Quick, Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments

I love to make a lot of artsy fartsy homemade stuff. During the Holidays I especially love to make ornaments to give as gifts, or to hang on my very own tree. Here are 2 of my favorite ideas. You can get your materials at an arts and crafts store like
Michael's or even at your local Wal-Mart.

SNOWMAN WITH EARMUFFS

Materials:

1 plain white round, glass or plastic ornament
1 fuzzy pipe cleaner, about 8" long, color of your choice
2 large fuzzy pom-poms, color of your choice (they come in a bag of assorted colors and sizes)
1 small bottle of black Scribbles bubble paint (about 79¢ at Wal-Mart)
1 small piece of orange felt
hot glue gun
glue sticks

Directions:

1. First, using your hot glue gun, glue the pipe cleaner to your ornament in a straight line. Imagine the ornament as a globe. The pipe cleaner will need to go from the North Pole to the South Pole of the ornament, just in front or behind the ornaments hanger for the hook. This is the 'headband' for your earmuffs. Depending upon how large or small your ornament is, cut the pipe cleaner as necessary.
2. Using your hot glue gun, glue each of the puffs to either side of your pipe cleaner. These are the earmuffs to your snowman. 3. Holding the ornament by the hanger to gauge location, squeeze a dab for each eye onto the snowman using your Black Scribbles paint. Allow to air-dry for about 20 minutes. The larger the dab, the longer it will take to dry.
4. Cut a small, wedge-like (triangular) piece of orange felt for the 'carrot' nose and glue it with the hot glue gun into place.
5. Again, use the Scribbles paint to dab a mouth into place, imagine small lumps of coal in the form of a smile. The larger the dabs, the longer the paint will take to dry.
6. Alas, your snowman with earmuffs is ready to be on display!

STUFFED COOKIE CUTTER FELT ORNAMENT

Materials:

1 cookie cutter shaped like a Christmas tree, gingerbread man, star, bell, or whatever you choose
1 piece of felt, 12" x12," coordinated with your shape (green tree, yellow star, etc.)
Heavy pen or marker
Scissors
2 large cotton balls
Glue sticks
Hot glue gun
Scribbles bubble paint, colors of your choice, to decorate your ornament
1 piece of yarn, 4" long

Directions:

1. Trace the cookie cutter design of your choice twice onto the felt, using your marker or heavy pen.
2. Cut out the shapes with your scissors.
3. Place the shapes atop one another, clean sides out (sides with the pen or marker lines should be facing the inside of your felt 'sandwich.').
4. Depending on the size of your shapes, take the cotton balls and pull them apart. This will be the stuffing for your ornament. Place the cotton evenly on the inside of the felt sandwich.
5. Using your hot glue gun, glue the edges of the felt shapes together. Your ornament will be like a little pillow, stuffed in the middle.
6. With your Scribbles bubble paint, decorate your ornament. Remember to let it dry thoroughly. The thicker your decorations, the longer the paint will take to dry. You can even use a hair dryer to speed up the drying time.
7. Lastly, tie your yarn into a loop, and glue it to the back of your ornament at the very top. This will be used to hang your ornament.