Make a Nutcracker Christmas Card

 "Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man ? and then he will spoil his house." Matthew 12:29

This Christmas card only requires a bit of printing,
 folding and pasting. I chose a traditional red and
 green plaid paper for the card, printed out the
 graphic below and pasted a few little corners
 onto the edges of the graphic to hold it onto the
 front of my card.

Description: Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time, a season of which they have long been a traditional symbol. The ballet The Nutcracker derives its name from this festive holiday decoration. The original nutcrackers were first seen in Germany and were thought to have guardian-like properties because of their strong appearance.

Supplies:

• decorative red and green plaid paper
• corner punch
• graphic of two nutcrackers by Kathy Grimm
• glue
• scissors 
• heavier white cardstock

Directions:

1.  Print the nutcracker graphic out to the size that you prefer.
2. Mount the graphic with glue on top of the decorative plaid paper.
3. Punch four embossed corners from either white, red, or green solid colored paper and then glue these at the four corners of your printed graphic.
4. Glue the picture on top of a folded sheet of heavier cardstock.
5. Below is one of many Christmas themed graphics I have produced in color pastel pencils, German nutcrackers are some of my favorite subjects to draw for holiday greetings. These two nutcrackers are very traditional, a soldier and a beer drinker dressed up in lederhosen.

Nutcrackers dressed as a soldier
and one in lederhosen.

What kinds of written things might I include along with the card? Quotes:

"Of all the toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it make a sound when you jump on it." by Stephen Baker

"The creative process is like music which takes root with extraordinary force and rapidity" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Illustration:  Playfulness is a more important consideration than play. The former is an attitude of mind; the latter is a passing outward manifestation if this attitude. When things are treated simply as vehicles of suggestion, what is suggested overrides the thing. Hence the playful attitude is one of freedom. The person is not bound to the physical traits of things, nor does he care whether a thing really means (as we say) what he takes it to represent. When the child plays horse with a broom and cars with chairs, the fact that the broom does not really represent a horse, or a chair a locomotive, is of no account. In order, then, that playfulness may not terminate in arbitrary fancifulness and in building up an imaginary world alongside the world of actual things, it is necessary that the play attitude should gradually pass into a work attitude. -- John Dewey, "How We Think."

More Nutcracker Links:

• The above nutcrackers in red or green monochrome graphics
• Three nutcrackers: smoker, baker and a drummer graphics here
• See hand painted wooden nutcracker ornaments here
• Nutcracker Dolls at our Doll Coloring and Crafts Blog
• Learn about the history of the Nutcracker Ballet

Poetry:

He begged me for the little toys at night,

That I had taken, lest he play too long,

The little broken toys-his sole delight.

I held him close in wiser arms and strong,

And sang with trembling voice the even-

song.

Reluctantly the drowsy lids drooped low,

The while he pleaded for the boon denied.

Then, when he slept, sweet dream, content

to know,

I mended then and laid them by his side

That he might find them in the early light,

And wake the gladder for this joyous sight.

So, Lord, like children, at the even fall

We weep for broken playthings, loath to

part,

While Thou, unmoved, because Thou know-

est all,

Dost fold us from the treasures of out

heart;

And we shall find them at the morning-tide

Awaiting us, unbroke and beautiful.

--Ainslee's Magazine.

Wow, that's a lot of nutcrackers! They are the 

Defenders of the home and hearth from 

mice, burglars and such . . .  at Christmas time.

"Star of Wonder" Christmas Card

 "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult." Numbers 24:17

An example card design for the 
clipart.

Description: Strange as though it may seem to some of you who live far away, stars and snowflakes are traditional decorations used by folks here, during Christmas in the Midwestern United States. This is because Christians celebrate the Savior's birth during the colder months, even though Christ was actually born sometime during our summer according to many bible scholars.

Supplies:

• snowflake themed paper
• snowflake paper punch
• graphic of a Mexican folk nativity
• pale blue, white and gold tissue papers
• glue
• scissors

Directions:

1. Cut the snowflake themed paper to match the size of any envelopes you may have on hand.
2. Then punch a selection of snowflakes from the white and gold tissue papers.
3. Print out the star graphic provided below.
4. Type and print inside of a WordDocument, "Star of Wonder" and then print this out in blue ink onto pale blue paper.
5. Glue the printed Mexican folk star on top of gold tissue paper and then cut a little fringe around the outside edge of the star.
6. Glue down these elements in a pleasing design on top of the fancy snowflake paper.
7. Glue this entire picture on top of an additional sheet of pale blue paper to make your finished Christmas card.

Printable Star of Bethlehem.

Quotes:

• "Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love." by Lucinda Franks
• "Selfishness makes Christmas a burden, love makes it a delight." Unknown
• "Take Christ out of Christmas, and December becomes the bleakest and most colorless month of the year." by A. F. Wells

Illustration:   There once lived a family in the South whose rigid rule sent the children to bed at sundown and made them rise after daylight. One of the boys grew to the age of seven years before he ever saw the stars, and when he was carried out one dark night and caught a glimpse of the glorious constellations, he exclaimed rapturously to his mother: "Look! Look! Did you ever see anything so beautiful?"

