A Free (And Chic!) New Way To Display Flowers
Make A Can Opener Work Like New Again
Crafting in a winter wonderland! Photo: Katy Elliott
I love the idea of gifting ornaments every year, but have been so uninspired lately. Until, of course, I stumbled upon a photograph of Katy Elliott's crafted macaroni snowflakes. Sweet, simple and easy to make, macaroni snowflakes would make a killer craft for those stir-crazy little ones. Why not grab a few little ones and whip up some gifts for the grandparents? Check out the instructions, courtesy of Stephanie at Even Cleveland:
1. Select your macaroni and come up with a few designs. Stephanie likes to spill a few macaronis out and move them around until she finds the most snowflake-like arrangements. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination (and the strength of your glue!).
2. Using a good strong craft glue and a small paint brush, apply glue generously to the edges of the pasta and attach the pieces to make your design. Once they are crafted, lay them out on wax paper to dry. Let glue dry completely, making sure to rotate your snowflakes periodically. This prevents them from sticking fast to your wax paper.
3. Using a large cardboard box, lay out a single layer of the snowflakes, making sure they are not touching each other. Spray lightly with glossy, fast-drying white spray-paint. Let dry. Re-apply in light layers, letting snowflakes dry in between, until they are completely coated. If you'd like, paint the back as well. As they are drying, give the box a few gentle shakes to keep them from drying to the bottom of the box. Make sure to keep the coats of paint light, or the macaroni will soften and start to lose it's shape.
4. Once they are painted and dried, it's time to apply the glitter. Use a sponge brush to lightly coat each snowflake with glue. Sprinkle generously with glitter and let dry completely. Re-apply glitter as needed to cover any empty spots.
5. Attach a looped length of ribbon or monofilament, and ta-da! Macaroni snowflake ornaments!
Genius, right? I could also see these lovely incarnations as placecard holders, wine bottle tags and style embellishments. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
For more crafty holiday projects, read on:
-12 Days of Christmas Crafts: Easy Wreath Alternative
-12 Days of Christmas Crafts: A Modern Woodland Scene
