Let the kids make their own GINGERBREAD HOUSES! Cover the kitchen table with waxed paper, then fill a bowl with graham crackers, another bowl with gum drops, and another bowl with pretzel sticks. Give each child a paper plate, a plastic knife, and a tube of decorative cake icing. Watch as they ‘glue’ the crackers together to make houses, and pretzel roofs, and gum drop gardens in the paper plates. The best part is, it’s all edible!

GLITTER FRUIT is retro and ridiculously easy! Gather up all those old plastic grapes, apples, and whatever else you can find. Now, lay them all out on newspaper and spray a good coat of spray adhesive. Next, cover them with glitter. Let them dry, turn them over and repeat until they are totally covered with glitter. You can use totally silver or gold, or get really crazy and glitter them in all different colors. Wow!

Turn your favorite TEDDY BEAR into a Santa! Simply make a hat and vest out of red felt, and add a white pom pom on the tip of the hat. Then add a strip of black felt for the belt. Place him in a stocking or under the tree among the presents for a “Beary Merry Christmas!”

Rubberstamped gift tags and cards are a fast, easy way to add unique finishing touches to Christmas packages. Use the same rubbers stamps on solid colored paper for coordinating gift wrap. Whether you use Santas, snowflakes, or angels....your HANDMADE WRAPPINGS will convey your heartfelt sentiments.

There is no substitute for a handmade gift, no matter how simple or small! For the quickest gift ever, personalize a clear GLASS ORNAMENT with a gold paint pen. Write a special message or the recipient’s name, and lavish it with on a beautiful red bow....for a gift to remember.

GILDED CANDLES are extremely glamorous, but unexpectedly easy! When you unwrap the plastic covering from a candle, the exposed wax readily adheres to gold leafing as your press it onto the candle with perfectly dry fingertips. Burnish the candles with a cotton ball. Now they are ready to give as gorgeous gifts, or fill up the center of a table for the perfectly classy centerpiece.

Cover STYROFOAM CONES with wrapped candies, either with floral pins or hot glue. Make several different heights and place on a decorative tray for a sweet 
surprise!

Bring back memories, and have instant conversation starters with framed photos for tree ornaments. Make color copies of Christmases past, then place in MINIATURE FRAMES. Cover the tree with these treasures hung with decorative 
ribbon for a Christmas you’ll never forget.

Make your mantle merry, with multiples. Whatever you love to collect, will make a SUMPTUOUS STATEMENT if you gather them all on the mantle, place votive candles and fragrant greens end to end, and then lace a ribbon from one end of 
the mantel to the other.

Trace around your kid’s hands onto green felt and cut them out. Arrange on a felt banner to create a cute Christmas tree! Embellish with buttons, bows & jingle bells, and write their names on their hands with dimensional pant. Top with a perky bow for a wall hanging that will be a “hands-down” favorite for grandma!

HOLIDAY POTPOURRI is positively scrumptious and so rewarding to the senses. Punch holes in a couple of oranges with a fork and fill the holes with whole cloves. Arrange them in a beautiful basket or a classic glass bowl, along with cinnamon sticks, boughs of rosemary, anise, and pine cones for a fragrant display.

A MINIATURE ROSEMARY TREE is my favorite Christmas tree. Buy a potted tree, and keep moist in a terra cotta pot. Place near a sunny window and decorate with a zillion tiny red velvet bows for a holiday experience that will last long after the bows are gone.

Paint the sides of tin bread pans with heat resistant paints. Stencil on Christmas trees, snowmen or gingerbread men. Line with a gingham napkin to serve up or give your favorite HOMEMADE BAKED GOODIES. Don’t forget to add a recipe card!

Nothing sets a party scene like a huge SILVER PUNCH BOWL filled with your favorite punch. Nestle it onto an elegantly decorated fresh wreath and tie a dozen 36 inch long ribbons all the way around the wreath. Next, pull the ribbons straight from the wreath toward the edges of the table, for an inexpensive yet stunning impression... and the perfect place for your guests to gather.

A WONDERFUL WRAPPING doubles the delight of any gift! One of the easiest wrappings is fabric circles cut with pinking shears. Place the gift in the center of your chosen holiday fabric, cut a large circle, and gather the fabric up around the gift. Tie up the fabric with a bountiful bow.

An Elegant presentation, even for the busiest gal, can be achieved by lighting all the candles in the house just before the guests arrive. CLUSTERS OF CANDLES create stunning centerpieces if you place them on mirrors and tie them with holiday ribbon.

YUMMY GIFTS should look as good as they taste! With decorative stamps and paper, you can create cute gift tags to label your gifts, and to add the recipe. Place your goodies in a basket with a little shredded paper, cover with cellophane, add a brightly colored silk poinsettia and tie up with a big red bow!

Christmas countdown is easier for the kids if they have an advent calendar. Take 25 small boxes and let the kids decorate with stamps, ribbons, stickers, markers. Number them 1 to 25 on the lid. Place candies and trinkets in each one, along with a small part of the Christmas story. You can print it out from your computer, and cut into 25 pieces, to be read each night before bedtime. Use them year after year!

Adorable lollipops can line the edge of your sidewalk! Place 8 inch white Styrofoam circles onto 36 inch long wooden slats. Cover LOLLIPOPS with red cellophane, tied with holly, berries and a big plaid bow. You’ll think you’re at the North Pole!

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most stunning. Fill a glass BRANDY SNIFTER with cranberries and then poke skinny tapers or a big fat red pillar candle into the berries.

SANTA HATS make great stockings for a family get together. After the treats are emptied out of the hats, let everyone put on their hat for a family photo!

We’ve all heard of a cookie exchange, but how about a CHRISTMAS CARD EXCHANGE? Invite 12 friends to your house for a festive gathering, and ask them to bring 12 handmade cards to exchange. Everyone goes home with 12 wonderful and personal cards to extend holiday greetings to 12 other friends!

GUMDROP TOPIARIES will earn squeals of delight from the kids! Cover white foam balls with gumdrops by spearing with toothpicks and inserting into the ball. Use a candy cane pole for a stem, in a colorfully painted clay pot. Cover the foam inside the pot with candies. You better make more than one!

Happy Holidays!

Pattie Wack

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