       The return of Christmas brings into view the Star of Bethlehem. How many human eyes have never yet seen this Star!

Poetry:

Hymns of the Feast

Your birth, O Christ our God,

dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth.

For by Your birth those who adored stars

were taught by a star

to worship You, the Sun of Justice,

and to know You, Orient from on High.

O Lord, glory to You.

"Star of Wonder" by SarahZunigaMusic

Letter From Denmark

 A Letter from Denmark Christmas Eve in the Country Long Ago 
ERIK AND ELSE BY MARTHA C. MOLLER

"Oh, Christmas dear! thy starlight

 Can reach the poorest place,

 And the eyes of little children

 Reflect its gentle rays!"

       Mother was singing this verse behind that shut, mysterious door to the room where just now she had finished the decking of the Christmas tree; while the children were in the dining room in the twilight, listening and waiting. "Else, I say, it will really be Christmas Eve now, in a moment, won't it?" Erik said, and he added, "for-tu-nate-ly it will!" with a funny, emphatic stress on that long word, his byword at the time. Erik used it, differently accentuated, on all occasions, both when things were really all right as when he had got into some scrape or other and had barely managed to slink through. Boys are sure to get into a fix sometimes, are not they?

       Darkness came on still more. The children, leaning against the window sill, were intently watching "Hans Cowman," the old herdsman, who passed the yard with his swinging lantern that seemed to jerk along the barns, disappearing at last through the stable door.

       According to old customs all the cattle of the farm were to have an ample extra supply on Christmas Eve, so that every crib could be full on that holy night.

       At length Hans and his lantern vanished into the groom's chamber, through the pane of which the children could see him stand before a broken bit of looking-glass water combing his hair energetically, as the most festive preparation he could think of.

       The children's clear-sighted eyes could still discern the "bird's sheaf" on its high pole in the center of the yard. It was an old custom that the birdies should also have their feast during merry Christmas time; and the children were always eager to have that sheaf raised, so that they might run out in o the yard and sing a little verse they knew by heart, intending it to be a kind invitation to the birdies:

"Joy is a guest on earth to-day

With the new-born King from above!

Fly down from the roof, little Sparrow gray,

To a Christmas feast with the Dove!"

       But no pressing was needed, for all day long one heard a twitter and a rush of busy, flapping wings, birds flying gladly to and fro. Also the children had been very busy all day long. They had to help their mother in dealing out goods to some poor women who were accustomed to come with their baskets on Christmas Eve and fetch their portions of pork, grits, coffee and white bread. And to the old and sick ones, lying in their beds at home, Else and Erik had taken good parcels and had been recompensed by small bits of sugar candy or some spice nuts, as nobody was allowed to go fasting or empty handed out of any house, lest he should carry Christmas itself out of the house."

       Having come back from this round the children had found it most entertaining to stay for awhile in the kitchen, watching Ann, the cook, who was baking quantities of a sort of "apple dumplings," solid and roundish like little balls. Light brown and hot she piled them on earthenware dishes. Heaps of them were required, "for Christmas lasts long.' Besides, each of the servants was entitled to have plenty of his own, the more so as they used them as a sort of "play money," staking them when playing at cards. Nor were the men servants over-particular in the handling of these dear dumplings. For when they had "kept accounts," writing with a piece of chalk on the table top, they would simply wipe it out again with the dumplings, to put them gladly into their trousers' pockets at last.

       But the children thought that the servants' hall was a "funny" place, where they liked to go and have a jolly time.

       Then Ann began to prepare the festive supper. While the goose was roasting in the oven she cooked the rice pudding, and now came an exciting moment! For the children were allowed themselves to "plum the three almonds into the pudding," and the lucky one who found an almond in his portion while eating it would win the nicest of marcipan things, or even a real present! For last year Else had had a small cup and saucer.

       The pudding being done Ann filled an earthen dish from the big pot and made a large butter hole in the center. That was to be supper for "the brownie, "- -on Christmas Eve he must not be forgotten. "And last year he ate up every bit of it!" Ann was most positive about that. Erik ran after Ann to see her place the dish at the hayloft; but, oh, look! what's that? A pair of yellow eyes are shining out from that dark nook near the chaff bin! Erik felt just a bit creepy, but he was comforted by seeing a stiff, gray tail sticking out near the eyes. Aha! it was only Pussy!

        Indeed, there was no doubt about that porridge being eaten up, "every bit of it."

       There was still another thing which on Christmas Eve ought never to be forgotten, the placing of a burning candle on the window sill of the lobby. For nobody must be out of doors, poor and forsaken, on this holy night; nobody must walk his lonely way home- less and sorrowful! Therefore lights are burning behind clear panes in the scattered houses; starlike they are shining out brightly into the darkness, as a kind welcome to every wanderer.

