NOTE: I've modified the directions for this one since actually making these at a Girl Scout meeting. The girls had a great time making these!


Materials Needed:

Uncooked rice, dried beans (the smaller the better), or small plastic beads (we used rice)
1 clean white tube sock (child's size is best)
cotton balls or polyester stuffing
yarn, string, or rubber bands
medium size pompon
buttons, wiggly eyes, sequins, etc.
fabric paint
felt scraps


Turn the tube sock inside out. Fill the bottom third of the sock with rice, beans, or plastic beads. Add a couple inches of cotton or polyester stuffing over the rice. This makes the snowman's body. Tie sock closed with yarn or rubber bands. Stuff a fist-sized section of the stock with cotton balls or stuffing to make the head, and tie it closed, leaving the top ribbed section of the sock for the hat. Fold it down over the snowman's head and glue a pompon on top. Add facial features and "clothing" decorations with fabric paint, sequins, wiggly eyes, felt scraps, buttons, etc. If your tube sock has colored stripes in the ribbed part, the hat is already partly decorated. To make a scarf, cut a narrow strip of felt long enough to wrap around snowman's neck and make small cuts in both ends to create fringe.

Variation: Use different sizes of socks to make a snowman family. These would look cute under the Christmas tree or on a table or mantle. For snowwomen, add a little lace around the brim of the hat, if desired, and glue or tie a triangle of felt or fabric over the "shoulders" for a shawl and/or tie or glue an apron-shaped piece of felt or fabric around the "waist."

Variation for Christmas tree ornament:

Use a baby-size tube sock and stuff body and head with cotton. Decorate as above and use as a Christmas tree decoration or package decoration.

SNOWGLOBES

Materials Needed: Small jar with lid
Mineral Oil
Small figurine
Glitter
Super glue or gluegun

Wash jar thoroughly and remove any label and adhesive. Glue your figurine to the inside of the jar lid. Fill the jar with mineral oil and add some glitter. Securely glue the jar lid to the jar and make sure it doesn't leak when you turn it upside down. Shake the globe gently to make the glitter swirl around the figurine.







ICE CANDLE LUMINARIES

This craft came from my friend Phyllis, who lives far enough north where it gets cold enough to do this one. It sounds really pretty.

"For those of you in cold-weather country, these ice candles are like crystal luminarias. To make one, get a balloon that will inflate to a round shape of 9-12 inches. Fill the balloon with tap water to a diameter of 10-12 inches. Blow in 2-3 inches more air. Knot the balloon neck tightly. Set the balloon into an empty dry pail or other container. If the outdoor temperature is less than 25F degrees, put the container outdoors to freeze for about 12 hours. You'll want the ice wall to be about 1 and 1/2 inches thick. If you set the container in an indoor freezer it may take 15 hours.

When the ice wall is the right size, puncture the balloon with an ice pick. The top of the ice should be flat, and you'll want to chop out a 3-inch square hole in the top and pour out the water inside the ice wall. Put a lighted votive candle in the ice globe and set outdoors."







Here's a neat idea I got from the The Idea Box News!


POPCORN BALL ORNAMENT

Need:

Empty glass ornament balls
popcorn kernels
ribbon
permanent marker or paint pen
ornament hook
microwave


This activity needs the help of an adult. Remove the metal top and loop of the ornament ball. All that should be left is the empty glass ball. Fill the ball with about 1/4 cup (or less) popcorn kernels. Place a paper towel in the microwave and place the ball in the middle (make sure there are no metal parts left on the ball.) Set the timer for approx. 5 min. The time may vary according to your microwave. Most of the kernels will pop in the 5 minutes. Let cool for about 2 min. BEFORE you remove from the microwave - the ball will be hot. Take a paper towel and place on a table, remove ball and turn upside down over the paper towel. Gently shake to remove any unpopped kernels. If any pieces of popcorn fall out, simply put them back in. Now replace the metal top to the ornament. Take your permanent maker or paint pen and write a holiday phrase like "Merry Christmas", or "Happy Holidays". You can also place the date/year on it, or even write "From The (your name)" on the back if you are giving it as a gift. When the writing dries, tie a pretty bow onto the top and secure with an ornament hook.




MI CHAELS KIDS CLUB PROJECT LIST



SNOWMAN PIN



SOAPY SNOWMEN



WASHCLOTH ROSES