Christmas Workshop

Christmas Treats

By Alisa and Mella Bedell

Peanut Butter Log

1 cup chunky peanut butter

2 tablespoons margarine

3/4 cup powdered sugar

3 cups crisp rice cereal

chopped peanuts

1. In mixing bowl, blend together peanut butter and margarine. Stir in powdered sugar, and add cereal, mixing well.

2. Divide mixture into three parts and shape each into log.

3. Pat peanuts over logs.

4. Wrap in foil or clear plastic wrap. Chill.

5. Slice 1/2″ thick.

Gumdrops

1 (8-ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce

1 cup sugar

3 (3-ounce) packages raspberry gelatin

chopped nuts (optional)

granulated sugar

1. In medium-size saucepan, melt together over low heat cranberry sauce, sugar, and gelatin, stirring well. Let cool.

2. Add walnuts and pour into greased 9″ square pan. Allow to set in cupboard for a day or two. Cut into squares and coat with granulated sugar.

Santa’s Whiskers

1 cup margarine

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup finely chopped green and red candied cherries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup flaked coconut

1. In mixing bowl, cream together margarine and sugar, then blend in milk and vanilla.

2. Stir in flour, candied cherries, and nuts.

3. Form into two rolls, then roll in coconut.

4. Wrap and chill overnight in refrigerator.

5. Slice 1/4″ thick. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375° for 12 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

Noodle Art

Collect noodels and macaroni in all shapes and sizes. Arrange them in snowflake patterns on waxed paper, then glue together with white glue and let dry. Ornaments will easily peel off waxed paper, so they can be hung on tree with yarn or ribbon.

Punch-Patterned Ornaments

Outline desired pattern on flat sections of foil pans, cut out, then punch design with nail. Ornaments may be left natural silver, antiqued with thinned mixture of white glue and paint, colored with permanent markers, or painted in solid bright colors. Attach yarn or string for hanging.

Paraffin Block Christmas Cards

Draw picture or design on block of paraffin wax with toothpick or nail. Then carve lines into wax with pocketknife or linoleum cutting tool. (You may want to ask your parents or an older brother or sister to help.) Carefully paint entire block face with water-based ink or paint. Place 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ blank card or postcard on inked block and rub surface with back of spoon. Remove card and let print dry. On other side of card write message, leaving enough space for address.

Missionary Bank

By Beverly Glazier

Make this bank out of empty infant formula powder can (turned upside down) with plastic lid. (Note: If a smaller can with plastic lid—salted peanuts, etc.—is used, reduce size of paper and number of scriptures accordingly.)

Work with other members of your family to find four or five scriptures on missionary work. Then print the selected scriptures with felt-tip pen on 4 1/2″ x 12 5/8″ piece of paper, allowing blank 1/4″ overlap for gluing later. Write scriptural references in tiny letters inside parentheses at end of each quotation. Begin each scripture with large capital letter or small symbol such as asterisk or star. Symbols can also be drawn to illustrate various scriptural ideas or elements—heart, [love], dove (ensign of peace), apple (fruit of your labors), etc. Invite your family’s help with suggestions.

With hammer, pound screwdriver through metal can bottom several times in straight line to form coin slot. Remove plastic lid and glue finished art copy onto can with craft glue, smoothing the paper as you wrap. To protect copy from handling, coat copy with clear shellac or acrylic spray. Replace lid on bottom of bank. Be sure to write the owner’s name with felt-tip pen on top of bank.

If you want to make more than one bank, duplicate copies of your original pattern. Then color in the copies with felt-tip pens or colored pencils.

Ojos de Dios

These colorful diamonds of yarn wound on crossed sticks are called ojos de Dios (eyes of God).

Cross two sticks (Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, dowels, or branches), and bind them with several wrappings of yarn. Form diamond by wrapping yarn once around each arm of cross, working out from center. Vary colors as you go to make an attractive pattern. When you decide diamond is big enough, tie off end of the yarn. Then tie tassles to ends of sticks. For more elaborate ojos de Dios, tie small crossed sticks to each point of cross and wind miniature yarn diamonds on them.

