Better Homes & Gardens December 2023Workbook

WORKBOOK
Image 1Let It Snowpages 32-38PAPER SNOWFLAKEMaterials

Seven same-size brown or white paper lunch bags

Hot-glue gun

Scissors

Paper clip* (optional)

Step-by-Step

Place a bag on a work surface, bottom flap nearest to you. Cut the top corners of the bag in a curved or triangular shape, meeting at the top center; don’t cut the flap area. For cutouts, cut additional shapes along the sides of the bag (the closer to the flap, the closer the design will be to the center of the snowflake). Repeat with the remaining six bags, using the first bag as a template so all the bags are cut in the same way.

Using the hot-glue gun, add glue to one bag in the shape of an upside-down T (blue lines).

Place a bag, flap side up, on top of glued bag so flaps align; press together firmly. Repeat gluing (except last bag) and pressing until bags are in a stack.

Bring the tips of the top and bottom bag together, unfurling the stack to form a snowflake. Glue or clip these two ends together. *TIP Wendy Lau uses paper clips so she can unclip and fold snowflakes flat for easy storage.

Row/Stack w/Captions 1
Image 2Out of the Boxpages 110-119FOIL STARBURSTMaterials

Starburst template (see smart code, below)

Pink and gold foil papers

Scoring stylus

Glue stick

Cardboard

Hot-glue gun

Mini ball ornament

Image 3Step-by-Step

Trace the template twice onto each color of foil paper; cut out (you should have four circles, two in each color). On the back side of each circle, mark the fold lines where indicated on the template and score all lines with the scoring stylus.

Cut each circle in half and group by color. For the pink group, accordion-fold each half-circle with the first fold toward you, second fold away from you, and so on, above (on right). Repeat with each gold half-circle in the opposite fashion (away, toward, away, toward); keep pieces folded.

Trim ¼" off the point of each piece; unfold.

Foil side up, place one end flap of pink over one end flap of gold; glue overlapping flaps together with a glue stick, above (on left). Repeat with the other three pink-gold pairs.

Once dry, glue pairs to each other in the same way, alternating colors and making sure the pink flaps always overlap the gold ones until the circle is complete.

Hot-glue 3" circle of cardboard to the back center of the topper. Flip over and hot-glue an ornament to the center, below left.

PAPER LOOPSImage 4Materials

Craft knife

Cutting mat

Foil paper

Assorted-color cardstock

Glue stick

Bone folder

Hot-glue gun

Paper punch

Metallic cording

Step-by-Step

For a three-loop ornament, cut six strips with a craft knife on a cutting mat: two ¾"×7" each foil and cardstock strips and one ¾"×8" each foil and cardstock strips.

Glue back sides of same-size foil and cardstock strips together with a glue stick (make three sets). Before glue completely dries, place each set of strips between your thumb and a bone folder (with foil side on the outside of the curve) and glide as if curling a ribbon.

Form each set into a loop (foil side out) by hot-gluing cut ends together, below; repeat for remaining sets.

Hot-glue the shorter loops to either side of the longer loop; let dry.

Punch a hole at the top of the joined loops. Thread a 6" piece of cording through the hole.

Image 5RAFFIA WREATHMaterials

4 mm twisted paper raffia ribbon in two shades of green

3" metal macramé ring

1 mm natural waxed cording

Hot-glue gun

8–10 10 mm pom-poms

Image 6Step-by-Step

Cut two 42" lengths of raffia ribbon, one in each shade of green. Untwist the ribbon.

Hold one length of green raffia and fold one of the cut ends about 3" down, creating an unfinished loop. Place the loop on macramé ring so cut edge is perpendicular to the ring, below. Do not cut raffia. Wrap waxed cording around base of the loop and the ring.

Tie a knot with the cording on the backside, leaving a tail.

Continue to wrap cording around the base two or three more times; do not cut cording.

Repeat Steps 2 and 4 with a second length and shade of green raffia, slightly overlapping the first loop and wrapping the base with the cording. Repeat in alternating shades of green until the ring is completely covered with the raffia loops.

Cut cording, leaving a 4" tail; tie to the remnant tail from Step 3.

Hot-glue pompoms to wreath.

Image 7RAFFIA BOWMaterial

4 mm twisted paper raffia ribbon in two colors

Step-by-Step

Cut two 36" lengths of raffia, one in each color. Untwist the ribbon so it looks more like a narrow strip of paper. Place one strip on top of the other.

Fold strips in half to find center; unfold. To the right of center, create a loop as if tying a bow for shoelaces, leaving a tail about 6" long.

Cross the left side of the bow up and over, wrapping the center, and create another loop (as if tying shoelaces). Slip this loop through the wrapped center (similar to process of tying a bow tie).

