Origami ornaments

Materials:• Perfectly square origami paper, in a variety of colors• Scissors• Markers or crayons

Instructions:• Santa hat• Tree• Santa• Star• Snowflake• Snowman with Scarf• Candle• Wreath with Ribbon• Candy cane• Presents• Reindeer• …and more!

Paper snowflakesMaterials:• White and blue paper• Scissors• Tape• Stapler• Glue• Glitter (if you’re feeling fancy)

Instructions:• A basic snowflake• 3D snowflakes• Snowman snowflake

Painted eggsMaterials:• Eggs to decorate (raw, white eggs)• Needle, small pin, or small nail• Thin straws (coffee stirrers)• Sand paper• Bowl• Paint• Paint brushes• Toothpicks• Glitter• Glue• A cheap pack of mini bulbs or ornament hangars

Instructions:• Blow out your eggs• Decorate your eggs using the paint, brushes and

toothpicks (for very fine work)• Allow them to dry• Remove the bulb hangars from the ornaments and

carefully insert them into the top or bottom of the blown, decorated egg

• Hang and enjoy!

Scent sachetsMaterials:• Small drawstring bags (or make your own)• Ribbon• Nice-smelling herbs and dried fruit (lavender,

chamomile, rosemary, whole cloves, lemons, etc. Get creative!)

• Glitter paint, sequins, and other things to decorate the bags

Instructions:• Decorate the empty bags with paint, glitter, sequins,

fur—whatever you like• Decide what herbs and scents you want in your bag

(and fill them ¾ full)• Lavender and chamomile• Rosemary lemon• Clove and orange• Rose petals and cinnamon sticks

• Tie bags closed with ribbon• Hang as a decoration or give to a friend

Homemade candlesMaterials:

• Newspaper or trash bags• Glass jars (mason jars work just as well as candle

jars from your local craft store)• Candle wax (container wax is best for this project)• Wicks• Double boiler• Thermometer• Scent (mint, vanilla, etc) (1 oz per 1 lb of wax)• Peppermint candies or other decorations

Instructions:• Cover your surfaces with newspaper or trash bags

for easy clean-up• There are full candle-making instructions here• When you pour in your scented wax, only fill the

container 2/3 full. After the wax has set a little and is holding a good shape, place your peppermints or holly leaves into the wax against the side of the container.

• Fill the container the rest of the way, then wait and do your second pour a few hours later

Felt ornamentsMaterials:• Colored felt• Scissors• Yarn or embroidery floss• Needle• Fabric glue• Clear fishing line• Markers• Cotton batting• Miscellaneous decorations (see instructions)

Instructions:• Bird (Dove)• Skate• Mice• Mittens• Gift box• Snowman

Sugar scrub

Materials:• Glass jar (mason jars work, as do candle jars from

your local craft store)• ½ cup sugar• Cold-pressed oil (peanut or olive work well), enough

to dampen the mixture• Essential oil for scent (optional)• Ribbon• Paper sticky label

Instructions:• Put ½ cup of sugar into your container• Pour in the oil and stir, stopping when the sugar

becomes dampened• Continue to add sugar and oil until the jar is full• Add scent if you want• Close the jar and beribbon and label it• Gently massage this into your skin before a shower

(use soap!) once or twice a month.

ScarvesMaterials:• Yarn• Scissors• #10 knitting needles• Pattern

Instructions:• How to cast on• How to knitOr, as a friend of mind once told me (using the steps on the linked page), knitting is a series of:

• Step 1: You go in the door, • Step 2: You put the scarf on, • Step 3: You go out the door, • Step 4: Before the cat throws up.

• Knit scarf to desired length• How to bind off

Happy Holidays!