Christmas Kisses Tree
Christmas Kisses Tree
1 (12 x 4 inch) foam cone
Aluminum foil
4 bags (13 ounces each) Hershey’s Kisses, holiday colors
Low heat glue gun, non-toxic glue sticks or craft glue
Toothpicks
Red bow
Cover foam cone with foil.
Glue flat side of green kisses to foil covered cone. Use remaining red and silver kisses to decorate the tree. Insert one end of the toothpick into the side of each kiss and the other end into the foam cone, filling in the gaps between the green kisses.
Glue red bow on top of tree.
*Completed craft is for decoration; candy should not be eaten.
Note: I see no reason why you couldn’t anchor the red bow and green kisses to the cone with toothpicks also. In doing so, the “tree” would then become completely edible.
Holiday Soaps
Holiday Soaps
Source: Sunset magazine - December 2002
It’s a snap to make decorative soap for gifts or your own bathroom by using meltable blocks of soap, such as Soap Expressions, from a craft store. The soap can be tinted or perfumed, if desired with additives available from the soapmaking section of craft stores.
Use a disposable foil pan or an aluminum foil-lined pan to hold melted material. When pressing down on the cookie cutter to create your shape, push gently but firmly.
Cut the soap slabs into 1 x 1-inch chunks, then place them in a glass measuring cup, and melt them in the microwave. We used 1 cup of soap and microwaved it for 1 minute on 100% power, but be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions on the soap you purchase.
Pour melted soap into a foil pan or foil-lined 9-inch pie pan. Allow the soap to cool and harden. Use cookie cutters to press out holiday shapes.
Set two or three mini soaps on a dish for guests to use, or wrap soap in small boxes or tissue-filled bags for family and friends.
Christmas Pinata
Large paper shopping bag
Wrapped candy
Newspaper
Red and green tissue paper
White glitter
Tape
Scissors
Glue
Stick, baseball bat or broom
Fill the shopping bag lightly with crumpled newspaper. Add the wrapped candy along with the newspaper. Close the bag and tape.
Cut tissue paper into 3-inch strips. Fringe the strips by cutting along the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through. Glue the strips around the bag. Start at the bottom or at one side, overlapping the tissue paper. Decorate the pinata to look like a Christmas ornament, Santa Claus, donkey or snowman.
Hang the pinata. Blindfold one person at a time, aim him or her in the direction of the pinata. Make sure that everyone is clear of the stick. Make sure that everyone stands clear so that they don’t get hit. Make sure everyone shares the candy when the pinata is broken.