       All these things came into the children's mind again, while waiting; but just when they were beginning to feel almost a little sad, a lamp was brought in and the maidservants entered, so nice and smart in their clean, white aprons. The coachman, Jens, and the water-combed Hans were following sedately.

        At this very moment the doors to the big room flew open and there it stood, that wonderful Christmas tree! It was illuminated with lights, hung with tiny red apples, and its branches were covered with sparkling silver threads!

       A joyful yet solemn feeling reigned in the room at first, while mother played the hymns and all the others sang them, walking around the tree.

       Father then made the children look at the golden star at the top of the tree, which was to remind us, he said, of the Bethlehem star leading people to find the sweet Christ-child. And then the children's exultant joy broke forth irresistibly, and each ran to find his own gifts. Erik's eyes grew bigger and bigger at the sight of a veritable rocking-horse.

       "Hurrah! fortunately I have got it!" he cried. Be sure he was in the saddle at once, and how glad he felt you will see from the picture! Little Else had the sweetest baby doll, with a cherry mouth, oh, such a dear! And so very convenient that the baby brought its own bottle and bag.

       Also Hans Andersen's fairy tales with their funny pictures were there, and heaps of other lovely things. They laughed and chatted and made such a noise!

       Baby sister only sat perfectly still, near mother; she stared incessantly at the tree, the lights of which were reflected in her big, blue eyes.

       At last the Christmas candles burned down and the happiest night of all the year had come to an end.

       The children were about to go to bed. The horse had been stabled for the night close to Erik's bed, so near that his hand could hold the rein. Else, on her bare feet, stole to the window once more to stare out into the darkness, a habit dear to her as to most true coun- try children. There was a star gleaming faintly above the big old lime tree, and Erik, from his bed, suggested it might even be "the Beth- lehem star itself." "No," Else said, "I think that one was greater and far more radiant, to guide the shepherds. Mind, father said one day that all children might come to see it!"

       Yes, for-tu-nate-ly," it came in a sleepy voice from the trellis bed; and shortly after- wards Erik was sound asleep, his brown little fist squeezing the rein of the rocking-horse.

       At daybreak on Christmas Day all the church bells were ringing, and the organ was playing while people sang the old hymn:

"All bells on Christmas morning blest

Are chiming for the Royal Guest,

Who would on men, so poor and low,

His gifts of peace and joy bestow!"

This is a DoJi Film: A Modern Christmas in Denmark.

Color all of the Christmas gifts beneath the tree . . .

Description of Coloring Page: Christmas tree, dolls, candles, baubles, barrel stand, star, ark, horse on wheels, top balloon, toy animals, toy cars

• Color a Christmas tree for your dolls now . . . 
• Here is another Christmas tree you can color too!

       Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Make a fishy walnut ornament...

A walnut goldfish swimming between
the branches of a Christmas tree.

        This sweet little goldfish was made by using a half walnut shell. Goldfish come in all shapes and colors so, naturally you may wish to customize your own version. 

• Watch these goldfish to get ideas about how to paint them... and Frankie and French Fry here
• See our goldfish shaped Easter eggs with craft instructions here
• Read about how we made an entire school of "Rainbow Fish"

Supply List:

• one white bead for the fish eye
• scrap cardboard
• tacky white glue
• acrylic paints - black, white, orange, yellow
• wire hook for hanging on the tree

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First you will need to break a walnut in half and this should be done in advance of making this ornament craft with little ones. Go here to read how it is done.
2. Trace around the half shell on top of a scrap piece of thin cardboard. 
3. Remove the shell and draw the fins and tail for the fish directly on the tracing of the walnut half.
4. Cut out the drawing with it's fins and tail.
5. Glue the half shell back on top of the cardboard cut-out using tacky white glue. Let dry.
6. Paint on the colors you wish for your fish to have.
7. Glue on the white bead for it's eye.
8. Glue a black pupil on top of the bead.
9. Coat the entire fish with Mod Podge to preserve the painted surface.
10. You may wish to glue a layer of decorative paper on the backside of the fish to finish it neatly.

Tear your own snowman picture . . .

        Children may tear a snowman, his broom, carrot nose and maybe even a few squirrel friends to play along with him from white paper. Then mount the snow scene on top of black paper with white school glue.

This torn snowman is having so much fun playing with his friends!

       Now your child can write a story or even dictate it to you while you write it down for him or her. Ask questions to get your little author in the mood to make up this story. They will enjoy reading it years later after the picture and this story exercise become another childhood Christmas memory.

Questions to Inspire A Story:

• Is this a funny picture or a sad one? Why?
• Who do you see?
• Think up a name for your snowman.
• What are the squirrels doing?
• Do you think the snowman can understand the squirrels talking?
• Where did the squirrels get their chestnuts?

