Glittery Pinecone Decorations

These pinecone decorations are a quick and easy craft which children of all ages - even the youngest - will enjoy. My son made one of these when he was two year's old .

You will need:
PineconesPipe cleaners (chenille stems)White glue (PVA) PaintbrushGlitterGlitter glue (optional)
Wrap a pipe cleaner around the pipe cleaner and form the top into a rough hook shape so that you can hang your finished decoration on the tree.
Now paint the edges of the pinecone with PVA glue, stand the pinecone on a paper plate of newspaper, and sprinkle with glitter. If you are doing this with a large group of children you can put the glitter out into bowls and dip the pinecones into it, which will give heavier coverage.
Alternatively, put dollops of glitter glue all over the pinecone. This is the less messy option, but it does take a long time to dry.

Frosty and Friends (Marshmallow Snowman)

Make a sweet snowman out of marshmallows! This cute idea is from the new book Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson.
Also, in the book are recipes and craft instructions for Incredible Edible Ornaments, Ice Cream Treewitches and more to inspire kids of all ages to get into the kitchen and get creative!
Preparation
Materials:
3 large marshmallows
3 toothpicks
Royal icing (recipe below)
Miniature chocolate chips
1 pretzel stick (small and thin)
8 inches skinny red licorice (or fruit leather cut into a thin strip)
1 Hershey's Kiss or Rollo candy
Steps
See the photo of the Marshmallow Snowman above for reference. Connect 2 marshmallows on the first toothpick. Push the second toothpick halfway into the top of the second marshmallow and spike your third marshmallow onto the top half of the toothpick. The toothpicks should be completely hidden in the marshmallows.
Using your third toothpick as a glue stick, add dots of icing to stick on chocolate chips to form “eyes” and “buttons.” Break the pretzel stick in half for arms, and carefully push them into the sides of the middle marshmallow. Wrap the licorice (or fruit leather) around the “neck” for a scarf, and use icing to glue the Kiss or Rollo onto Frosty’s head as a hat.
Makes 1 Snowman
Royal Icing
*An adult should prepare this icing.
Ingredients:
1 pound (about 4 cups) powdered sugar
6 tablespoons warm water
3 tablespoons meringue powder
Preparation:
In a mixer, beat the powdered sugar, water, and meringue powder on low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium, and continue beating until icing form soft peaks, 6 to 8 minutes. For a thinner icing, add 1/2 teaspoon additional water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Mary, Did You Know?-Christmas Song

c. 1991 Word Music ( a division of Word, Inc.) and Rufus Music (admin. by Keeling & Company, Inc, Nashville, TN) Words: Mark Lowry Music: Buddy Greene Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am
Oh Mary did you know?

Recycled Snowman Light Bulb

Material:Small Globe Lightbulb (bulb area almost the same size as a standard bulb)Glass or Metal Paint (acrylics), Blue, Red, Black and WhiteBlack FeltChristmas Ornamental Scraps6 inches of Black RibbonCotton Swab (Q-tip)ToothpickHow to:You will need a circle of black felt, that is between 2 1/2 and 3 inches across. This circle can be a little crooked, in fact it looks much sweeter with a little jagged hat. Cut a small circle in the centre of your felt circle, a little smaller than the socket of the lightbulb. The felt will stretch when you pull it over the light socket.Paint the socket of the bulb with black paint, using a cotton swab. Allow this paint to dry completely. Using a cotton swab, dipped in blue paint, add one dot for each eye, another cotton swab dipped in black paint for the nose and then wet a clean cotton swab, dip the wet swab in red paint, then in white and mix together on the swab. Gently dab a few dots to create the cheeks.Using a toothpick dipped in red paint, paint a mouth and another toothpick dipped in black paint to add a few scribbled lines above the eyes.Glue your strip of black ribbon, to the sides of the socket (the ribbon ends will be hidden under the hat), gluing all the way up the socket and at the top of the socket (see photo), pinching the ribbon together at the top of the socket. You need this extra secure for your hanger to remain in place. Allow the glue to dry completely before you continue.Add a little ring of tacky glue around the socket edge, where it meets the bulb and pull the hat over the socket, down to the bulb. Press the felt hat brim against the tacky glue and allow to dry.Once the glue is dry, using tacky glue add a few embellishments to the front of the hat. This not only looks pretty, it disguises the socket of the lightbulb. Everything is secured to the bulb using tacky glue only and it works perfectly.

Peppermint Tree

I just had too post this becuse my grandmother just loves peppermints!!
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Double-sided foam tape
9- by 4-inch Styrofoam cones (sold in most craft stores)
Three 10-ounce bags of individually wrapped green striped mints
Small bag of individually wrapped multicolored sour balls or jawbreakers
Yellow paper
Yellow lollipop
Decorative candle stand
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Apply strips of double-sided foam tape to the Styrofoam cone, as shown at left, until virtually the entire surface is covered. 2. Now your child can attach the wrapped mints to the exposed tape, starting with one row around the bottom and working his way up. For the best coverage and color, he should stick each mint to the tree by the rounded edge rather than with the flat surface facing out. Encourage him to mix in a few multicolored sour ball or jawbreaker lights as he goes. 3. For a tree topper, cut a star out of the yellow paper, tape the lollipop to it, and then push the lollipop stick straight down into the cone. Finally, set the tree on the decorative candle stand.