Christmas Gifts

Sand Painting Note Pad

You will need: two 6″ x 9″ pieces of corrugated cardboard; white construction paper; glue; colored terrarium sand in purple, green, red blue, orange, and yellow (you can buy this in plant stores); yarn or ribbon; note pad slightly smaller than the cardboard pieces; scissors; teaspoon; newspaper; pencil; hammer and nail.

Cut two 7″ x 10″ pieces of construction paper, then center and glue cardboard on each piece for front of pad. Fold extra inch on all sides over edge of cardboard and glue down. Cut two 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ pieces of construction paper, and glue to each cardboard piece for back, covering edges of first sheets of construction paper and cardboard.

Draw design similar to illustration on pad. Also lightly draw arrow outlines of pad’s four corners.

Carefully spread thin layer of glue over areas to be colored orange only. Use scrap of cardboard to spread it evenly and bring it just to the edges of orange areas. Place cover, face up, on sheet of newspaper. Spoon orange sand over cover, then tip cover so extra sand slides off. Let glue dry. Pour extra sand on newspaper back into container of orange sand. Repeat procedure for other colors of sand.

Make two holes in each cover of pad and note paper, using a nail and hammer. Make holes 1 1/2″ from sides and 1″ from top. Cut yarn or ribbon in half, and thread one piece through one side of pad and one piece through other side. Tie two bows at top, but don’t tie them too tightly or pad won’t open and close freely.

Kachina Doll Pencil Holder

You will need: large, clean frozen orange juice can; white, red, yellow, green, purple, and black construction paper or felt; glue; small feathers.

Cut a 6 1/2″ x 10″ piece of white construction paper or felt. Glue one side of paper and wrap it around outside of juice can, overlapping one edge about 1″. From green paper, cut a 1″ x 10″ strip and cut a 2″ x 10″ strip of red paper. Glue these strips around middle of can as illustrated.

Glue on small triangle and rectangles of black paper for mouth and eyes. Cut squares of white and glue in place for hands. Cut two ears from yellow and red paper (see illustration). Fold straight ends of ears back 1/4″ and glue to sides of Kachina’s head. Glue feathers to the back of can for headdress.

Illustrated by Dick Brown