Easy Decoration Ideas
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Easy Decoration Ideas
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Braided Wreath
Use any colors you like for this easy, inexpensive gift or decoration idea.
Materials:
1/8 yd. of 3 different patterns of fabric
1/3 pkg. poly-filling
1/4 yd. fabric for bow (same as one of above 3 or a different one)
Turn each 1/8 yd. piece with right sides together and sew, forming a tube. Turn tube right side out. Pin one end closed. Now stuff each tube with the poly-fill until tube is full. Sew each end of each tube closed. Now pin all three together (all 3 tubes). Then from into a ring and stitch together by hand with small stitches so they don't show.
Make bow by folding 1/4 yd. piece together right sides together and sew as you did for tubes. Turn right side out. Tuck ends in and sew ends to finish. Now, tie into a bow, fluffing out until you are satisfied with it. Next sew onto wreath. You may wish to add a hanger - a small plastic ring sewn to top or just hang over a hook or nail so that hook does not show.
Now you can leave the wreath as it is or add some felt, dough art or other decorations to suit the holiday. This is a good gift to mail. It is light and unbreakable.
Real Bread Wreath
Make a bread wreath by braiding the dough and forming a circle. Bake as usual
until golden. Turn oven down to 150-175 degrees and dry until hard. Spray with
varnish or shellac. Add a bright bow and hang indoors.
Easy Candle Creations
These simple-to-make candles make lovely gifts for any time of the year using
seasonal cuttings from the garden - small flowers in the Spring, colorful leaves
in the Fall, tiny ivy leaves or small stickers or stars.
Materials:
Smooth-sided candles
glue
large can 10" high
6-8 cakes of paraffin (Paraffin is available in the canning department of grocery
stores)
Paper cutouts (old Christmas cards work great), decals, foil stars, very small
cuttings of flowers, ferns or ivy
Directions:
Glue planned decoration onto candle. Allow to dry. Meanwhile, melt 6 cakes of
paraffin in a can placed in a pan of boiling water. Use the wick of the candle
to hold as you very quickly dip it into paraffin. Work quickly. Just a thin
coat of paraffin is desired. The paraffin will dry and begin to harden almost
immediately. Carefully lay the candle down and do not touch it until the wax
is very hard. Once the first coat has cooled, a second coat may be applied.
* Selecting decorations from the garden: Pick very small leaves or flowers.
Place between pages of a heavy book overnight. be sure not to over dry or pieces
will not be pliable enough to bend around candle.
Dough Art
Dough Art Ornaments make nice gifts for children to give to family, teachers
and friends. They are quick to make and fun for even very young children if
cookie cutters are used. The older ones can use their imaginations and create
molded originals.
Recipe:
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups water
Combine flour and salt thoroughly. Add water slowly mixing well until dough
leaves sides of bowl, or dissolve salt in hot water and proceed. Knead on well-floured
board at least 15 minutes. If dough seems sticky, add more flour; if crumbly,
add water a little at a time. Keep in plastic bag so that dough does not dry
out. Work directly on cookie sheet whenever possible. Bake pieces as soon as
possible after completing. Bake at 200 degrees. Higher temperatures often cause
cracking. Baking time depends on thickness of pieces. Most items will take several
hours. Items should not "give" at all when pressed between fingers.
When object is finished, remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire rack.
Dough Art Glazes:
You can add 2 tbsp. instant tea to the water or add 2 tbsp., instant coffee,
cooling before adding to flour and salt. For colored dough, add food coloring
to water until water is very dark shade (dough will be much lighter). You can
also use cake decorating colors. It is much more intense than liquid color and
resulting dough is deeper in color.
Watkins Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments
These ornaments make terrific gifts. Add to the holiday tree to make the
house smell heavenly.
NOTE: These ARE NOT EDIBLE!!!
1 cup Applesauce
1 oz. Watkins Cinnamon
1 oz. Watkins Ground Cloves
1 oz. Watkins Ground Nutmeg
1 oz. Watkins Ginger Ginger
Watkins Cinnamon for cutting board
Combine ingredients to make a stiff dough. Roll out on board dusted with ground
cinnamon. Cut with cookie cutters of your choice. Put a hole in top for string.
Lay out flat to dry. Turn over every 12 hours until completely dry.
* Watkins spices
available at their online catalog, or substitute your own brand.
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