It's Christmas Eve. We've made Christmas cookies, We've read a few Christmas stories (e.g. Llama Llama Jingle Bells. Cute book). We've watched quite a few Thomas & friends Christmas episodes. And we've made lots of Christmas crafts at the library. Among them, Little Guy liked and was good at making these pipe cleaner ornaments, so I got the materials and we've been making lots more at home. I was impressed that he threaded the beads through with little difficulty and was actually enjoying doing it. This seems to be a good practice for fine motor skills and to learn colors. And the end results are beautiful ornaments. Love it.
Materials
12" Pipe cleaners (need three 6" pipe cleaners for each ornament)
Beads
String (if you hang from a tree)
How to Make
1. Cut a pipe cleaner in half by scissors and make three half pieces (Mama did this in our case)
2. Lay the three half-size pipe cleaners like a snowflake and twist them together at the center to keep its shape (Mama did this too)
3. String some beads
4. If hang from a tree, fold one end a bit to make a loop and put a string
That's it!
To my adult's mind, I thought clear sparkly beads on silver pipe cleaners would make the prettiest ornaments and suggested that we buy clear beads. But Little Guy insisted on colorful solid color ones, so I obliged. It seems Little Guy was right. What he made were most beautiful, if I do say so myself :)
I hope everyone will have a wonderful Christmas/winter holiday :)