"The Giving Snowman" 

readaloud by StoryTime Out Loud

How to Make Old-Fashioned Prune Men

        These charming folk are still traditionally sold at Christmas markets in and around Nuremberg. However, our photos below where once made by immigrant children who brought the tradition to America and although the old things don't always become popular here - these ideas can morph into other things that we recognize today... 

Americans definitely play with their food:

• How to make Santa & Elf cookies for Christmas
• Marshmallow snowmen by Mrs. P
• Reindeer treats by Mickey at howtocakeit

       To make an edible prune figure for Christmas day, gather the following together first from the market: dried dates, figs, prunes, raisins and a walnut for your character's head. You will also need strong and very clean wire plus a wooden platform, scrap fabrics, hand held drill and acrylic paints.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First cut a base from a clean log or purchase a wooden round from a dollar tree. Take time to refinish this wooden base in a way that you like it best, because you may wish to reused it year after year. Drill two holes into the base wherever your prune man or woman will stand just beneath their foot placement. 
2. Now construct the prune man's body using food-grade stainless steel wire that is both non-toxic and rust-resistant. Give him legs made by poking one wire each into three prunes. Repeat the step for the second leg and firmly push the foot ends down into the holes made in the wooden display base.
3. Now twist the two legs at the top ends around a torso wire where the hip joints meet the main body.
4. Neatly poke four to five figs onto the single connecting wire, the size of your figure will dictate how many figs are needed. Some people prefer a torso made in the same way using dates instead of figs, this is dependent upon what you have available or what you may prefer to eat.
5. Now twist onto the torso wire a single long wire for the two arms, leaving a little wire at the top for attaching either a walnut head or a citrus fruit head.
6. The arms may be made of more prunes or even raisins or cranberries if you prefer.
7. Have an adult drill a small hole at the base of an English walnut so that the head may slip onto the end of the wire.
8. Paint a funny face on the walnut or orange using non-toxic acrylic paints. The head does not need to be 'cracked' open for eating if you would like to save it for another prune man in the future. Once you have decided to eat the dried fruit, simply store the head away inside of a recycled cookie tin for another year.
9. Use bits of trim and scrap fabric to make clothing and hats for your prune people; the more details you add, the cuter he or she will look. It has been said that keeping your prune man till Epiphany will bring good luck and wealth for the coming new year. 

German immigrant children in America made these prune men to celebrate both the

Fall Harvest and Christmas in 1927. Top left, a german couple going to market, top

right, a man in his sleeping attire carries and candle and broom, Bottom left, is a

Belznickle or belsnickle who carries switches for naughty children at Christmas and

Bottom right, is a dragon with a crown. His body is a banana and his legs are peanuts!

• German Christmas Market Zwetschgenmännle Prune Men

Christmas Fun by Marjorie Barrows

Little pines upon the hill,

Sleeping in the moonlight, still,

Are you dreaming now of me

Who bloomed into a Christmas tree?

Baby moons of gold and red

Cuddle close beside my head;

In my tangled leaves a string

Of fairy stars are glimmering;

While my arms, for girls and boys,

Blossom with a hundred toys.

O, little pines, it's fun to live

To be a Christmas tree-and give!

Three Christmas Parlor Games Your Kids Will Love!

       A game full of fun and excitement is "Holly Wreath Toss." Suspended in the doorway is a large holly wreath cut from green cardboard. The players, one at a time, are given a small ball of yarn or paper which they are told to throw through the holly wreath. Each player is allowed three throws; and if he or she succeeds the first time, they score fifteen points; the second time, 10 points; and the third time, five points. The player who has the highest. score wins. Depending upon the ages of the players, hang the wreath higher to increase the level of difficulty.

       "Filling the Stockings" is a pleasant game and easy to play. The children are divided into two teams. At one end of the room are a bag of candies and a butter knife for each team, and at the other end of the room are two large stockings, one for each team. To start the game, the leader of each side picks up his butter knife, puts on as many candies as it will hold, and races to the goal at the opposite end of the room where he drops them into his team's stocking. Then he returns and gives the butter knife to the next player on his team to carries on the race in a similar manner. After every member of the team has opportunity to join in the race, the candies inside of each stocking are counted. The team with the most candy wins the race. If the team members drop candy during the race, this can not be included inside of their stockings.

       "Blowing Out the Christmas Candle" is a jolly game and one that furnishes much amusement for a party. A Christmas candle, lighted, is placed on a sturdy table at it's center. The players are blindfolded one at a time and spun around three times before they must try to make their way to the table and blow out the candle with only one breath. The first person to successfully blow out the flame is the winner of this contest.

• Spinning bow game for the family
• 10 Christmas Games from Easy Play Ideas for Kids
• Parlor games for enthusiastic teens

Cotton Batting Ornaments of "Steamboat Willie"

What Mickey and Minnie looked like before they became famous...

