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handmade

HOLIDAY CRAFTS225 Inspired Projects

for Year-RoundCelebrations

M A

R T HA S T E W A R T

’

S

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INTRODUCTION

There is something magical, endearing, charming, and soheartfelt about the handmade, the homemade. Since the veryrst issue of Martha Stewart Living, it has been a priority to

develop, design, and create, with our very own hands, evocative,personal, and beautiful objects that illustrate our love of, anddedication to, the celebration of the holidays.

Over the years, our crafts editors have been involved in theplanning and making of thousands of amazing things that speakto our celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s,and many other signicant days throughout the calendar year.

We have made untold numbers of Valentines, not only thosemeant for that “special someone” but also for children andcolleagues and caregivers, and even for cats! We have dyed anddecorated so many different eggs for Easter that we long ago lostcount, but we haven’t stopped thinking of beautiful new ways to

embellish them. We have draped miles of stars-and-stripe-covered

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bunting and ags and swags over fences and railing and porches,all to proudly display our patriotism every Independence Day.

We have made turkeys—lots of them—in honor of our national

celebration of thanks: pom-pom turkeys, gilded resin turkeys,and so many more. And you can’t imagine how many things we’veglittered for the holidays!

In this book, you will nd the best of that assortment with neillustrations and glorious photographs and clear instructionsshowing you step by step how to fashion those wonderful objects.

This is a special book for people whose ngers itch to make anddo, and I think that by completing these projects, our appreciationof the holidays and their real meaning, both religious and secular,is enhanced and invigorated. Enjoy!

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MARTHA STEWART196

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1 Begin by blowing up a balloon andtying it off. Rest balloon on an emptyjar. Dab wheat paste on a small sec-tion of the balloon and drape a strip oforange tissue paper vertically from theballoon’s crown to its knot. Using thepaintbrush, apply wheat paste evenlyover the strip. Add another strip so thatit slightly overlaps the rst, and brushon more paste. Continue around theballoon until it is covered completely.After two layers of orange tissue, applytwo layers of yellow.

papier-mâché pumpkinsThe stairway in an entry hall serves as the perfect landing spot for a set ofhandmade paper jack-o’-lanterns in graduated sizes. For safety, these beamingfaces are lit from within by battery-powered lights. A single sheet of tissue pastedinside diffuses the light and hides the working parts; oral wire and tape makeoptional stem and tendrils.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED Balloons, glass jars, wheat paste, tissue paper (in orange and yellow),paintbrush, clothespins and clothesline, small scissors, craft knife, oral wire, cotton balls,oral tape, pencil

2 Using clothespins, hang covered bal-loons on the clothesline by their knots.When they are completely dry, pop eachballoon by snipping with scissors asyou hold the knot. Remove the balloonthrough the hole around the knot.

3 To cut a lid, make an incision in theknot end with a craft knife. Finish cut-ting out with scissors. Remove a smallcircle from the other end to create abase. Mark and cut out eyes, nose, andmouth. On the inside, cover these holeswith a single layer of tissue paper(apply paste to edges of tissue beforepositioning). For the stem, push 3 dif-ferent lengths of oral wire through theknot hole in the lid. (Stuff a cotton ballin the underside of the hole; secure withoral tape.) Wrap each piece of wirein oral tape, and then wrap all 3 piecestogether to create the base of the stem.Wrap the free ends of the wires arounda pencil to resemble tendrils.

HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS GALORE

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