Lina Hsu and Yeyeong Chang

Are you ready for the holidays? Now that it’s December and the holidays are here, people are looking for quick and easy ways to decorate their homes and offices. Here are five fun crafts you can create using the materials you already have at home. Let’s get ready to decorate your house with holiday crafts!

5. String Christmas Tree

Materials:

• String
• Craft Glue
• Water
• Saran Wrap or Cling Wrap
• Cone

Instructions:

1. Prepare a cone by making one out of thick paper or by purchasing it. 
2. Wrap a cone with saran wrap or cling wrap. 
3. Mix glue and water with ratio of 4:1 
4. Soak your string in your mixture (at least two meters). Squeeze out the excess before wrapping it onto the cone.
5. Start from the top of the cone. Secure the string by wrapping it around the start of the string.
6. Let it dry completely. (Drying time will depend on the thickness of your string and the environment).
7. After it is dry, remove the cone mold.

4. Paper Snowflakes

Materials:

• 12″ x 12″ paper
• Craft scissors
• Snowflake templates (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fold the paper in half diagonally.
2. Fold the paper triangle in half again.
3. Fold paper triangle in thirds, overlapping the left hand pointed corner over the triangle.
4. Overlap the right hand pointed corner over the triangle. 
5. Trim the pointed ends and form a triangle.
6. Cut your folded paper according to your templates of choice. 

3. Clothespin Snowman

Materials:

• Clothespins
• Yarn
• Glue
• Orange Mini Pom Poms
• White Paint
• Paint Brush
• Black Marker
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Paint the clothespins with white paint. (You might need to do more than one layer)
2. Completely dry the clothespins.
3. Wrap a short piece of yarn around the clothespin to make a scarf. 
4. Apply glue between to secure it.
5. Draw the eyes and mouth with black marker on the upper side of the scarf. Draw the black buttons under the scarf.
6. Put a glue between eyes and mouth to stick orange mini pom pom for the nose. Dry it completely. 

2. Cocoa Mason Jars

Materials:

• Cocoa Powder
• Mason Jar
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate chips and candies (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place cocoa powder into the mason jar.
2. Top it off with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and candies. 
3. Close the lid and attach a tag. 

1. Gnome Ornament

Materials:

• Clay Pot
• Ribbon
• Bell
• Yarn
• Wooden Ball
• Ruler
• Yarn Needle
• Glue Gun
• Fabric Scissors

Instructions:

1. Slide a jingle bell onto a ten inch piece of ribbon and tie the ends into a knot.
2. Push the knot down to the jingle bell and slide the end loop of the ribbon onto a large eyed needle (a yarn needle works well for this). From the inside of the pot, push the needle through the opening.
3. Pull the ribbon all the way out, giving you an ornament hanger.
4. Use hot glue to keep the bell in place inside the pot.
5. Wrap yarn around four fingers 50 times, while they’re spread slightly, and cut off the yarn from the ball. Remove the yarn from your hand and knot another piece of yarn around the center of the bundle. Snip the end loops of the yarn, creating a rough pom pom.
6. Add a line of hot glue along the inside rim of the clay pot. Arrange the yarn so it’s all facing down in one direction and push it up inside the pot.
7. Trim the gnome’s beard! Snip the ends of the yarn so the bottoms are fairly even and the sides are shaped on a bit of an angle.
8. Add a dot of hot glue to the yarn and bottom ridge of the clay pot. Press the wood ball into the glue.