       I made these little mouse ornaments based upon Disney's early "Steamboat Willie" character mice, The video link is included below. Because the design rights to these early mice have now passed into the public domain, I feel less guilty about producing for a family member who collects Disney mice. She particularly collects everything Steamboat Willie and I know she doesn't have ornaments of them yet. The original mice are all in black and white so I added a bit of Christmas 'cherry red' wool to liven them up a bit for her tree.

Many layers of cotton batting and white school
glue over simple chenille stem armature.

Supply List:

• cotton balls 
• white school glue
• chenille stems
• red, gold, and white felt wool scraps
• decorative white buttons (2)
• acrylic paints (black, green)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Watch the "Steam Boat Willie" film from YouTube to observe the proportions of Disney's early mice. These are quite different from the Mickey and Minnie our children are familiar with today.
2. Unwind the cotton balls until you have collected together at least half of a bag in a stack.
3. Cover seven to eight lengths of standard chenille stems using white school glue and cotton batting. 
4. To get the cotton to stick to the chenille stems, roll the lengths plus a little glue between the palms of your hands. 
5. Bend and twist the wires to make a rudimentary "mouse-like" armature for each figure you wish to make.
6. Wad together cotton balls with glue for the head and belly of each mouse then glue these on while winding thin layers of cotton around the wire armature and cotton wads. 
7. Form ear shapes and then attach these to each side of the head. Do the same for the noses.
8. Shape the fingers using wire twisted around the ends of each arm.
9. Cover the fingers sparingly with cotton batting so that they will not become too plump.
10. Paint the entire body of each mouse using black except for the faces. Leave these white.
11. Carefully paint the facial features using a very tiny brush tip and black paint.
12. Dress each mouse using bits of red wool felt.
13. Trim Steamboat Willie's pants using white buttons.

Left, and center, the early Mickey who was first called "Steamboat Willie" had a distinctly narrow
mussel so unlike the round one he is famous for today. Right, once I painted his body black, I 
began to glue on his red wool slippers.

Left, and center are his pants to fit his narrow figure once gathered with matching thread. Center
and right, see me sewing on his simple costume.

Left and center, I sculpted the two at once, together so that the wire would be cut to the same
lengths. Right, Minnie has been painted with acrylics and now she is ready to have her hat
and slippers finished. Her shoes were painted and so was the stem on her hat's flower.

Her flower on the hat is shaped from felt and attached with 
tacky white glue.

More details of Willie, the hole cut-out of his pants for his
tail to stick through, the white buttons are attached to his
pants at the front.

Now they are ready to sit sweetly on the Christmas tree!

• The Original Steamboat Willie, Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1928. hosted by Wonderland Way. Now your dolls can craft their own versions of the steamboat mice by Walt Disney.
• CBS "Disney loses famous Mickey Mouse copyright in 2024 along with many others..."
• How Disney Will Control Mickey Forever? LegalEagle

Craft Vintage Clothespin Soldiers Plus A Gingerbread Fort

Kids can craft their own Popsicle fort, trimmed with faux candy,
clothespin soldiers, fake ''lace'' icing... (Wooden skies in photo 
are crafted here.)

       Our gingerbread cookie fort began with the discovery of two, well-loved, clothespin soldiers at the thrift store. These British gentleman had worn looking bear skin hats, chipping paint and funny drawn expressions; they looked as though each had seen many battles in the nursery...  I decided to recycle them into something new.

Gingerbread fort guarded by soldier's wearing
bearskin hats, holding peppermint lollipops.
I added faux "chocolate" chunks to their
hats made from scrap brown foam mat.

Supply List:

• two wooden clothespins
• acrylic paints: brown, red, white, and blue 
• white braid
• permanent black ink marker
• two large black pom-poms (if your soldiers are British)
• wire  and white ribbon for hanging
• large, medium and small wooden Popsicle sticks for the gingerbread fort
• white school glue
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• four red chenille stems, three white
• colorful Styrofoam beads
• narrow white lace trims
• novelty Christmas trims (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1.  With the help of an adult, use the hot glue gun to attach black pom-poms, or ''bearskin'' hats to the heads of two wooden clothespins - that is if you are making guards of the gingerbread fort British. You can make these guards look more like soldiers from your own country, of course.
2. Paint the upper part of the soldiers red for their icing coats and the lower halves blue for their icing pants.
3. Cut a red chenille stem down to fit the length of each soldier's arms. Slide the arm piece into a small nail hole on either side of the soldier's shoulders using glue to make the arms stationary. Let dry and set the soldiers aside to make the Popsicle fort.
4. Glue on rows of Popsicle sticks like those shown below in the photograph, on top of Popsicle cross bars underneath. There should be two that are horizontal to each other. You can see the lower one sticking out under the draw bridge at the bottom of the fortress. Let the first gluing dry.
5. Next attach the turrets and drawbridge.
6. Use the permanent ink pen to draw the opening for the draw bridge and windows. Now you are ready for the painting of the fort.
7. Paint the gingerbread fort entirely brown to begin with. The openings should be a bit darker.
8. Hot glue the soldiers on either side of the drawbridge. 
9. Wind together red and white chenille stems to make two peppermint lollipops; one for each soldier to hold. (optional candy canes)
10. Wind together two more small white and red stems to make the candy canes attached to the front gates at the drawbridge.
11. Using oven-bake clay make the circular candies painted red and white to trim the drawbridge and top of the fort outer-wall.
12. Now trim the gingerbread with tiny colorful Styrofoam beads to make strands of lights.
13. Glue on white lace trim to mimic decorative white icing. 
14. Also glue on white braid to trim out the soldier's uniforms to look like icing. Because our soldiers were once trimmed in gold braid, I painted these white for icing during this craft.
15. Trim out the rest of the gingerbread fort with any other novelties you like.
16. Hot glue on hook and white ribbon to hang the gingerbread fort on a Christmas tree.

