Winter Crafts to Decorate Your Festive Home - DIY Candy

Coffee Filter Snowflakes for Winter Fun

Amy — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:23:00 +0000

Learn how to make the cutest coffee filter snowflakes for Christmas and winter! These are so easy, budget friendly, and FUN to make for kids of all ages.

Skills Required: None. Even if your children have never crafted before (or you haven’t), you’ll be able to do this craft. You’ll be bleeding markers (easy), folding, and cutting.

I think it’s probably somewhere around first grade when kids are taught that snowflakes aren’t just small lumps of snow flitting through the sky down to the ground.

It was about the age of seven or so, and in class I was shown the images you always see of snowflakes “under a microscope.” They quickly go from lumps of snow to amazing crystal structures. Consider my tiny little mind blown.

I also remember making snowflakes in class during that lesson, by folding up paper and then cutting little notches and curves with mini scissors. Unfold it and WOAH! Mind blown for the second time.

I always liked a good science lesson that had a craft to go with it.

If you do too, I’m excited to share these coffee filter snowflakes with you! They’re a fun craft to do with preschoolers together – and elementary age children can play along too.

You’re not going to believe how easy they are to make, and you only need a few simple supplies. Before we dive in, let me answer a few questions about this project!

The best color variety comes from picking two lights and two darks that are different. If the colors are too similar, you won’t get the “tie dye effect” you’re looking for. So don’t be afraid to experiment.

Are you ready to try this fun winter activity? Here’s what you’ll need.

Gather These Supplies

Coffee filters
Washable markers – colors of your choice (pinks, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green or orange for fun)
Scissors
Small spray bottle of water
Hair dryer (optional)

If you want a unique snowflake pattern for cutting, go here.

I’m really pleased with how colorful they turned out! It’s raining coffee filters around here! Get the printable how-to card below.

Snowflakes with Coffee Filters

You'll love learning how to make this cute coffee filter snowflake craft, perfect for kids this Christmas or winter!

Course Kids Crafts

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 45

Dry Time 2

Total Time 2 50

Servings snowflakes

Cost $1

Equipment

Scissors
Small spray bottle of water
Hair dryer (optional)

Ingredients

Coffee filters 1 per snowflake
Washable markers colors of your choice: pinks, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green or orange for fun

Instructions

Choose four colors that you would like to use for your snowflake. Picking a variety of colors that are different shades (light and dark) makes for the best results.
Start with a green or similar dark shade of marker. Draw a circle around the edge of the coffee filter and then draw some circles and blue lines in an "X" across the middle.
Take a contrasting color marker and draw some dots and lines within each quadrant on the coffee filter.
With the remaining marker(s), add additional lines, squares, and squiggles on the coffee filter. No need to add too many lines or shapes. They will bleed into each other.
Place the coffee filter down on a washable work surface. You can use a craft mat, silicone mat, or wax paper. Mist the paper with 4 – 5 sprays of water and you will start to see the markers bleed. This is what you want.
If the markers didn’t bleed enough, add additional sprays of water. Don’t add too much water. You want to just saturate the filter, otherwise all the water will drip off the filter and take the color with it.
Leave the coffee filter on your work surface to dry. Additionally, you can take a hairdryer and dry the filter, or place in the oven for a few minutes at the lowest heat (watching the entire time).
To turn the filters into a snowflake, you'll cut it for folding. Fold the coffee filters in half, and then into thirds. Then fold in half once again.
On the folded filter, you're going to cut notches out on both sides and then the top. Make small cuts, both triangular and round. The more detailed the cuts, the more detailed the results.
Carefully unfold the filter to reveal your finished snowflake.

Video

Notes

If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can drop water (single drops) on various areas of the filter, or use a toothbrush to fling water onto the filter. It might be a bit messier but it gets the job done.

Don’t add too much water when you spray the filter. You want to just saturate the filter, otherwise all the water will drip off the filter and take the color with it.

You can let the coffee filter dry naturally. It might take a few hours. Other options are to use a hairdryer, or place in the oven for a few minutes at the lowest heat. If you use the oven, use a baking sheet and watch the whole time so nothing catches fire.

If you enjoyed these paper snowflakes, I’d love for you to check out these other crafts with coffee filters:

Bats • Butterflies • Flowers • Turkey • Wreath

The post Coffee Filter Snowflakes for Winter Fun appeared first on DIY Candy.

Wine Cork Snowman for Your Holiday Decor

Amy — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:57:00 +0000

This DIY wine cork snowman makes a perfect addition to your Christmas or winter decor! Save your corks to make this unique project.

Skills Required: None. Perfect for those who have never crafted before. You’ll be painting and hot gluing primarily. The had takes a little finagling, but I think you’ll easily be able to follow what I did.

