There are all sorts of easy CHEAP holiday projects kids (and you!) can make for last minute holiday gifts. Here are four quick project ideas for you.
Orange/Clove Pomander
One gift kids always seem to enjoy making is an orange studded with whole cloves for sachets. You start by piercing an orange with a large needle (obviously for a small child you would do this yourself). Then, poke cloves into the holes, much like studding a ham. They don't need to be tight, as the orange will shrink as it dries. Tie with a ribbon for hanging and decoration. These smell so nice and are soooooo easy to make. You can also use apples or other fruit instead of oranges.
Decoupage Ornaments
Cut ornament shapes from cardboard. Old cereal boxes work just fine as you are going to cover them anyway! Cut out colorful pictures from magazines or use scraps of colorful fabric. Paste on with white glue covering the whole ornament. Let dry overnight. Then mix one part white glue to one part water and paint over the surface. This will dry to a glossy shine. Tie on ribbons and hang. You can personalize these gifts by pasting photos into the whole pattern.
Scented Pot Holders
Cut two squares of muslin or old sheeting for a liner in dimensions of roughly 7 inches by 7 inches. Stitch around three sides. Turn right side out. Stitch three sections in the liner from the open end down.
Mix one part white or brown rice with a spice combo of chopped cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and some allspice. Sprinkle a little essential oil if you have it. Stuff the mixture inside the potholder liner down each section. Sew the open end shut. Make a cover with a holiday theme like the holly leaves shown above. Stitch wrong side together along three sides. Turn right side out.
Cover the spice stuffed liner. Sew open end shut and embellish with ribbons.
This will scent the air at the dinner table in a fine way!
Neck Warmer
Cut a liner of muslin or old sheeting long enough to fit around the neck at least 17 inches. With wrong sides together, seam around three sides. Turn to right side. Fill with white or brown rice. Sew open end shut. Sew a cover in quilted or fancy prints with wrong sides together. Turn to right side. Slip over stuffed liner. Sew open end shut. Embellish with non-metallic trim. To warm -- heat in microwave for a minute or so and check for heat. Or warn in low oven. Apply to neck for winter aches and pains.
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