Decorative Packaging

This Snowman Ornament is very easy to make and can be made from a variety of materials.  I have a friend that will cut any wood shape I want so I use wood, but you can use card stock, clay, salt dough, or just about anything else you can form a snowman out of.  I drew a pattern on a piece of paper, then traced it on to 1/8 inch wood and had it cut out. I sanded the edges, then painted both sides and the edges with white semi-gloss paint.  If you are doing them in mass quantities like I do for family members, you can put a wire ornament hook on them and hang them to dry on the edge of your table.  When dry, Take Black semi-gloss paint and paint his hat.  I used Tulip paints to make the eyes nose and mouth. The scarf is crochet red yarn but you can use ribbon also for a different look.  I put a small dot of hot glue where the not of the scarf is to make sure the scarf wont slide. Then I threaded a 3 inch pre-tied elastic bow through the top  for hanging on the tree.  You could also use a narrow ribbon for a different look.  On the back, I painted the year the ornament was made and the names of all our family members and pets at the time.

Recipe #2:

Cornstarch Dough Ornaments
This cornstarch dough recipe makes a smooth, pure white ornament that
resembles plaster before you paint it.
If you prefer a white, porcelain-like finish for your ornaments, coat them
with a shiny protective coating such as a clear thin shellac or clear nail
polish instead of painting them.

Materials
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups soda
1-1/4 cups cold water
Cookie cutters
Acrylic or enamel craft paint (optional)
Clear thin shellac or clear nail polish
Narrow shiny ribbon or pre-tied elastic bow (for hanging)

Instructions
Combine the cornstarch and soda in a saucepan.
Gradually add the water until the mixture is smooth.
Stirring constantly, heat until the mixture reaches a moist, mashed potato
consistency.
Turn the dough onto a plate and cover it with a damp towel.
Knead the dough when it is cool enough to handle.
Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut with cookie cutters. (Dip cutters in cornstarch and shake before
cutting.)
Using a skewer, or coffee stir,  pierce a hole at the center, top of each ornament (for the ribbon to go through later to hang the ornament). (Instead of poking hole, you can use
a heavy duty staple for the hanging mechanism.)
Place the dough ornaments on a cooling rack to air dry. It will take several
days at room temperature for the ornaments to dry and harden sufficiently
before they will be ready to be painted.
The rest of the instructions are identical to those for the salt dough
Christmas ornaments: File any rough edges after the ornaments have dried.
Paint the ornaments with acrylic or enamel paints. When the paint is dry,
coat the ornaments with a clear protective coating. Push the ribbon through the hole and make at least a 2 inch loop then tie a bow at the top to hang on the tree, or insert the pre-tied elastic bow through the top and pull through.

Salt Dough Ornaments
This salt dough recipe makes ornaments that look like baked cookies before
they are painted.
If you prefer to keep the “baked cookie” look, coat the ornaments with a
clear thin shellac or clear nail polish instead of painting them.

Materials
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-1/2 cups water
Cookie cutters
I prefer cookie cutters that impress a design into the dough as opposed to
cookie cutters that simply cut out a shape, but use whatever kind of cutter
you want to!
Acrylic or enamel craft paint (optional)
Clear protective coating (thin shellac or clear nail polish)
Narrow ribbon or 3″ pre-tied elastic bows  ( for hanging the ornament)

Instructions
Combine the flour and salt.
Add the water gradually until the mixture has a consistency like putty.
Knead the dough for about five minutes. Be sure the ingredients are
thoroughly blended.
Roll the dough on a floured surface, to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut with cookie cutters. (Dip cutters in flour before cutting to prevent
them sticking in the dough.)
Skewer a hole at the top of each ornament (for the ribbon to go through later to hang the ornament). A round coffee stir makes a nice size hole. Or you can embed the ends of a heavy staple in the top center edge forming a loop.
Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 1/2 hour at 325 degrees (until
light brown). (Or instead of baking, you can let the ornaments air dry on a
cooling rack for 48 hours.)
After the ornaments have dried, use an emery board, fine sand paper, or a
small file to smooth any rough edges.
Paint the ornaments with acrylic or enamel paints. Paint the edges and backs too. This gives them a more finished look. You also may want to sign and
date the ornaments on the back. When the paint is dry, coat the ornaments with a clear protective coating. When dry, thread the ribbon through the hole and leave at least a 2 inch loop then tie a small bow.  Or insert the end of the pre-tied elastic bow through the front of the ornament and pull through leaving the bow on the ornament and the plain end to hang on the tree.  Have fun!

for more pictures of these dough ornaments see link below

http://www.how-to-arts-and-crafts.com/dough-ornaments.html

http://www.how-to-arts-and-crafts.com/plaster-christmas-ornaments.html

This is an easy craft that the whole family can help with. The ornament can be used as a Christmas present from the children.  Start with a clear glass ornament found in most discount stores and craft stores.  Fill each ornament with decorative shreds of your choice.  You can personalize each ornament to each recipient by using a paint pen or tube paints with points for writing and put the name and year on each ball.   Be creative, the color of shreds can coordinate with a favorite sports team, holiday colors, shimmery metallic colors, even pastel pink or blue to celebrate baby’s first Christmas.  Then hang the ball with a narrow satin ribbon, or a 3 inch pre-tied elastic bow that will either accent the ornament or coordinate with the colors you use.  These will be a great family activity that will be a treasure for years to the recipient as they recall receiving the handmade gift from you and place it on the tree. 
Here’s how to make “easy make ornament balls.”