I’ve been on a wine cork crafts kick lately! Laugh if you must (and I don’t blame you), but I like the crafts a lot more than I like the fermented grape juice. I may have had a few too many good times in my 20s with wine, so I really don’t drink it anymore. BUT – I still love working with the corks in projects.

It started when I made the wine cork reindeer with my niece and shared that tutorial . . . plus I had done a wine cork wreath before (that I still love!). I had a huge bag of wine corks I bought from Amazon, and there were a bunch leftover. That’s when I decided it was time to make a wine cork snowman.

This project is a great craft for adults, but you can also do this for a kids Christmas craft. You can tell your children you have a lot of corks in your collection due to them ;).

There are a variety of ways you can approach this project. You can make an entire snowman (including the body) out of wine corks. You can make a small or large version if you make a snowman with two or three segments.

You can also use ONE wine cork, standing it up on the small end. Paint it like a snowman, and then screw an eye hook in the top and hang as an ornament with baker’s twine.

My favorite way to make a wine cork snowman is just the head, with the corks stacked up so that you can place it into a winter tablescape or on a mantel. What can I say – I like my Frosty to be a little more substantial!

Gather These Supplies

Wine corks – 35 to 40
Acrylic paint – white
Orange felt or foam
Black felt or foam
Black buttons – 2
Red ribbon – about 1
Black Sharpie or pen – fine tip
Scissors
Paintbrush
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

The finished size of this project is about 5.5″ square (minus the hat). It’s the perfect size for decorating, but you can make it smaller or larger to fit your space.

Look how happy my snowman friend is! He’s excited to be on my shelf . . . because who wouldn’t be?

And the best part about this Frosty is that he’ll never melt. Oh, and I can keep him out past Christmas because he’s technically winter themed. I love that!

Cork Snowman

Make the cutest cork snowman for your Christmas or winter decor! It's an easy craft for beginners.

Course Christmas Crafts

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Dry Time 1 30

Total Time 2 45

Servings snowman

Cost $2

Equipment

Ingredients

38 Wine corks 35 to 40
Acrylic paint white
2 sheets Craft foam or felt 1 sheet orange, 1 sheet black
2 Buttons black
1" Ribbon(s) red
1 Sharpie(s) fine tip

Instructions

Gather approximately 35 – 40 wine corks and clean them if necessary Let dry.
Glue a foundational row of four wine corks with hot glue, then continue stacking and gluing wine corks until you've made the entire head.
Paint one side of the cork head with white acrylic paint, let dry.
Cut a mouth out of black felt or craft foam and glue to the front of the face.
Cut a nose out of orange felt or craft foam and draw on carrot accents with a fine tip pen. Glue to the front of the face.
Glue the buttons down to the front of the face to act as eyes.
Cut a black strip of felt that is approximately 2.5" x 7". Glue together at one end.
Cut a circle and glue into one end to act as the top of the hat. Flip inside out and this is the top of the hat.
Cut a brim out of black felt. Cut a circle into the center and then glue the brim to the top of the hat.
Glue a red ribbon over the seam to act as a hatband. Attach to the cork snowman to finish.

Video

Notes

I (randomly?) used 37 wine corks in this project due to the size of some of them.

The foam and the felt are interchangeable. I happened to have black felt and orange craft foam on hand, but you could use either for both the mouth and nose. You could also just use cardstock. Work with what you have in your stash!

Did you make a snowman of your very own? I’d love for you to let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to visit these other cute projects:

The post Wine Cork Snowman for Your Holiday Decor appeared first on DIY Candy.

DIY Pinecone Wreath for Christmas (Costs Pennies!)

Pretty Life Girls — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:03:00 +0000

Learn how to make a pinecone wreath for Christmas in minutes with just a few supplies – this DIY pinecone wreath is such a lovely holiday and winter display!

Skills Required: Beginner. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you should be able to tackle this project pretty easily. You’ll be painting and gluing pinecones to a wreath form.

Hi DIY Candy friends! This is Liz from The Pretty Life Girls and today I’m going to show you the fun holiday wreaths I made for my dining room for just pennies.

I’m going to show you how to make a pinecone wreath for your Christmas decor – one of my favorite Christmas crafts of all time.

These mini Christmas wreaths are simple to put together, will looks gorgeous in your home, and cost less than a milkshake at DQ.

How do I prepare the pinecones to make a wreath?

First you’ll soak them in sink full of hot water + 1 cup of vinegar for a few minutes. In order to bake out all the beasties and melt the sap, you’ll want to put the pinecones in the oven on a LINED cookie sheet at the lowest temp. Bake them for about 1 – 1.5 hours and let them cool.

How do you cut a pine cone for a wreath?

I find that gardening shears or snips work the best for cutting pine cones. The 8″ pruning shears work the best. However, I’m sure you can make it work with longer or shorter snips if you need to. Just be careful when cutting!

