Handcrafted Holiday - Big Y® World Class Market®

Create Memories Beautiful Holiday Decorations

Spending time with family is what the holidays are all about, but there are only so many carols you can sing before the little ones get bored. Why not let them help you create dazzling decorations for your home? You’ll get to spend time with those you love and save money, too. Plus, you’ll have a great new tradition for the holiday season when you pull out your handcrafted items and reminisce about all the fun you had making them.

Star-Studded Holiday Tree

What You’ll Need:

• Plates, cups or lids in diminishing sizes — anything you can use to trace a circular pattern to create the branches for the tree

• 6 sheets of construction paper, in your choice of colors

• 1 pencil for tracing circles

• Scissors

• Craft glue

• Stapler (optional)

• 1 wooden dowel, about 1⁄8 inch in diameter, cut to about 12 inches long

• 1 aluminum can (about 14 oz.), emptied and washed out

• Glass marbles or pennies

• 6 rubber bands

• Assorted spangles and sequins

• 1 sheet of yellow construction paper

Using the plates, cups or lids, trace a circle onto each piece of construction paper, then cut the circles out.

On each circle, make a straight cut from the edge to the center and cut a small circle, about 1/8 inch, in the center.

To create the branches, pull the cut edges of each circle together until they overlap slightly, making a cone shape. Glue or staple the edges together, making sure to leave a center hole large enough to fit snugly over the dowel.

Place the dowel in the center of the can, then fill the can with marbles or pennies to hold the dowel upright.

Wrap a rubber band tightly around the dowel, then slide it down to about 1 inch above the rim of the can. Place the largest circle on the dowel; the rubber band will keep it in place. Repeat this step for the next five branches, taking care to space them out evenly.

Using craft glue, attach the spangles and sequins to the circles.

To make the star, fold the yellow paper in half. Draw a 2-inch star and cut it out (you should have two identical stars). Glue star shapes together on each side of the top of the dowel. Then decorate the star with spangles and sequins.

Traditional Popcorn & Cranberry Strands

First, make sure you have enough unbuttered popcorn and fresh cranberries to make a garland that will wrap around your tree.

Thread strong floss, string or fishing line through an embroidery needle and carefully string on alternating pieces of popcorn and cranberries until your garland is of sufficient length. When finished, knot the garland at both ends to secure the decorations.

You are now ready to hang your garland. The white popcorn and the dark red of the cranberries will complement the dark green tree, making for a memorable and homemade Christmas tradition.

“Christmas Cookie” Wreath

It may look good enough to eat, but this adorable wreath is for decoration only! Also: Be sure to keep it indoors.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 cups Big Y all-purpose flour

• 1 cup Big Y salt

• 1 1⁄2 cups water

• Cookie cutters

• Styrofoam wreath, 12 inches in diameter

• Wide white satin ribbon

• Glue gun

• Acrylic and foam paints

• Brushes

• Glitter

• Satin or velvet bow

• Small hook or ribbon for hanging

Preheat oven to 300‹F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and water. Knead well with your hands for 5 minutes. You may need to add more water if the mixture cracks when squeezed into a small ball.

Using a rolling pin, roll sections of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters; place on a cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake for 1 hour or until dry. Let ornaments dry completely before decorating.

Makes 25-50 ornaments (depending on the size of the cookie cutters).

Assembling your wreath:

Start by getting creative and decorating the cutouts as desired, using the paint as your “frosting.” Use the foam paint to create the dimensional effects of piped icing and glitter as your “sugar.” Once decorated, let cutouts dry thoroughly, preferably overnight. Wrap the ribbon around the wreath, covering it completely and secure it with a glue gun.

Lay the cutouts on the wreath — don’t glue them yet — to see how it will look. Try stacking them in layers and alternating shapes and sizes to create a pleasing pattern and dimension. Once you’re satisfied, use your glue gun to attach the cutouts to the wreath, starting with the bottom layers. Glue the bow to the wreath as a finishing touch. Attach a hook or additional ribbon to the back of the wreath for hanging — and enjoy!

Festive Holiday Lanterns

What You’ll Need:

• Empty cans - one for each light (small cans from sweetened condensed milk work well)

• Several nails of different sizes

• Nail set punch (you can find one at your hardware store)

• Hammer

• Design templates

• Floral wire

• Pine garland

• Battery-operated mini lights

Remove wrappers from the cans and wash them thoroughly. Fill with water and freeze. When the water is completely frozen, you’re ready to start. The ice creates enough resistance inside the can so that it doesn’t crumble when you’re punching designs into it with a hammer and nails.

Take a pattern and tape it around the can. Using a hammer, punch nails

into the can along the lines of the pattern, just enough to break through the metal (using a towel on your work area will help hold the can while you’re working). If desired, you can use different-size nails for a varied effect. If the ice starts melting, place the can back in the freezer for a 1/2 hour or so — you won’t be able to add more water once you have started punching holes in the can!

When you have completed the pattern, remove the template and melt the ice by running the can under warm water. Punch 2 holes in the sides of each can with the nail set punch; the holes should be just large enough to thread floral wire through them. Twist floral wire together at the ends to create a loop for hanging the lantern. Finally, place one battery-operated mini light inside each can, and hang on a secured, decorated garland.