Left, two typical soldiers for Christmas crafts dressed in bear skin hats, British? Center an early
log fortress made with Popsicle sticks. Right, the old clothespin soldiers guarding our childlike
fort from Rat King most likely...

Details of fort and soldiers. Left, smiling soldier happy to retire from battle and decorate a 
Christmas tree instead. Center, turret of the fort trimmed with lace, Styrofoam beaded 
Christmas lights and a tiny gingerbread star cookie. Right, the drawbridge decorated
with oven-bake peppermint candies. (Left-over from this tree tutorial here.)

Video by CuratorCrafts at Seminole County History Museum

For soldier uniforms of United States 

See Also, External Links:

• The March of the Toy Soldiers
• Clothespin Soldier Ornaments

Build a Toddler Size Rocking Horse

       Below is a favorite friend on rockers. The child's legs can make the rocker go, his hands can grasp, and his arms can push and pull. Attach the rockers using a groove joint. Use the Hobby Horse Plan for the rocker's head. 

       The rocker graph below measures 1 inch squares. 

Wood Supply List: 

• Rockers - 2 pieces. 1" x 4", 17 1/2"
• Back - 1 piece 1" x 4" x 7 1/2"
• Seat - 1 piece 1"x 8" x 14"
• Head - 1" x 8" x 9"
• Dowel for handle bars -1 piece 3/4" x 6"
• Corner Brace - 3 pieces 1/2"  x 1/2" quarter round or 1" x1" strips
• Nails and wood glue

Rocker graph and illustration of how the rocking horse looks when finished.

Sculpt a cotton batting turnip for a Christmas tree . . .

A basic turnip shape made with 

Styrofoam and a toothpick.

       This is a different way to make a cotton batting ornament. I would not ordinarily begin this craft using Styrofoam but certainly it is an authentic method of working for those of you who are interested in using it. So, I will include several designs on my blog here to get you familiar with how to apply cotton batting to foam elements.

Supply List:

• one toothpick
• white school blue
• two cotton balls
• lavender paints
• a green wave chenille stem
• wire for hanging
• 1 to 1 1/2 inch Styrofoam ball
• transparent glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Unravel the cotton balls and set these aside.
2. Push a wire hook into the top of the foam ball and shape a hook with it to hang the ornament as it dries from layers of glue and batting.
3. Brush on a bit of white glue onto a tooth pick and push it into the middle of a small Styrofoam ball from the bottom, opposite of the hook. 
4. Apply white glue with your fingertips around the surface of the Styrofoam ball and layer fine cotton over the surface. Smooth down the cotton into the glue with your fingers. 
5. Repeat these steps as many times as you need to cover both the toothpick and the ball entirely with cotton batting to shape a turnip. Just make sure that the cotton batting layer overlaps on every surface area.
6. Once the cotton veggie is dry, poke a coupe of holed into the top where turnip leave might grow. 
7. Cut and shape leaves from the wave chenille stem pushing the stem ends into those holes with glue.
8. Once the turnip is dry, paint the middle part with a couple of shades of lavender paint. Let dry.
9. Swipe on a bit of white glue to the center surface on painted parts. Then sprinkle on some transparent glitter.
10. These ornaments are very light weight and may be hung for the most delicate of tree branches!

More Garden Veggie Themed Ornaments:

• Cotton batting peas in a pod
• Two little spider ideas: one made with cotton and wire the other painted wood...
• a hydrangea under glass . . .
• And a corn on the cob ornament design here

How to make miniature swans for your feather tree...

        Swans like these are both charming and delicate on miniature trees. I prefer the tiniest pinecones and clothespins I can find for this craft, however, I have seen similar versions made into much larger swans. So, the same technique can be easily used for larger versions if you are decorating a giant tree.

I shaped the wire around the pinecone.