I didn’t cut pinecones for this project; I left them whole. But if you want the tops to face you, you’ll want to cut them. That’s when I’d use the shears.

Gather These Supplies

Wreath form (I used a foam one from the dollar store)
Pine cones (found mine for free, courtesy of the trees at our local high school)
Craft paint (I used an acrylic chalky paint from Michaels and I love the chalky/distressed/matte finish it gave the wreaths)
A knife, X-Acto or other sharp variety
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Paintbrush

Are you ready to get making? Get some hot chocolate, turn on some White Christmas and let that Christmas spirit get the best of you! I love that you can keep these up pretty much all winter as well.

Get the printable how to card below:

How to Make a Pinecone Wreath

Learn how to make a wreath out of pine cones the easy way! This is a perfect project for the holidays, and goes with a variety of decor styles.

Course Christmas Crafts

Prep Time 1 30

Cook Time 2

Total Time 3 30

Servings wreath

Cost $5

Equipment

Ingredients

Wreath form
Pine cones
Acrylic paint white
Ribbon(s) Red

Instructions

Soak your pinecones in a sink of hot water with 1 cup vinegar. Then bake them at your oven's lowest setting for 1 – 1.5 hours. This will get rid of bugs, get rid of the sticky sap, and dry them out. Plus, it will make your house smell OUTRAGEOUSLY good.
If the wreath form isn't flat, use a knife to trim the front and make it flat and smooth. Paint the wreath form with the same paint color as your pinecones and let dry.
While the wreath form is drying, paint the pine cones. More bristles helps you get into the tight areas.
Once the pine cones are dry, hot glue them to the form. Keep them tight for good coverage.
Hang your pinecone wreaths using the red ribbon (cut lengths with scissors).

Let me know what you think in the comments! Now that you know how to make a pinecone wreath, here are some other wreaths that might be up your alley:

Candy Cane Mesh • Christmas Garland • Christmas Mesh • Christmas Pom Pom • Coffee Filter • Fall • Felt • Pinecone • Mini Pumpkins • Pool Noodle • Pool Noodle Floral • Pom Pom • Ribbon • Wine Cork

The post DIY Pinecone Wreath for Christmas (Costs Pennies!) appeared first on DIY Candy.

Snowflake Art for a Sparkling Winter Mantel

Amy — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:13:00 +0000

If you’re looking for an easy winter decor project that even a kid could do, this ombre snowflake art is perfect! Looks great on the wall or mantel.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, these snowflake canvases are very easy. You’ll be painting and Mod Podging paper flakes to canvas.

I love the snow! And crafts like our unique Christmas centerpiece that reminds me of winter days. I really enjoy winter. If it’s cold and white and you can ski on it, I love it.

I know that some of you who are sitting in snow covered areas are laughing at me here in snowless Atlanta – but seriously, I do. And I always end up living in areas where there is no snow . . . what is that about?

Well, I’ve figured out a way to have snow in my abode all year round – with this snowflake art on canvas. Just painting canvases one color wasn’t going to work for me, which is why I went for the ombre effect.

Even though these canvases just give the snow idea without actual snow, I’m still going to have the hot chocolate. Is that okay?

Gather These Supplies

Oval canvases – 3
Craft paint – pool blue and white
Mod Podge Sparkle
Paper snowflakes
Scissors
Paintbrush

You can display these babies on a mantel, shelf, or hang them on the wall. And how interesting would it be to have ombre canvases for all four seasons, that you change out? Hmmm . . .

Get the printable how to card below:

DIY Snowflake Canvases

Learn how to make this snowflake art, easy enough for kids and adults. It's the perfect wall art for winter!

Course Winter Crafts

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2 45

Total Time 3

Servings canvases

Cost $15

Equipment

Ingredients

3 Oval canvases
4 bottles Acrylic paint 3 shades of blue plus white
Mod Podge Sparkle
Paper snowflakes

Instructions

Place paint on your plate in three separate areas – enough to cover a canvas each. Add white paint to two of the piles, one more than the other, and stir.
Paint out a test strip and lighten or darken as needed, until you have three different shades you like. Once you have created two additional shades of paint, paint all three canvases and let dry.
Decide on the snowflake layout on each canvas, and add them to the fronts of the canvases using Sparkle Mod Podge. Let dry for 15 – 20 minutes.
Once the canvases are dry, use scissors to trim the extra snowflake off of the edges.
Finally, add a second (and even third!) layer of Sparkle Mod Podge to the tops of your canvases for extra glitter. Let dry completely before displaying.

Notes

Tip: if you want to make this more kid friendly, have children make their own paper snowflakes that they can then attach to the canvas. The whole family can participate!

If you like this snowflake art, check out these winter wonderland dioramas! They’re easy (and pretty) too.

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