A Holiday Ornament-Making Party
Ornament Crafting Workshop
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.
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Christmas Cone
You will need: 1.4-inch plastic ball ornament, double-sided tape, yarn, 5-inch saucer, card stock or scrapbook paper, tacky glue, twine
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Dandy Candy
You will need: tacky glue, 3-inch wooden disk (available at craft stores), tissue paper, thin ribbon, thick red and white yarn, tape, twine
- 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.
- Fold the paper around the disk. Twist it candy wrapper-style and secure it with knotted lengths of ribbon.
- Apply glue to one side of the wrapped disk. Coil the yarn in alternating colors to make spiraling peppermint stripes. Let it dry.
- For hanging, tape a twine loop to the back.
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Cute Cupcake
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Insert the hanging wire back into the neck opening.
- Run a line of glue inside the cupcake liner. Set the ball in place and let it dry.
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These soft and fuzzy ornaments make great presents for parents and teachers alike.
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Top This!
To warm up the party, set out thermal pitchers of cocoa and a slew of toppings: colored sugars, cinnamon, whipped cream, crushed candies.
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Mug Shot
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).
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Ice Cream Baubles
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.
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Melty Cheese Man
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.
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Gumdrop Bling
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.
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Marshmallow Snowfall
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.