Easy Christmas Ornaments to Make with the Kids!

Just a Few Supplies and a Nice Winter Afternoon Needed!

Each Christmas, I love pulling out the many handmade ornaments I've collected over the years. Ornaments I made in elementary school, stars I made with my mother, ahandpainted ball made by my sister-in-law for my son's first Christmas, simple ornaments from little school friends, my own childrens' first artistic attempts at making ornaments - each has a special meaning and a special place on our tree.

Take the time to make a few special ornaments with your kids or grandkids and I assure you that, down the road, these will be your most precious ornaments.

Here are some simple ideas:

1. Foil paper stars: Cut a 4-inch-wide strip of foil paper to a length of 15 inches or so. (All of these measurements are may vary depending on what size star you'd like. Play around until you find the size that works for your tree.). Fold the paper accordion-style. Stitch one end with a needle and thread (same color as your foil)- this will be the center of your star. Fan the accordion folds around until they meet - you've made a circle now. Glue the ends together with rubber cement or other paper glue and hold together until dry. Attach an ornament hanger or a thread loop to the top of the star and hang on your tree! (Note: you can cut tiny notches into the folds as we do when making paper snowflakes for an even prettier look.)

2. Beaded candy cane: Make a little ball at the end of a pipe cleaner to provide a stop for the beads that wil be threaded. Thread red and white pony beads or similar on the pipe cleaner, stopping when you like the length. Cut off any excess pipe cleaner except for maybe a half an inch or so. Ball this remaining pipe cleaner or fold it over to make another stop so that your beads don't slip off. Bend the pipe cleaner into a candy cane. Hang as is or tie a nice ribbon on it as a hanger.