Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly...

by Joey Volschenk in December 2011 - Pamper and Play

Get into the festive spirit by getting the kids to make their own Christmas decorations.

Baked dough Christmas Ornaments

(Suitable for all ages)

What you need:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 tbs of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of water
• Acrylic pain

How to make the ornaments:

1. Mix the 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt and 2 tbsp vegetable oil together.
2. Gradually add 3/4 to 1 cup of water.
3. Stir until the mixture has a clay consistency.
4. Once the ‘dough’ has been thoroughly mixed you can make it into the desired shapes for different Christmas themes. Use Christmas cookie cutters, moulds or create your own ornament. Don’t forget to poke a hole for the hanger.
5. Bake your Christmas ornaments in a 120˚C oven for approximately 1 hour. This will vary depending on how thick you creations are. Once baked, paint your finished ornaments and allow to dry.

Tip: Do not make the Christmas ornaments too thick or they will crack when they are baking.

Christmas star

(Age 10+)

What you will need:

• Ruler
• Fine-tip pen
• Scissors
• 1 template of a star
• 1 sheet of stiff, mid-weight cardboard
• Gold foil
• Box cutter/ scalpel
• Double-sided sticky tape
• Glue

Making the template:

1. Copy the image of the star above onto a sheet of Trace paper.
2. Using the ruler draw a line that divides the each point of the star from tip to base. Where the lines intersect make a dot.
3. Using the ruler draw another line from the centre (dot) to the middle of the V-shaped base.
4. If you have done this correctly the template will resemble the star above. There should be nine lines in total.
5. These lines will be the lines you will score to achieve the 3D effect.

How to make the star:

1. Use the template to trace two outlines of the star onto the board and two onto the foil. Before removing the template each time, use the tip of the box cutter to pierce a hole where the dot was to mark the intersection. Cut out each star.
2. With the ruler as a guide, use the box cutter to score the shorter lines between the centre and the ‘V’ at the base of each arm (As on your template). Do not cut too deep; just break the surface. Repeat with the second star.
3. Next turn the first star over and use the box cutter and ruler to gently score the longer lines (as seen on the template).Repeat with the second star.
4. Now gently glue the foil stars onto the cardboard stars.
5. Take one arm of the star and, working from the tip, pinch the scored line into a sharp crease. Work around the star, folding along the centre of each arm. Turn the star over and pinch along the short lines to create sharp folds that point away from the long folds. Repeat with second star. You now have two halves of a 3D star.
6. Hold each of the halves together. Using the double-sided tape secure them together. Close at all points but one – the base of the star. As this will be the point through which the top branch of the tree will push.

Note: Parental supervision is advised.