Mess Makers: Holiday crafts

Kari Marotta, the mom and local teacher behind the pop-up kids art studio Mess Makers, shares these easy holiday crafts.

Classic Salt Dough Ornaments: There are several different recipes to choose from. Find one online that you have ingredients for and turn your oven on. This will really strengthen hands and fingers as the dough is mixed, rolled and shaped. After the ornaments have been baked, cooled and painted, they will need a special place to be seen.

Leftover Puzzle Pieces: Need an idea for all of the puzzles that are missing pieces? Turn them into ornaments, magnets or wall decorations. Cut a piece of construction paper out of the shape you want to make. Glue the the puzzle pieces down on the paper to create the base. Keep adding pieces until you have the shape you like. When the glue dries, paint with some primer and then paint the colors you want.

Painted Samplers: Cut brown paper sacks into squares. (I had burlap to use). Paint and let dry. Make a frame out of Popsicle sticks and then glue the paper to the back side of the frame. We added a yarn loop to the back so it could be hung.

Cupcake Liner Ornaments: Use shiny cupcake liners as the base and use tissue paper to decorate.

Fuzzy Trees: My mom made these with my boys and we’ve made them for every holiday now. Start with a Styrofoam cone and cover with glue. Wrap with feather strands or boas. It will be messy! Decorate with pom-poms and other fun stuff.