Materials
Clear glass ball ornament (any size)
For the ornament in the photo, I used an 83mm bulb, which is about
3-1/4 inches in height not counting the cap.
Shred (shredded, crinkled paper or metallic foil) (your choice of color)
Ribbon

Hanging Hanging Ornaments with Ribbon

Instead of hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree with wire hooks that fall off and get stuck in the carpet, why not hang the special ornaments with a decorative ribbon?  We have used many kinds of ribbon to hang ornaments.  On some ornaments we use a 3 inch pre-tied elastic bow that is easily inserted through the hole at the top of the ornament then bull the bow of the loop through other end of the end of elastic bow to secure it to the ornament.  That creates a tiny accent to the lovely ornament you want to display.  We also have used the curling ribbon to make a bow then curl the ends of the ribbon to make little spirals to add to the sparkle of the tinsel already on the tree. A delicate satin ribbon also makes a beautiful tie for an ornament, just loop it through the hole of the ornament, tie a bow and hang it on the tree.

How to make A Beautiful Fruit Basket Accented with Ribbon

A perfect gift for someone on your list that has everything!  You can customize it to fit the desires of the recipient.  Fruit is a much healthier gift than chocolate too.  Be creative; select a basket that may be part of the gift as well.  Try to find a basket or bowl that can be used long after the fruit is gone. Find one that will fit with the décor of their home.  You should put some cushion in the bottom of the basket or bowl to keep the fruit from bruising. You could use some decorative shreds to make a nest for your fruit.  Then select a 2 each, of their favorite fruits and add some mixed nuts too. Select an ample amount of fruit, depending on how large the basket is, to heap it up. You could place some candy canes in at various places to spice it up.  Then select decorative plastic wrap and lay it flat on the table, layering it in a cross pattern so you can place the basket in the center of the plastic and fold up the plastic to gather at the top of the fruit and tie it up with a wide sparkly ribbon.

Peonies don’t usually bloom in December, but this project allows you to
create peony blossoms with simple bows. Start with an inexpensive pre-made bow and snip each loop at an angle. Fill the empty spot in the middle with another snipped pre-made bow. Experiment with varied sizes of bows and ribbon to fit the size package you have.
You can also use a bunch of identical pastel ribbons — snipped or not — to
cover the top of a box. Another idea is to use scalloped edger’s to snip
each loop in a bow, then fan out the ribbons to create an abstract flower.
For a modern spiral design, a spool of ribbon and double-sided tape are all
you need. Working from the spool, make a small loop and secure it with
double-sided tape. Make a slightly larger loop around the smaller one and
secure. Continue in this manner, making each new loop slightly larger than
the previous. Cut the ribbon and secure end to last loop with double-sided
tape. Attach to a box by running a length of ribbon through the bottom loop, then around the box; secure with double-sided tape.

 Festive Fruit Wreath with Ribbon for Hanging

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Step 1
Using a hot glue gun, glue ribbons around wreath form. Making sure the
ribbon is secure around the wreath. Choose a festive ribbon that also match
your color scheme. I choose the glittery brown one because it really
represents the seasonal fruits I was using and I just love glitter.
Step 2
When choosing your fruits keep in mind the season, which fruits are in
season around this time? When I think of fall harvest I picture apple, pears
and pomegranates. Keep in mind if you cannot find all the different fruits,
it’s ok to use just one type of fruits. If you choose you can use just
apples or just pears or pomegranates. You are not restricted to just these
selections, let you imagination run wild. Using a hot glue fruits around
wreath alternating different fruits. Make sure you sure enough glue to
secure the fruits.
Step 3
Attach ribbon for hanging.

Colorful Festive Dining-room Decorating
For a fresh holiday look, pick colors from a limited palette and practice
restraint because too many colors just create a very busy uncomfortable area. Create small but out-of-the-ordinary projects with ribbon for charming creative touches throughout the room.

Elegant Ribbon Roses to Decorate the Christmas or New Years Dinner Table Centerpieces
Make ribbon roses to fill oversize glass bowls. For the roses, start with
5-inch-wide wired ribbon cut 60 inches long. A narrower ribbon can be used for smaller fish bowls if your table is smaller yet more intimate . Pull the wire on one side of
the ribbon, roll it into a rose shape, and tack the ends.

Festive Ribbon-Accented Table Setting
Colorful ribbon projects add an elegant festive touch to this Christmas holiday table. Simply
wrap a shiny and sparkly ribbon  or any coordinating accent color and texture you choose, around two plates to create an elegant place setting.