An upside to the struggling economy can be that more people tap into their creative side for home decorating as well as gift giving throughout the holiday season.
Jo Pearson, manager of Creative Services for Michael’s Stores, says when you make a gift the recipient knows you were thinking of them and invested your time into the gift.
“You can get the whole family involved and teach children that it doesn’t have to be a $50 game, especially this year that is extremely important,” she says.
While it might help to have a knack for crafts, Pearson says even a beginner can create something special. Here are some ideas for inspiration. For more ideas visit www.michaels.com and click on Where Creativity Happens to see Pearson’s step-by-step Webcasts.
Items are widely available at major craft retailers.
Personalize it
Making something personalized just takes a little paint and creativity. Purchase a blank apron and hand paint it or let the kids make it into their own work of art for grandma. Purchase a plain white bowl and paint the family’s name on it such as “Movie Night at the Jones'” and fill it with snacks. Buy a plastic or galvanized bucket and write “Dad’s Carwash Bucket” and paint a picture of a car and fill it with car care products. Purchase a canvas carpenter’s apron and paint on floral designs and fill the pockets with seeds or gardening tools for your favorite gardener. Don’t forget to ask an employee at a craft store for the right kind of paint for your project.
Food and fun
Think outside of the usual holiday cookies and candy. Do you make a great homemade salsa, pasta sauce, spice rub or jam? Make your favorite food into a gift. These homemade favorites are great under the tree, in a stocking or as a hostess gift. Craft stores have lots of fun containers for gift giving and everyone loves a gift that allows them to indulge.
Cookie Cutter ornaments
Pearson suggests using household cookie cutters and Model Magic clay from Crayola. The clay doesn’t crumble or stain and air dries. She suggests rolling out the clay and using cookie cutters to make shapes – use a pencil to make a hole in the top and put it on a cookie rack to dry. The items can be painted and is even soft enough that items can be added such as twigs to make arms for a snowman.
Decorate
Ornament place card holders
If you’d love to add a special touch to your holiday table turn your old ornaments into place card holders. Pearson suggests placing the ornament on a glue gun pad with a quarter size amount of glue to create a base. Hooks can be used to hold a place card. To liven up old ornaments use double sided tape and attach ribbons or glitter.
Pour out the fun
Many craft stores sell basic clear ornaments. Pearson says these are perfect for an inexpensive way to add new color to a tree, wreath or other area. Remove the ornament top and pour in a small amount of paint to match your theme. Swirl the paint around the ornament and let it dry. You can even add multiple colors. Or fill the ornament with holiday candy for a unique decoration.
Make old new again
Most people have an old wreath or centerpiece they no longer use. Use some common items to spruce it up and match it to your décor. Add ribbons, pinecones, some glitter or spray paint to give the item new life.
Simple yet significant
The days of stringing popcorn together may be gone, but Pearson suggests bringing back the old paper chain decorations with a new twist – using the fun and decorative scrapbooking papers. With pre-cut paper strips and a glue stick the whole family can gather together for this easy project. The results can trim the tree or other areas of the house.
Jewelry
Going beyond the plastic colored beads, there are now many varieties available at most craft stores. Better materials such as those made of glass, coral and pearl as well as pendants of all kinds can help to personalize a jewelry creation.
“You can make something that would hold up to something you could find in a department store and it could be made for $20,” Pearson says.
In addition to the more traditional earrings, bracelets and necklaces, beads can also be used to create accessories and home décor such as napkin rings.
