The holidays are a special time for being with the ones we love. We hope these craft ideas will help create treasured moments for you and yours! Happy Holidays!

Happy Little Blue Bird Feeder

As the colder weather approaches, this easy craft certainly will make birds (and maybe even some squirrels!) happy!

What You'll Need
Newspaper
A paper plate
A plastic knife or spatula
A bowl
Measuring spoons
Yarn
Peanut butter
Margarine
Bird seed
A large "open" pinecone (from a craft store or your own backyard!)
A disposable camera (for use by kids during "bird-watching")

What To Do
Cover your work area with newspaper. Tie about a four foot piece of yarn around the top of the pinecone. This will be used to hang the birdfeeder. Depending on the size of the pinecone, mix two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of margarine in the bowl (use more for larger pinecones). Spread the peanut butter and margarine mixture onto the pinecone, making sure to get mixture into the "openings" of the cone. Pour some bird seed onto the plate and roll the pinecone in it. Place the seed-covered pinecone in the freezer for about an hour or until it is firm. Hang your homemade pinecone birdfeeder outside in a tree, and watch as the birds enjoy your creation!

Tip for parents: Make this craft with your children and then hang the birdfeeder near a window for some prime winter bird-watching! Give your child a disposable camera and let them be a "nature photographer" for a day. This craft is sure to warm any cold winter day and create family memories that will last a lifetime!

Snowfalls Beaded Ornament

This sparkly winter ornament could quickly become a "holiday heirloom" that will be passed on from generation to generation!

What You'll Need
Three 6-inch chenille stems (also called "pipe cleaners")
Eight crystal paddlewheel (or sunburst/"star" shaped beads (18 mm size))
Twenty crystal faceted beads (8 mm size)
Eighteen crystal tri-beads (rounded with no cuts (11 mm size))
Hot glue gun or craft glue*
Wire cutters or heavy-duty scissors*

What To Do
Make sure chenille stems are all an equal 6" in length (cut with wire cutters if needed). Twist them in the center once or use a spot of hot glue to hold them together, then spread out the arms gently, keeping the pattern flat. String the beads on each of the six arms in the following pattern:

1 faceted bead
1 tri-bead
1 faceted bead
1 tri-bead
1 paddlewheel bead
1 tri-bead
1 faceted bead

Put a dab of glue under each last faceted bead. When dry, clip off ends of chenille stem.
Glue (hot glue is best) one paddlewheel bead in center of each side of the ornament and then one faceted bead in center of each paddlewheel that is in the middle. Attach a loop made of thread for hanging. Experiment with different colored beads and stringing patterns for a collection of ornaments that is sure to dazzle!

Gift-giving tip: Make the ornament as directed but replace the thread loop with a safety pin clasp (available at craft stores) hot glued to the back of the snowflake. Embellish with additional sequins and glitter for a hand-crafted and truly glam gift!

*Adults, be sure to supervise the little ones!

Your Very Own Tribute Garlands

Linda's Tribute to Judy Garland — BY MYSELF: The Songs of Judy Garland — certainly is a masterpiece! But this craft masterpiece for you to create is about a different kind of "garland!" These fun and easy-to-make garlands are a new twist on the classic "paper chains." Think of the garlands as scrapbooks you can hang up and display. The only limit to the subject of your tribute and what you add to your creation, is your own imagination!

You will need:
Colored construction paper
Paste or glue stick
Scissors (again — watch the "little ones!")
Pencil
Ruler
Colored markers and crayons
Photos, clippings from magazines, beads, buttons, feathers, glitter, felt, … anything and everything you can think of to add to the chain!

What To Do:
Pick a theme for your tribute. Some ideas are:

Once you have your theme picked, gather all of the unique materials you will need. (NOTE: if you don't want to cut up precious photos, a good ideas is to scan the originals and then print high-quality color pictures). Now make the chain. Make strips 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. Mark these measurements on the construction paper and then cut the strips. Cut out about 30 strips. You will make a loop with each strip. For the 1st loop, paste a strip together so it forms a loop. Place the second strip through the loop, and paste this strip together. You will continue making loops, and hooking the loop into the next chain, then pasting the ends together. Make the chain as long as you want! Once the chain is complete it's time to start decorating. There are no right or wrong ways to create your unique tribute garland. Let your imagination run wild!