and secure it with knotted lengths of ribbon.
3. Apply glue to one side of the wrapped disk. Coil the yarn in alternating colors to make spiraling peppermint stripes. Let it dry.
4. For hanging, tape a twine loop to the back.

You will need: 1.4-inch plastic ball ornament, 1/4-inch red pom-pom, twine, double-sided tape, fuzzy yarn, tacky glue, mini cupcake liner

1. Remove the ornament's neck piece and hanging wire. Discard the neck piece. Thread the wire through the center of the pom-pom, then slip on a knotted twine loop. Set aside.
2. Wrap the ball in double-sided tape, then wind the fuzzy yarn around it until it's covered. Tape the yarn's end at the bottom of the ball.
3. Insert the hanging wire back into the neck opening.
4. Run a line of glue inside the cupcake liner. Set the ball in place and let it dry.

To warm up the party, set out thermal pitchers of cocoa and a slew of toppings: colored sugars, cinnamon, whipped cream, crushed candies.

For fancy cocoa stirrers, spear marshmallows on peppermint sticks. Avoid mug mix-ups with removable chalkboard labels ($5.99 for 12, Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery).

Treat the merry makers to an appropriately ornamental dessert. Freeze ice-cream scoops on a baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. Make the hangers: use a small knife to poke holes in mini peanut-butter cups, then insert licorice lace (we used 2-inch pieces of Pull 'n' Peel Twizzlers). At serving time, top each scoop with sugar sprinkles and a hanger.

To catch this gingerbread guy, make cheese sandwiches on wheat bread, then grill them in melted butter. Let them cool slightly, then shape them with a cookie cutter. Add cheese buttons and eyes (we used a straw to cut out the dots) and a mouth. Garnish with cucumber (we shaped ours using a holly-leaf cookie cutter) and cherry tomatoes.

Have an assortment of gumdrops or other soft candy on hand and let kids string them into necklaces to take home. Use dental floss and a metal yarn needle.

To dress up your hot-cocoa bar, use a needle to string large and mini marshmallows on fishing line. Hang the strings with painter's tape or removable poster tack.