Pull bow taut; trim tails to desired length.

Image 8CORRUGATED PAPER BAUBLESMaterials

Corrugated paper roll or corrugated packing material

Ruler

Craft paint

Paintbrush

Hot-glue gun

Gold cording

Long embroidery needle

Colorful wood beads

Image 9Step-by-Step

To create the basic, symmetrical bauble, top right: Cut a 3"×22" strip of corrugated paper and place horizontally on a surface. On the strip, use a ruler to draw a line from the top right corner to ½" below the top left corner. Draw a second line from the bottom right corner to ½" above the bottom left corner; cut on these lines. Your strip should be a nearly triangular, tapered rectangle.

Paint one side of the strip; let dry.

To form the bauble, roll up the painted strip, starting from the wide end, with painted side exposed (leave a little space in the middle for threading the cord through later). Keep the strip centered as you roll. Secure end with hot glue.

Cut a 12" length of gold cording. Fold cording in half and tie a knot about 2" from folded side.

Slide cut ends of cording through an embroidery needle. Thread the needle through the holes of two beads. Slide the needle through the center of the bauble and out the other side. Add an additional bead or two; tie a knot to secure. If the knot slips through the bead, secure with a dab of hot glue.

To create different-shaped baubles, experiment with different sizes of triangular strips of corrugated paper.

For baubles with multiple pieces, middle and bottom right, roll strips with one straight, uncut edge (rather than tapered) and string together with a bead between the pieces.

Image 10

Image 11CHENILLE STEM STARSMaterials

4" cardboard coaster

Colored cardstock

9"×12" premium felt sheet (it’s a bit thicker than standard felt)

Glue stick

Star template (see smart code, page 149)

Rotary punch

16 pipe cleaners (8 each in two colors)

Hot-glue gun

Step-by-Step

Using coaster as your template, trace one 4" circle each out of cardstock and felt; cut out. Glue cardstock circle and coaster together with a glue stick; set the felt circle aside.

Print and cut star template and use it to mark the notches on coaster edge; punch out with a rotary punch. Number back of the coaster as indicated on the template.

Cut eight pipe cleaners of one color into 4" lengths and eight in second color into 5" lengths.

Wrap a 4" pipe cleaner on top of coaster according to numbers on back: Hook pipe cleaner into No. 1 spot and cross over to No. 5 spot (we call this action 1–5); secure with a dab of hot glue. Repeat with remaining seven 4" pieces in the following order: 5–9, 9–13, 13–1, 3–7, 7–11, 11–15, 15–3.

Using same technique as Step 4, wrap the eight 5" pieces in following order: 4–14, 6–12, 10–16, 2–8, 6–16, 8–14, 4–10, 2–12.

Hot-glue the felt circle to the back of the coaster.

Image 12WOVEN FABRIC STARSMaterials

Four 1.75"×12" strips of fabric folded in half lengthwise (⅞" wide) or four 12" strips ⅞"-wide double bias tape

Iron

Embroidery needle and thread

Step-by-Step

Fold all strips of fabric or bias tape in half so ends meet.

Slide the strips together to form an interlocking box shape and flip over, below, top.

Starting with the strip on the right and moving clockwise, pick up the topmost strip and bring it across the center. Once you reach the fourth strip, slip it through the loop created by the first strip.

Starting with the top right strip and moving in a clockwise direction, fold the strip down and behind itself at a 45-degree angle, then fold again at a 45-degree angle, left, bottom. Fold the strip in half where the triangles meet to create a star point. Tuck the remaining strip in the looped area and cut any excess bias tape.

Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until all strips are points and you have a star shape, above left; press flat.

Use embroidery needle and thread to stitch a loop through top of star.

Row/Stack w/Captions 2

Image 13BIAS TAPE TREEMaterials

⅞" wide double bias tape in two colors

Iron

Iron-on adhesive at least 2" wide

Hot-glue gun

Pom-poms

Step-by-StepImage 14

Cut one 42" length of bias tape of each color. Unfold bias tape to 3.25" wide and lay out so the “hills” of the folds face down.

To hem and stiffen the bias tape: cut a 2"×42" length of iron-on adhesive and lay it in the center 2" of one strip of the bias tape. Press with iron following adhesive package directions.

When the adhesive is cool, slowly remove the adhesive paper. As you remove the paper, fold the outer edges toward the center and onto the adhesive, following the folds in the bias tape. Once the edges are adhered, there should be about 0.75" between them.

Cut two ⅝"×42" lengths of adhesive tape and lay on the outer edges of the bias tape. Adhere following package directions, removing the paper once cool, above.

Fold bias tape in half lengthwise and smooth with your hand.

Repeat Steps 2–5 for the second piece of bias tape.

