Deck the Halls with Simple and Fun Holiday Crafts

This time of year, the holiday spirit permeates all of our homes. The merry scent of the Christmas tree, the festive sight of twinkling lights and the joyful sound of Christmas carols all combine to transform every room into a seasonal wonderland. This year, why not add a little personalized flair to your holiday décor? From our elegant and surprisingly simple sugared fruit centerpiece to our fun and festive homemade wrapping paper, there’s something for everyone in the family to create — even if you’re short on time.

Homemade Wrapping Paper
Supplies Needed:

Roll of plain brown or white craft paper (available at craft or mailing-supply stores)
Paring knife
Small cookie cutters (optional)
Washable tempera paints in a variety of festive colors
Newspaper
Raw baking potatoes

Instructions:

Start by covering your work surface with newspaper to help protect the area from paint splatters. Roll out a length of craft paper and anchor the four corners with cans or books to help it lie flat.
Parents — be sure to help your kids with this step.
Cut a potato in half and draw your desired design on the flat end, then cut the potato away around the design so you have a raised stamp. You can also press a cookie cutter into the potato and cut around that shape.
Now for the fun part!
Have kids dip the end of the potato into the paint and press it down on the paper to create a design. Once the paint is dry, your wrapping paper is done!

This easy, fun craft project is perfect for kids of all ages.

You can also decorate your wrapping paper with stamps made out of kitchen sponges or stencils out of pieces of cardboard.

Sugared Fruit Centerpiece

Supplies Needed:

A variety of fresh fruit (cranberries, grapes, pears, apples, lemons, limes, oranges or clementines, kumquats, pomegranates, and figs all look beautiful and are hardy enough for this project)
Two to three egg whites (the amount of egg whites needed may vary depending on size and amount of fruit used)
Superfine granulated sugar (if superfine sugar isn’t available, use regular granulated sugar and put it through a food processor for one or two pulses)
Pastry brush or small craft paintbrush
Wooden skewers and toothpicks (optional)
Waxed paper
Cooling rack

Instructions:

Wash and completely dry the fruit.

Put egg whites in a bowl and whisk lightly. If egg whites seem too thick, dilute with a Tablespoon or two of water.

Put sugar in another bowl. Using the brush, lightly paint each piece of fruit with egg white and then immediately shake sugar lightly over fruit, turning fruit to cover completely (use a spoon to sprinkle sugar over fruit). To avoid fingerprints, you can insert a skewer into the side of the fruit and use it to hold while coating with sugar (toothpicks also work for smaller fruits).

Put a sheet of waxed paper under a cooling rack; place fruit on cooling rack to dry overnight or until sugar hardens. Arrange fruit in a bowl or serving platter.

Most sugared fruit centerpieces will last around two weeks.

Deceptively simple but undoubtedly beautiful, this sugared fruit centerpiece will add some festive holiday elegance to your table.

For an edible sugared fruit centerpiece, use meringue powder mixed with water in place of the egg whites.