Supply List:

• wooden clothespin clamps (As always the size of the clamp dictates the size of the ornament. I used very tiny miniature clamps for these swans.)
• Tiny pinecones
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• transparent glitter
• a two to three inch length of chenille stem or wire
• one cotton ball for each goose head and neck
• white school glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Loop a wire in and around the inside of the pinecone to shape the head and neck of an elegant swan sticking out and above the pinecone. 
2. Unwind a few cotton balls and twist these around the wire along with some white school glue. Don't forget to shape the swan's beak, head and neck similar to the proportions shown in the photos below. 
3. Paint the pinecones white. Let dry.
4. Spread white glue across the body of the swan and sprinkle glitter all over the the pinecone "feathers."
5. Hot glue the swan to the top of a small clothespin to attach it to a Christmas tree.
6. You may wish to paint the clothespin green or white depending upon the color of your Christmas tree.

Left the pinecones covered with glitter. Right, the swans now hot glued to the clothespins.

More Bird Themed Christmas Crafts:

• Bend and twist a cotton batting bird cage
• Swans on a lake for a lovely ballerina

Make a merry little tinsel-backed Santa...

A vintage tinsel-back wire trim ornament
surrounds and highlights Santa's face.

       Recycling 'scraps,' charms, or clay novelties was common practice among Victorians. They believed that one could never have too much ''bling'' on a Christmas tree, so naturally adding tinsel to any small novelty was appropriate for the season during that era. 

       Here you see that I have crafted a simple ornament in much the same attitude with tinsel stripped from last year's gift wrapping scraps and a magnet saved from a twenty year old craft stash in the basement. 

        Wether you wish to admit it or not, I'm sure some of our readers could make one similar to this from several forgotten boxes of rubbish in their own attics and crawl spaces!

   Supply List:

• wire wrapped tinsel garland (any color)
• recycled Christmas refrigerator magnets
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• wire snips or old scissors 
• scrap cardboard
• scrap decorative paper or old wrapping paper
• white tacky glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. To remove the magnet from the Santa face I soaked the bottom in soapy hot water. This loosened the glue. Then I inserted a butter knife between the glue and resin to pop off the magnet with little effort.
2. Then I traced around the half head with a pencil on top of a small piece of scrap cardboard. 
3. Around the cardboard cut-out, I shaped a ''teardrop'' using red tinsel wire that ended in a bow. 
4. Around the bow I then twisted white wire into a bow and then wrapped it's remainder around the cardboard cut-out.
5. Then I hot glued the mask to the wrapped cardboard cut-out.
6. Next came a little holly and leaf trim attached with glue to the wire bow along with a hook for hanging.

Far left, are a couple of Santa head magnets left over from Christmas decoration for a refrigerator 
or clipboard. Center, is the tinsel wire wrap to emphasize the festive nature of Santa. Right, 
even more white tinsel added to highlight Santa's features.

Print, Trace, Cut and Paint a Hobby Horse Toy

        Galloping is fun and legs grow stronger when this hobby horse becomes a favorite toy.

Click to enlarge. See Rocky Horse plans too.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Trace this pattern on 1/2 " or thicker plywood or dressed 1" lumber.
2. If pointed ears are objectionable, cut along the dotted line.
3. Paint on the ear lines when painting nostrils, eyes etc...
4. A leather strap or rope can be used for bridle reins. It may be attached to the head with screw eyes and key rings.
5. Mount the head on a 3/4" x 36" dowel broom handle or piece of 1" x 1" material.

More Wooden Toys To Make for Christmas:

• Build a Simple, Wooden Doll Cradle
• Build a doll's house using a bookcase
• Transform a small table into a parking lot for toy cars...
• How to construct a life-size play castle for little ones!
• old-fashioned plans for a fire-engine, motor-lorry and a steam roller
• The fastest hobby horse rider in the world, so fast he broke more than one pony and several other pieces of furniture...

Craft a Paper Candle Stick for The Feather Tree

Vintage paper candle stick made
using a accordion paper folding
technique that most children 
learn in school.

        This light weight, construction paper candle stick ornaments is perfect for a feather tree ornament. Here I have clipped it onto a regular tree branch but it is so "feather" light that it could be attached even to a young cedar tree and not bend a single branch!

Supply List:

• any two colors of construction paper
• two cotton balls
• tacky white glue
• recycled paper egg carton
• acrylic grey to silver paints for the candlestick "holder"
• 2" clothespin
• green or white paints for the clothespin
• orange paint for the pretend flame

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Fold your accordion braided candle stick to any length you wish but cutting two long lengths of narrow paper strips from contrasting colors. 
2. Cross the two strips of paper on top of eachother with a dab of glue to start. 
3. Then alternate folding the strips over and over on top of each other to create the braided look you see here. I've included a diagram below illustrating the steps.
4. Finish the candle stick off with glue at the top. 
5. Then unravel the cotton ball and wad up a tiny ''flame'' shape, rolling it between the tips of your fingers with a dot of glue. 
6. Glue the flame to the top of the candlestick and let it dry before painting the flame orange.
7. Now cut a small dish for the candlestick to sit inside from a paper egg carton cup.
8. Glue this egg carton part to the top of a 2 inch clothespin.
9. Paint the little dish grey or pewter or silver.
10. Once the candle stick is dry, paint the clothespin the color of your Christmas tree so that it will appear to disappear into the branches once attached.