Pincushion Box

You will need: plastic or glass jar with screw-on lid, piece of fabric, scissors, ruler, needle and thread, cardboard, rubber bands, assorted trim, stuffing, heavy thread, and glue.

Cut fabric circle 2″ larger than lid diameter. Work running stitch around circle 1/8″ from edge. Pull thread to gather fabric, then stuff to form dome shape. Cut cardboard circle same size as lid and slide into bottom of pincushion dome. Tighten and knot thread to prevent cardboard from slipping.

Glue pincushion to top of lid and hold in place with rubber bands rubber bands until dry.

Cut trim into strips 1/2″ longer than lid circumference. Glue trim in place overlapping ends and covering edge of fabric pincushion.

Tie or Scarf Rack

By Helen R. Sattler

You will need: wooden paint stirring stick, five empty thread spools, craft glue, two tiny screw eyes, paint, and paintbrush. Remove paper from ends of spools. Then glue spools 2″ apart along stirring stick. Attach screw eyes for hanging to edge of stirring stick 1″ from each end. Paint and let dry.

Blue Jeans Hobbyhorse

You will need old pant leg from jeans, scissors, old broomstick or dowel, string, stuffing, ribbon, needle and thread, yarn, felt, and buttons.

Following illustration, turn pant leg inside out and tie its cut end tightly closed. Turn it right side out again. Stuff it to knee and tie it with wide ribbon, leaving long ends of ribbon for reins. Push broomstick into leg of pants that’s unstuffed. Stuff all around stick to fatten horse’s neck, and tie again with ribbon around broomstick.

Sew on ears made of folded jeans pockets. Add a mane and features of yarn, buttons, felt, or blue jeans scraps.

Santa Puppet

Cut two Santa shapes from felt similar to illustration. Sew or glue edges together, leaving bottom edge free. Decorate with buttons, pom poms, felt, etc. You might also try to make a snowman, gingerbread man, or reindeer puppet.

Cook a Frame

1 1/4 cups hot water

3/4 cup salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

Combine water and salt in bowl and let cool. Add flour with hands, working fast. Knead dough several times, keeping hands wet. Roll out dough onto floured surface until 1/2″ thick.

Cut dough into square or circle with border at least 1″ larger than picture to be framed. Center photo in square and mark outline with knife a little larger than picture. Remove picture and press with fingertips inside outline to make slight hollow.

Cut or mold dough scraps into different shapes to decorate frame. Dab water onto backs of shapes and press them around marked outline. Cook frame at 375° for 40 minutes or until dry. When cool, paint with acrylic paints. After paint dries, glue photo to center of frame.

Sewing Kit

You will need: 5″ x 8″ piece of felt or fabric, ruler, needles, yarn, scissors, 2″ x 3″ piece of flannel, spool of thread, and thimble.

Begin making your sewing kit by folding felt to make a 2 1/2″ deep pocket with a 3″ flap cover (see illustration). Sew all around outside edges of pocket and flap with yarn. Also stitch down center of pocket as shown. Place piece of flannel in center of flap and sew down middle. Slip several needles into flannel. Put thimble into one pocket and spool of thread into other pocket.

Ribbon Christmas Tree

You will need: 5 yards of 1 1/2″ craft cloth ribbon (mix designs if desired), Styrofoam cone (3 1/2″ x 9″), 1/2″ sequin pins, 2 yards of 1/4″ ribbon, and a 1″ straight pin (for bow).

Fold 1 1/2″ wide ribbon in 3/4″ pleats. Starting at bottom of cone, attach rows of pleated ribbon to cone with sequin pins (see illustration). To make bow, hold 1″ straight pin upright. Loop 1/4″ wide ribbon into small figure eight loops, sticking pin through each crossing of ribbon. Pin bow to top of tree.

Photos by Eldon Linschoten

Photos by Eldon Linschoten

Amy Greer, age 9, San Diego, California; Marcia Williams, age 6, Chuck Williams, age 4, Las Vegas, Nevada; Robbie Canfield, age 2, Phoenix, Arizona