OK my kids think I have gone off the deep end this time. For a change I am having a homemade Christmas. The only thing I will allow the kids to put on the tree that we have bought is lights I need other ideas. We are gathering pine combs and sweet gum balls and nuts to paint, and of course we will do popcorn but what else would be a good family project to do? Thanks , God Bless. Tracy

-- tracy emily in TN (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), October 05, 2001

Answers

You might try mixing applesauce and cinnamin into a dough. cut them into different shapes, big or small. make sure you cut a hole in the top for string. they smell really good. you need to bake them at the lowest oven temperature until firm (about 30-40 minutes). Gingerbread cookies or have them make their own ornaments out of things around the house

-- melinda burleson-gilbert (speciallady@countrylife.net), October 05, 2001.

We like to string cranberries. They're so pretty, but they can be heavy, too. So we usually mix them with the popcorn - a few inches of popcorn, add a cranberry, another few inches of popcorn, add a cranberry -- it's really very pretty. AND after Christmas, you can take the "garland" outside and hang it in your trees for the birdies to eat!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 05, 2001.

At a craft show recently I saw a tree that had strips of fabric tied to the branches. You could cut fabric with Christmasy colors in about 6" strips with pinking shears and just tie it on the branches. It was very cute and country looking. they used maroon, blue, and green some were plain some were printed. Also hang plain pinecones all over the tree.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 05, 2001.

Tie little bundles of pine needles or cinnamon sticks together with ribbon.

Pinecone angel choir: Spray gold or leave natural: acorns with caps...pinecones...milkweed pods split open, cleaned out...a pipecleaner, small plastic musical instruments, toothpicks...hot-glue gun.

Glue acorn-pointyside down to pinecone pointyside up...glue milkweed pod section to back of cone to make wings...put pipecleaner around cone to make arms...another acorn can be a drum with toothpicks for drumsticks...one angel can hold plastic instrument...another can hold sheet music to sing...make a small page or two-draw notes on it.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 05, 2001.

Real bird's nests are lovely. Freeze them first.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 05, 2001.

Here are a few ideas off the top of my head.

Colored poster board cut in cookie cutter shapes; decorate with paint, glitter glue, etc.

Colored felt cut in shapes with pinking shears: make two alike, glue the edges together, and stuff. Attach sequins, beads, metallic trim, tiny bells, etc.

Get some of those woodsie cut-out shapes; glue together to make all sorts of fun things (directions and ideas come with the package); paint.

Make colored paper chains.

Old fashioned clothes pins can have faces painted on, yarn glued on for hair, and dressed in felt clothes to look like angels, carolers, etc. Fine point felt markers work better than paint for the faces.

Braid strips of twine about 8 inches long and loop to form a wreath. Wrap with narrow ribbon and attach two tiny felt holly leaves and mini red pompom "berries".

Wrap tiny boxes or pieces of styrofoam to look like mini presents.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 05, 2001.

Make a garland out of jute rope or other rough looking rope and strips of old looking fabric, darker, muted colors, country looking, you cut the fabric into strips and then tie it on the rope one right after the other, you cut cut it with pinkin sheers or wash it after you cut it to fray some, to make it more country.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 05, 2001.

Once I set my little table top Christmas tree up it stays up practically forever. The latest ever was May. Probably some of you have already done this: take mini pretzels, and small pine cones. Spray paint them gold. Use a larger ornament hook and attach one end to the pretzel and/or pine cone and fasten the other end to the tree. Cheap, but pretty with the little lights on. Stef

-- Stef (sbrogers@csonline.net), October 05, 2001.

This is simple, cute, and even younger kids can help. Use two different designs of Christmasy fabric (I used plaids with gold thread in them). Dip the fabric pieces (about 12" by 12" or whatever) into a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 elmers glue. Press the sheets together (right sides out) and hang them on the line to dry. When they are dry you will have sheets of hard fabric with a design on both sides. Using cookie cutters or making your own shape, cut out ornaments and put a string through the top. Spray them lightly with that shiney stuff (????) or they will get limp and sticky if they get wet. These are super easy and cute, I sold a bajillon of them one year for $2.00 a piece, and they only cost a few cents to make.

-- Julie (julieamc@eagleslair.net), October 05, 2001.

We're doing homemade christmas this year too. Go to your library- theres tons of good ideas there. Heres a couple-if you use frozen orange juice, save the lids, cut pictures from old christmas cards and glue on trim around edges with yarn, leftover trims, etc. Punch a hole and add a string. My seven year old is doing some simple plastic canvas ornaments-we got a free instruction book at a thrift store, and I'm doing some white thread crochet stars, snow flakes and, if I have time and patience, an angel. We also got a barely started craft kit, again at thrift store for 39 cents of these charming felt and sequin "Victorian" ornaments. Also good are bread dough ornaments or salt clay. Have fun.

-- Kelly in Ky (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), October 05, 2001.