Inexpensive Christmas Craft

Never let an end of the year sale at a craft store get away from you. Because I went to a Michael's at the end of the season, I was able to purchase molds for Plaster of Paris Christmas ornaments, but the truth is, they weren't very expensive full-price! Those little molds help make a great, inexpensive Christmas craft!

Buy the molds and a box of Plaster of Paris. Mix it according to the directions on the box. Because I pour so many individual ornaments, I usually mix my plaster in Styrofoam cups. (If you mix plaster on top of plaster, it hardens too fast. I switch cups each time.) This time, I used an empty Almond Breeze box.

Carefully pour the mold and tap it gently to work out the air bubbles. Set it so it is flat-not at a slant.Let it set for about 10 minutes; then poke it with a toothpick to make an opening for the hook if you want to hang them on the tree. (Skip that step if you plan to turn them into magnets.) Let them set for about one hour. Carefully pop the ornament out of the mold and let it continue drying in a warm place for at least two days. In the meantime, with a free mold, you can make even more projects.

Buy both traditional Christmas paint and more modern colors, like purple and blue. Using smaller brushes, let the kids paint the ornaments any way they wish. Let them dry overnight and spary them with a coat of shellac. After they air dry, they are ready to be hung on the tree.