Looking for a fun and festive way to give this holiday season? Check out the Avenue's crafty side with these DIY projects.
Mini Winter Wonderland
What: A miniature winter display
Who: Immediate family members and friends
Price range: $15-$30
Difficulty level (1-10): 4
When to start: Three days in advance
Supplies: Hot glue gun, holiday buttons with characters on them, a glass box with a wooden frame, plastic holiday phrases, artificial snow (found in craft stores), glitter (optional) and paint (optional)
1. Paint the frame of the box with a color of your choosing. Let it dry completely.
2. Place artificial snow at the bottom of the inside of the box.
3. Put glitter on top to make it look more decorative.
4. Place holiday buttons throughout the artificial snow while it is still wet to make it look like a winter scene.
5. Hot glue "Merry Christmas" or "Happy holidays" on the back glass wall.
6. Let everything dry completely before you give it as a gift.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
What: A glass jar filled with nautical net and seashells
Who: Family and friends who live out of state
Price range: $15-$40 depending on how expensive the jar is. The net and shells are about $10.
Difficulty level (1-10): 2
When to start: One day in advance
Supplies: A glass jar, nautical net (found in craft stores) and seashells
1. Open the jar and place seashells around the bottom.
2. Cut netting and place it inside the jar so you can still see the shells.
She Will Be Loved
What: A handmade jewelry box made out of a vintage cigar box
Who: Girlfriend, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt or female friend
Price range: $5-$10
Difficulty level (1-10): 6
When to start: Five days in advance
Supplies: A cigar box (any box that opens at the top will work), red felt, tacky glue, thin cardboard or construction paper, modeling glue, basswood, a box cutter and a ruler.
1. Measure the part of the box where you want to put compartments.
2. Use the box cutter and ruler to cut out the pieces of basswood you need.
3. Use the modeling glue to put the pieces of basswood in place for compartments.
4. Line the entire box with felt using tacky glue. Note: Be careful with the glue because if you use too much, it will seep into the fabric.
5. Roll up pieces of thin cardboard or construction paper where you want rings to go, and line with felt.
6. Glue the ring cushions down and let everything dry completely.
Better Together
What: A hand-painted longboard*
Who: Boyfriend, brother, father, uncle or male friend
Price range: $30-$160 depending on if you buy a new longboard
Difficulty level (1-10): Varies based on design
When to start: Two weeks in advance
Supplies: An unfinished longboard, acrylic paint, brushes in different sizes for details, a pencil and polyurethane clear coat
*You can paint anything with a wooden surface the same way.
1. Pick a design.
2. Draw the design on the longboard with pencil first.
3. Paint the design in sections and let it dry completely.
4. Use four coats of polyurethane and let it dry completely in between each coat.
Avenue writer Kiera Wright-Ruiz made this fun craft for her mother for Christmas.
Kristen Morrell, 19-year-old public relations sophomore, made this longboard for her boyfriend for Christmas.
Caleb Eathan Generoso, 20-year-old architecture junior, made this jewelry box for his girlfriend as a combined gift for her birthday, Valentine's Day and their anniversary.
Carey Ann Matthews, 20-year-old telecommunication junior, made this jar for her friend's birthday.
