An awesome book is one that you turn to again and again for reference and inspiration. I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty (published by Chronicle Books) is just that kind of book for me for the upcoming holidays. (Don't miss that Truffled Mac n' Cheese recipe!) I initially received this book during Christmas 2009 to review for CRAFT. It's a staple now in my craft library and I turn to it constantly during the holidays for recipes as well as craft projects to do with my three year old Chloe. Now that she is on vacation from preschool, I love spending these last few days before Christmas doing crafts or baking. This project is perfect for kids to make with all those online shipping boxes filling up your recycling bin. It's also a wonderful way for them to be creative and to start creating new holiday ornaments you can look back on each year as they grow up.
I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More
By Anna Getty ($9.98 on Amazon)
Cardboard Christmas Tree Ornaments
Why send that cardboard box to the recycling bin when it can be transformed into a beautiful ornament for the tree or holiday window? This is a wonderful project to do with kids on a cold winter day (just help the younger kids with the needle and thread). The customized results are sturdy enough to survive storage for many years and many trees to come.Gather
- Pencil
- Christmas-themed cookie cutters
- Scraps of cardboard
- Scissors
- Water-based paints
- Paintbrushes
- Nontoxic glue
- Vintage beads, buttons, glitter, and other found objects
- Yarn, ribbon, or cotton thread
- Needle
Create
- Using the pencil, trace the cookie cutter shapes onto the cardboard pieces.
- Cut out the shapes and paint designs on them. Allow the paint to dry.
- Glue the beads, buttons, glitter, and found objects to the ornaments.
- For each ornament, cut a 6- to 7-inch (15- to 17-cm) piece of yarn, thin piece of ribbon, or thread.
- Poke a hole in the top of the ornament with the needle and string the thread through the hole to hang it.