Left, the candle sticks are attached with tacky white glue. Right, al of the pieces of this ornament
have been finished with acrylic paints.

Illustrated accordion braid process.

"J" is for Jesus Card Craft

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep." John 10:11-13

 

       This traditional Christmas Card is assembled with bright red stripped paper, large letters cut from an alternate polka-dot red paper and a real candy cane. Include also The Legend of The Candy Cane inside the card or on the back of the card if you like. Legend of The Candy Cane can be read here along with a poem.

Handcraft a Block Sorting Cart

        The block cart is twice as much fun to play with because it is two toys in one -- the toddler can not only walk around with it and pull it along, he can also take the pieces apart and put them together again. It's fascinating to be able to make it's parts fit just right. 

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut 1 piece of wood for the frame, 1" x 4" x 12".
2. Cut another piece 1" x 3" x 24" for three 2" x 5/8" diameter circles, and three 2" x 5/8" x 2 5/8" right triangles. 
3. Bore a 5/8" diameter hole in the center of each block
4. Measure and cut 1 piece 1/2" x 10" dowel for three pegs 3 1/4" long.
5. Cut and measure 2 piece of 1 1/2 x 4" dowel for wheels and attach wheels.
6. Round off edges and corners of all pieces.
7. Finish with your choice of non-toxic paint.

More Toddler Toy Crafts and Eye-Candy:

• Push and Pull Toys - Alligators and frogs, trains, phones and dogs . . .
• Stack more toy soldiers, penguins and blocks 

Fold and Assemble a Waldorf Paper Star

Finished, hanging Waldorf paper star.
The paper folding technique is simple
enough for little children to follow, ages
 five through nine. 

       This particular paper star example is traditionally referred to as a "Waldorf" star, but the pattern design has been around long before this name was applied to it inside the classrooms of Waldorf schools in Germany and America.

       I suspect that patterns like the one shown here were originally developed by Moravians because there are so many star pattern examples like this one in their Christian design work featured in quilts, birth certificates and baptismal records.

       The Moravian church is the very oldest Protestant denomination that began back in 15th century, Bohemia. It even predates the Lutheran Church Reformation by 60 years.

Supply List:

• ribbon or wire for hanging
• Two generous sheets of contrasting print or solid colored papers
• white tacky glue
• small clamps or paperclips to hold paper segments together to dry during assembly

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a two inch square piece of decorative paper.
2. Fold this square in half, unfold it.
3. Repeat this same step after turning that same square once to the right. Unfold the second fold. Now with the paper unfolded completely you should see a perfectly divided square with four equal marked areas between the creases in the paper. (Not shown unfolded in photo below.)
4. Fold two corners into each the center directly opposite to each other.
5. Repeat the step again with the two remaining flaps. You should now have a perfect square shape again.
6. fold in two sides opposite of each other to make the edges line up in the center. This should create a "kite" looking shape.
7. Once you have folded this shape eight times with two alternating patterns or colors, glue the star together so that the shorter sided corners tips meet in the center of your assembled Waldorf Star. Glue this pattern in place as you go.
8. Take a needle and poke a tiny hole at one of the points of your star. String in a ribbon or push through a fine wire to make a hanger for this paper ornament.

Steps 1. through 3. illustrated.

Steps 4. through 6. illustrated.

Assembling the star using tacky glue and clamps illustrated.

Craft a "Pound the Peg" Toddler Toy

         What fun to have something that Mom lets you pound on! There is real satisfaction in being able to put the peg in the hole and hit it right on the head with a toy hammer or mallet as they used to say. At least there is for a two to three year old...

Supply List:

• 1 piece of 1"x 6'' x 20" wooden board
• 6 pieces of 3/4" x 2" dowels
• 4 pieces of 1/2" x 1/2" x 5 5/8" quarter round or 1" x 1" strips
• Glue and nails

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. The center lines of the two rows of 3/4" diameter peg holes are 1 3/4" from the outer edges of the board. The center lines of the holes in the rows are 2 1/2", 4 1/2", and 6 1/2'' from the end of the board.
2. If the pegs fit too tight make a 1" saw cut lengthwise in both ends of each peg.
3. Be certain the cut at one end of the peg is at right angles to the cut at the other end.
4. Use a 12 or 13 ounce clawhammer for a pounding device or make a mallet of 1 1/4" dowel with a 1/2" dowel for a handle.

Craft More Charming Wooden Toys:

• Here is a whole page of wooden peg dollies; not for pounding though!
• People, animals and homes featured on blocks . . .