(-- The Beacon)
By Lesley Dawson Staff Writer dawson14@up.edu
Wrapping Paper Wreath
Materials: scraps of wrapping paper, ribbon, tissue paper, 1 paper plate, glue, glue stick or stapler.
Instructions:
1. Cut out the center of a paper plate (circle can be traced using a large mug or CD).
2. Cover plate with glue.
3. Using old scraps of wrapping paper and tissue paper, place scraps on the plate randomly (any kind of scraps can be used, cut into strips based on personal preference).
4. Let glue dry and put tape on the back to hang on whatever surface you choose.
Christmas Cookies in a Jar
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Instructions:
Mix the salt, baking soda and the flour. Layer the ingredients in a quart-sized jar in the order listed above with the chocolate chips on top.
For decoration, cut a 6 in. by 6 in. piece of holiday fabric and tie it on the jar with a ribbon.
Write the following directions on a card and enclose it with the gift:
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter or margarine, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift dry ingredients through a colander to separate the chocolate chips from other ingredients. Beat butter in a medium bowl until creamy. Beat sifted ingredients into butter until blended. In a small bowl, beat egg with vanilla. Mix beaten egg mixture into butter mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake until lightly browned.
Collegiate Christmas Tree
The Charlie Brown Christmas tree made famous in the holiday classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a humble way to celebrate the Christmas season.
Materials: a cedar or pine branch, one piece of wood for a base (or a textbook), one red ball ornament with a hook, small rocks (like gravel) or beans to put in the ornament (for weight), pushpins.
Instructions:
1. Bend branch (can be cedar or pine as long as it can be bent without snapping).
2. Fasten branch to base, standing upright, using a pushpin/staples/duct tape (whatever is easiest).
3. Open the top of the ornament ball and put small rocks/weight in it, put the hook back in to cause the tree to lean over like the tree in the film.
4. Put the ornament on the tree.
Magazine Christmas Trees
Instructions:
1. Find an old magazine and fold the corner of each right-hand page to the spine, pressing the crease well.
2. Fold the page over again in the same way.
3. Fold the bottom of the page up so every page is flush with the base of the magazine.
4. Rip out the front and back covers and fasten together with a stapler.
5. Decorate to your choosing!
Branch Christmas Tree
Bind branches gathered from the ground outside with Christmas lights and lean against a window or wall.
