Christmas

Merry Christmas Wishes
From 101lifeStyle.com

Easy Christmas Crafts:

Here are some easy Christmas Crafts which we hope you have fun making and using:

6.Handmade Holiday Giftbags:

Materials Needed:
1 yd. plus 2" (44" wide) holiday fabric; 2 yds. (3/8" wide ribbon for trim; 5 1/4 yds. (1" wide) ribbon; thread to match.
Method:
Cut two rectangles (16" by 9 1/2") for front and back of each bag. Sew a double row of 3/8" wide ribbon rim to narrow end of front rectangle, placing rows 6" and 7" from top raw edge. Pin front and back with right sides facing, and stitch around sides and bottom using a 5/8" seam. Turn. Turn under 2 inches around top edge of bag; press. Make channel around top by sewing two parallel rows of zigzag stitching 1" and 1 3/4: from top fold. Using small, sharp scissors, cut a slit through only top layer of fabric at each side seam (between two zigzagged rows). Cut two 22" lengths of 1" wide ribbon; thread through channels.

7.Holiday Bells:

Materials Needed:
Evergreen boughs; hot glue gun and glue sticks; 2-3" wide red velvet ribbon; sweet balls or acorns or tiny pine cones (enough to cover all 3 bells); high gloss wood-tone spray paint; crafting wire;
Method:
Create a sheaf (background) from the evergreen boughs by placing them angled one over the other and secure with wire. Trace 3 circles on a piece of newspaper or construction paper the size you want for the bottom of each bell. Three different sizes have a nice effect. Following the outline of the circles, glue sweet balls (or acorns or small pine cones) together in a circular fashion from base to top. Continue grouping the and gluing the balls in circular layers of decreasing size to form the bell shapes. Allow finished bells to dry overnight, then spray them with a glossy wood-tone paint. For the clappers, cut 3-18" lengths of wire and attach a large sweet ball to one end. Insert other end of wire up through top of bell. Wire the bells to the pine branches and finish with a red bow and cascading ribbon.

8.Pomander Balls:

Materials Needed:
Scraps of lace strip or ribbon; Lemons, oranges and limes; small bead pins; nail or skewer; whole cloves;
Method:
Take the lace or ribbon strips and divide the fruit into quarters by tacking the lace or ribbon in place at top and bottom of fruit with pins. Use the skewer or nail to start holes in the fruit to place cloves. Cover each quarter section with whole cloves in rows. Add a ribbon hanger at top for hanging.

9.Sugar Ornaments:

Materials Needed:
3 tbs. egg white; 3 cups white granulated sugar. Icing Recipe: 1 1/2 tbs. egg white; 1/8 tsp. cream of tartar; 1 cup confectioners sugar. Food coloring. Petit-Four molds or cookie cutters. Narrow ribbon. Cake sprinkles and or small candies.
Method:
Whip 3 tbs. egg whites until stiff. Fold in 3 cups of granulated sugar. Divide into 3 or 4 equal parts. Add a few drops of food coloring. Cover bowls with several layers of damp cloth when not in use. Use petit-four molds or cookie cutters of different shapes and pack damp sugar mix tightly into mold. Scrape off surface evenly with knife. Turn out onto cookie sheet by tapping the mold or cutter. Take each ornament shape and carefully scoop out the center of the form until a shell 1/4" thick is left. Reuse the scraped out sugar mix (10 ornaments may be made with this recipe). Place hollow side up on cookie sheet. Allow to dry overnight. Sift sugar and cream of tartar. Add egg white. Set mixer at medium and blend until thoroughly blended. Then turn to high speed. Mix until stiff points form and hold. Cover with several layers of damp cloth to keep soft for several hours. Make loops of narrow ribbon and knot the ends. Use icing to cement loop between forms and seal edges of forms. Divide remaining icing into small bowls and add different shades of food coloring. Decorate with colored icing, candies, silver dragees, non pareils, stars, etc.

10.Basket Ornaments:

Materials Needed:
1 small novelty basket for each ornament; 2 large cotton balls; 2 miniature pine cones; two to 4 holly berries; 1 miniature ornament; small bow; 1 artificial or real wrapped holiday candy; hot glue gun and glue sticks; metallic thread for hanging.
Method:
Spread the cotton balls apart a bit and glue to inside bottom of basket (To create a snow base). Glue miniature ornament to center of basket on top of cotton bed. Glue candy, pine cones and berries inside basket on top of cotton as desired. Glue small bow to top center of basket handle or side of basket. String with metallic thread for hanging.