Crafts
For the New Year

Crafts

• Create a custom photo calendar at Kodak EasyShare Gallery
• Or create a painted surface for your Calendar
• Make a New Years card.

Decorate

• Make a New Years Tree - Remove the Christmas decorations from your tree to make it a New Year's tree. Add white lights and decorate it with brighly colored ribbon for a garland. Add party hats, paper horns, curly ribbon streamers and noise makers for the decorations. In the center of the tree, they put a clock set to midnight.
• Pages from Calendars make great framed pieces. For more impact cluster 4 in matching frames for a wall grouping.
• Make your own festive personalized labels for CD's and use them as coasters.
• Create a bowl of New Years Fortunes. Start with clear glass ornaments with the hangers removed. Type your favorite forunes or inspirational quotes on the computer in a pretty font. Cut them into strips about 1" x 7" and then roll them into tiny scrolls. Tie with ribbon leaving the tails on and insert into the ball. Add some confetti, replace the hangers and fill the bowl.

Party Ideas

• Start with a fun invitation - use either a clock theme, champagne, or confetti and streamers.
• Make your own Noisemakers for each guest
• When my husband and I were first dating I gave him a New Years Celebration for 2 Kit - A party hat filled with 2 noise makers, balloons, confetti, a bottle of champagne, and 2 glasses.
• A clock makes a festive centerpiece. Or try a cluster of clocks.
• Party Crackers are a fun addition to the Dining Table and can also be used as name cards. Fill toilet paper tubes with small candy, toys, a small gift, a fortune, and a uninflated baloon. Wrap the tube in wrapping paper and tie with ribbon. Add the name to the oputside and place on each plate.
• Happy New Year Celebration Bottle
  These Celebration Bottles can be used as party favors, place cards or mailed through regular U.S. mail without additional wrapping. Materials:
  Clear plastic cold drink bottle with lid 1 liter size or size of your choice
  2" wide clear mailing tape
  Small piece of aluminum foil
  Pieces of 15" length of curling ribbon in colors of your choice
  Craft glue
  Plain label (mailing label if you plan to send in mail)
  Craft knife
  Filling Suggestions:
  Plain confetti and tiny Mylar shapes
  Small amount of iridescent shreds
  A small stuffed animal or doll
  Noise Maker
  Party Hat
  A variety of good luck charms and party favors of your choice
  Resolution Suggestions
  Instructions:
  Remove label, wash bottle well and allow to drain and dry thoroughly. Place a little craft glue in the lid, screw cap on and let it dry. Place a 4" slit in the bottle (where the label was). Add the contents through the slit.
  Print out the Label and then place over the slit (if you are not mailing the bottle the label can contain guests names or a Happy New Year wish. If it is to be mailed don't forget your return address.
  Center tape extending over the edge of the label on all sides (it may takes two strips of clear plastic tape on a large mailing label).
  Take your piece of aluminum foil and spread it with craft glue arranging it to completely cover the lid of the bottle trimming it evenly below the lid. Tie your curling ribbon around the neck of the bottle and knot, curl the ends and it is ready to be used.
  In the U. S. if you are mailing them take them to the local Post Office and ask that they be mailed the same as first class letters. (At last mailing a 20 oz. bottle containing a 5" bear plus embellishments cost $1.36.) Other countries will have to check with your local Postal Service for information.

For Kids

• New Years Jigsaw Puzzle
• New Years Coloring Pages

Links

• Customs and Superstitions