There are all sorts of easy CHEAP holiday projects kids ( and you!) can make for last minute holiday gifts. Here are three 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). The 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 sooo easy to make.

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. You can check out more decoupage ideas at:
https://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/fiber_arts

Play Clay Ornaments for the tree
Argo Cornstartch Play Clay Recipe and Ideas
There are all sorts of cool gift ideas at this site made from the basic play clay recipe. Jewelry, Kiddy Handprint plaques for Grandma, and more. Really fun projects for a snowy day. Go to the link below for ideas or just make up your own.
https://www.argocornstarch.com/playclay.asp

Here is their own recipe for you.

ARGO PLAY CLAY
Makes about 2 pounds

1 cup Argo® or Kingsford's® Corn Starch
1 pound (2 cups) baking soda
1 1/4 cups cold water
1 tablespoon Mazola® Oil
1 tablespoon liquid food color, or
1 to 2 teaspoons Rit® Dye or
1 to 2 teaspoons paste food color

1. In medium saucepan stir corn starch and baking soda. Add water and oil all at once and stir until smooth.

2. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the consistency of SLIGHTLY dry mashed potatoes. (Mixture will come to a boil, then start to thicken, first in lumps and then in a thick mass; it should hold its shape.) If Play Clay is overcooked, crafts may crack.

3. Turn out onto plate and cover with damp cloth; cool.

4. When cool enough to handle, turn play clay onto work surface dusted with corn starch; knead until smooth and pliable. If not to be used immediately, store completely cooled clay in tightly closed plastic bag or container.

5. Shape Play Clay as desired by molding into shapes, balls or ropes with hands. Or roll flat with a rolling pin or press with hands, making pieces of moderate thickness. (Thin items [less than 1/4 inch thick] tend to be fragile; very thick pieces often dry unevenly and may crack.) Press or etch designs into soft Play Clay. Plan to glue small pieces together and heads to bodies rather than press Play Clay shapes together.

6. Air-dry Play Clay overnight on wire racks, turning occasionally to speed up drying and make objects dry evenly. Oven Drying: Preheat oven to 350ºF, then turn oven off. Place undecorated items on a wire rack on a cookie sheet. Place in oven until oven is cold. Repeat as necessary.

7. Decorate with water color or acrylic paints, felt tip markers, colored glue, glitter glue, crayons. Let dry completely. Coat decorated items with clear acrylic to seal.

8. Store un-shaped Play Clay in an airtight container or heavy plastic bag in a cool place up to 2 weeks. Knead stored clay until smooth before using.

MICROWAVE METHOD: Stir corn starch and baking soda in 2 ½-quart microwavable bowl. Add water and oil all at once and stir until smooth. Microwave at High (100%) uncovered, 2 minutes; stir. Microwave 3 to 4 minutes longer, stirring after each minute until mixture reaches consistency of SLIGHTLY dry mashed potatoes. Complete as above.

For more ideas Check out these Frugal Living Books!
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