My DD has been making Christmas ornaments for family and friends for as long as I can remember. We always have used clear glass bulbs and decorated or filled them with stuff. She's used potpourri, garland, paint, and glitter. This year we were going to pop popcorn in them, but I've experimented with three and the popcorn either doesn't all pop, or it burns and looks terrible.

So here I am with 32 glass bulbs and no new ideas! Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

-- Lisa in WI (lehman16NOSPAM@vbe.com), November 25, 2001

Answers

Now,don't laugh! How about coloring dry rice and adding those small candies that are put on Christmas cookies. They are red and green I think. Or experiment with cereals like Cheerios, rice krispies or any interesting shaped cereal. I don't know how to color rice, but I'll bet that someone here will know!

-- Ardie/WI (Lisa's Mom) (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

I am not crafty, but are you popping the popcorn inside the bulbs??? could you pop it then break it up and put it in after it is popped. forgive me if I misunderstood your premise, but I am generally clue- less with crafts!!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 25, 2001.

I had another thought! How about uncooked pasta. It comes in interesting shapes! (Imagine trying to stuff cooked pasta in those glass bulbs! Yuck!)

-- Mom (meagain@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

How's this?

Grinch Lightbulb:

http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/momandmecrafts/GrinchInstructions.html

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

You might try sand with tiny sea shells, ribbons, I like the rice kripies, or colored rice ideas.

-- mindy (speciallady@countrylife.net), November 26, 2001.

I bought about 50 glass bulbs last year after season for pennies. I have painted on them all year. I just use regular apple barrel paints and personalize each bulb.Some I paint with winter pictures, some I put paint inside and swirl around and then use glitter. The most popular are the winter log cabin picures.You can paint anything though.

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), November 27, 2001.

Thank you everyone for your responses! I'm still experimenting with items but am still up in the air as to what she can do with all these ornaments in such a short time.

On a side note, last year I made some penguin ornaments from recycled lightbulbs. These are really cute and were very well liked by the recipients (right Mom?).

-- Lisa in WI (lehmanNOSPAM@vbe.com), November 27, 2001.

Right!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 28, 2001.