Christmas Break can be boring. If you won’t be plunging down a mountainside or sipping a pina colada as you bask in the sun, we want you to stay entertained. Maybe your brother is nagging you to the point where you are questioning just how “great” all this family stuff is. Our DIY weekend will give you some fun, easy ways to spend your time. Whether you need the perfect accessory for your ugly sweater, or an impressive snack that your grandparents won’t stop talking about. We’ve got you covered.

+CADIE ELDER & MATT OWENS

Christmas Headband

intermediate

30 min

Supplies:

headband

ornaments

festive artificial plants

holiday items of your choice

hot glue guns

Directions:

1. Gather ornaments and any other decorations you would like on your headband.
2. Be creative!

Snow Globes

easy

10 min

Supplies:

mason jar (any size works)

cotton balls/ fake snow

hot glue gun

mini fake christmas trees

Directions:

1. Glue a fake mini christmas tree in the middle of a mason jar lid.
2. Place the fake snow or cotton balls around the tree in the lid.
3. Screw the jar onto the lid.

Painted Mug

easy

20 min

Supplies:

coffee mug

oil based paint pens

alphabet scrapbook stickers

oven

Directions:

1. Place a scrapbook sticker on your mug in the position and angle you want/
2. Follow the directions on the marker to get the paint going. Make some practice dots on a piece of paper.
3. Make dots all around the sticker.
4. Add a second color if you like, but make sure to really fill it in.
5. Keep q-tips and rubbing alcohol handy in case of a smudge.
6. Heat oven to 350 and leave mugs in there for 30 minutes

Foot Reindeer & Hand Xmas Tree Paintings

intermediate

Hour or less

Supplies:

canvas

paint

paint brush

Directions:

HAND XMAS TREE

1. Put down newspaper or trash bags.
2. Pour paint onto a paper plate.
3. Dip hand in green paint.
4. Start with a base of four handprints(depending on size of canvas).
5. Slowly get smaller.
6. Finish with a star and a trunk for the tree.

FOOT REINDEER

1. Put down newspaper or trash bags.
2. Dip foot in gold paint(color of choice).
3. Wait for that to dry.
4. Use black to create antlers and red for the nose.

Trimmed Christmas Tree Treats            Easy               20 min 6 servings

Ingredients:

3 TBSP butter

1 package 10 oz. Jet-Puffed Marshmallows OR

4 cups Jet-Puffed Miniature Marshmallows

4 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal

Canned frosting or decorating gel

Assorted candies

Directions:

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat.  Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat. Add Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal.  Stir until well coated.Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1 inchpan coated with cooking spray.  Cool slightly.  Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into Christmas trees.  Decorate to your liking. 

Snowman Cheese Ball intermediate 16 servings

Ingredients:

1 package 8oz cream cheese, softened

1 package 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

¼ cup chopped chives

¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted

¼ tsp ground red pepper

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

13 peppercorns

1 baby carrot

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, chives, almonds and red pepper  till blended and refrigerate for 1 hour. Divide cheese mixture into three different size balls.  One small, medium and large.Coat with parmesan cheese and arrange in line on serving plate resembling a snowman lying down.  Decorate with remaining ingredients.Peanut Butter Balls intermediate serving 40 pieces

Ingredients:

2 cups of peanut butter

½ cup of butter

3 ¾ cups of powdered sugar

3 cups of crisp rice cereal

Melting chocolate or Almond Bark

Directions:

Melt butter in a saucepan.  Combine butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar and crisp rice  till mixed together well.  Roll into balls and place on wax paper.  Melt the melting chocolate or almond bark in a double boiler.  When melted, dip the balls in the chocolate until covered and put on wax paper. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens on the candy

Fancy Chocolate Bowl hard                   2 bowls

Supplies:

250 grams of chocolate (any kind)

vegetable spray

balloons (water balloon size)

Directions:

Fill each balloon with air.  The balloons should not be larger than 6-8 inches when inflated.  Tie off the balloon with a knot. Spray each balloon with vegetable spray. This will make it much easier to remove  the chocolate at the end. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt or temper the chocolate either by microwaving it or using a double boiler. Allow the chocolate to cool for about 5 minutes or cool to touch.  Dip the balloons into the cooled chocolate.  Pour one teaspoon of chocolate onto the parchment paper and leave to set.  Remove the bowls from the balloons and fill with a delicacy of your choice.