7 Foodie-Inspired Holiday Crafts
The holidays are all about spending time with family. There are many fun crafts you can do as a family whether you are making handmade gifts or creating décor or centrepieces. Here are some great ways to incorporate food into your family crafts as Christmas draws near…
7 Foodie-Inspired Holiday Crafts
Gingerbread
Making gingerbread has been a tradition for many generations. For some families it is creating a lovely gingerbread house complete with gumdrops and snowy icing. For others it is creating fun characters with gingerbread men. The best thing about gingerbread is that there are many kits available from cookies to houses and trains to gingerbread men. This is an excellent Christmas Eve tradition for families as well as a Christmas party activity for kids.
Natural Room Fresheners
One of the easiest crafts using food for the holidays is creating natural room fresheners. Simply take an orange and spike it with fresh cloves for an instant way to add the smell of spice to your home during the holidays. They can also be placed in bowls throughout the home as a decorative touch. As a gift idea you can also make small sachets using cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole cloves for people to simmer in water to fill their home with the smells of Christmas.
Garland
Christmas garland can be created for the tree or just hanging about the house using cranberries and popcorn. Simply take a long piece of thread or fishing wire and thread it through a needle. Then begin stringing popcorn (sans the butter) and cranberries in whatever pattern you like. You can also do single strands with just popcorn or just cranberries if you prefer.
Homemade Cookies
Creating homemade cookies for a day of family baking is not only fun, but a great way to pass on traditions. Using family recipes and showing the kids how to prepare them will be a way of handing down baking traditions that can be passed on from generation to generation. You can also opt to create your own traditions and find new recipes the kids will love. If you are too busy to make homemade cookies you can buy premade gingerbread and sugar cookie dough and simply pop them in the oven and decorate them with sugar or icing when they are done.
Easy Peppermint Bark
Make homemade candies ready for gift giving a few days before Christmas. An easy and delicious Christmas candy is peppermint bark. Simply melt white chocolate until smooth and spread onto a cookie sheet about an inch thick. Use parchment paper to avoid sticking. You can then crush candy canes or hard mints and sprinkle them over the top. Allow to firm up and then cut into medium sized pieces. Place in clear cellophane packages and tie with red ribbon for the perfect homemade gift. You can also use your favourite dark or milk chocolate and get creative with different candies and nuts.
Centrepieces
It is easy to create lovely Christmas centrepieces using fresh fruit of the season. Oranges, pomegranates, pears, and apples all work very well to create centrepieces. Simply take egg whites (buy the pre separated whites in a carton to make it easier) and brush them on the fruit. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and allow to set. You can then arrange the fruit in a crystal or glass bowl and add some Christmas ornaments or greenery and flowers.
Ice Decorations
You can also make festive ice decorations to place in punch bowls or help keep foods cool such as shrimp cocktail. Take items such as cranberries and orange slices and float them in a large silver bowl. Place a weighted smaller bowl inside and then put it in the freezer until it is time for your guests to arrive. You can also use pomegranate seeds in your ice cubes.
There are many ways to use food and fresh produce to create festive holiday crafts perfect for the last few days before Christmas.