With your now-prepped pieces of bias tape, stack one piece on top of the other and add a small dab of hot glue to the top; cut ends in a diagonal to create a neat edge. Hot-glue this end to the top of your gift, slightly off-center to the right.

Create the tree shape by zigzagging the bias tape across and down the package, below, making each tier wider as you move down. Glue the outer edges to the package as you go.

Trim the end and hot-glue the end to the package to secure. Hot-glue pom-poms to the tree to mimic ornaments; use a larger pom-pom at the top for a tree topper.

Image 15All Spruced Uppages 138-147PINECONE DOOR WREATHMaterials

Red spray paint

150 pinecones in a variety of sizes

14" straw wreath form

Wired wood picks

Hot-glue gun

Step-by-Step

Spray-paint pinecones and wreath form; let dry.

Wrap the wire from a wood pick around the bottom of a pinecone and pierce the pick through the straw form; add a dab of hot glue to secure. Repeat until the wreath is covered with pinecones.

Hot-glue small pinecones to fill in any gaps.

Image 16
WAX-COATED SNOW PINECONEMaterials

Small drill

Screw eye

Pinecone

Slow cooker (used only for crafting)

1 lb. beeswax pellets

Parchment paper

Ribbon

Step-by-Step

Drill screw eye into the top of a pinecone.

In the slow cooker, heat wax on low until it is melted but still thick. Hold the screw eye and dip the pinecone into the wax, covering it completely; remove. Let dry on parchment paper.

Thread ribbon through the screw eye for hanging.

PINECONE ORNAMENTSImage 17BirdMaterials

Spray paint

Pinecone

Hot-glue gun

1" wood bead

Bird template (see smart code, page 149)

Cardstock

White glue

Glitter

Clove

2 black peppercorns

Thread

Step-by-Step

Spray-paint pinecone; let dry.

Hot-glue the bead to the bottom of the pinecone to create the head.

Trace templates for wings and tail onto cardstock; cut out.

Coat the head, wings, and tail with white glue and cover with glitter.

Once dry, hot-glue the wings and tail to the pinecone, as shown below.

Remove round end of the clove to use for a beak. Adhere clove and peppercorns (for eyes) to head with white glue. Wrap a length of thread around the center for hanging.

Image 18Mushroom Materials

Florists scissors

Pinecone

Paper clay

White glue

Paintbrush

Craft paint

Clear glitter

Small drill

Screw eye

Thread

Step-by-Step

Using florists scissors, cut a pinecone into the shape of a mushroom cap, above.

Create a stem with paper clay and push cap into top of stem; let dry. Add a dab of white glue to the stem if necessary.

Paint the top of the mushroom cap. When dry, apply thinned white glue and add glitter.

Drill a small hole for the screw eye, attach it, and add thread for hanging.

Flower PlaquePictured on p. 141.Materials

Fine-pointed scissors

2 or 3 pinecones

Small drill

3" diameter wood slice

Acrylic paint

Paintbrush

Hot-glue gun

Thread

Step-by-Step

Cut pinecones through the core to create flowerlike slices; the scales around the centers should look like petals. For larger flowers, cut slices near bottom of the pinecones; for buds, cut near the top.

Drill a 2 mm hole 1 cm from the edge of the wood slice.

Mix a 1:1 ratio of acrylic paint (we used shades of pink and red) and water and use a paintbrush to paint wood slice; let dry.

Hot-glue pinecone flowers onto the wood slice.

Insert thread through the hole for hanging.

Image 19PINECONE NAPKIN RINGMaterials

White glue

2" wood ring

Embroidery floss

Fine-pointed scissors

Small pinecone, above right

Five or six 2 mm gold beads

Hot-glue gun

Step-by-Step

Apply a dab of white glue to the wood ring and place the end of your embroidery floss on top, above.

Wrap the floss around the ring five times and add another dab of glue. Repeat this wrapping-gluing process until the ring is covered with floss. Cut and glue the ends to the ring.

Once dry, use a damp cloth to wipe away excess glue.

Use fine-pointed scissors to cut a small flower from the pinecone, cutting through its core. The scales will be the petals.

Affix gold beads to the center of flower with white glue. Hot-glue flower to the ring. NOTE To make a centerpiece, create extra flowers and glue them onto a branch.

BY: ELLA FIELD; PHOTOS: (PAPER SNOWFLAKES) JANET KWAN, (GIFT TOPPERS) KELSEY HANSEN; SNOWFLAKE ILLUSTRATIONS: AGNESE BICOCCHI; CRAFTS BY: (SNOWFLAKES) WENDY LAU, (GIFT TOPPERS) KIM HUTCHISON; PHOTOS: KELSEY HANSEN; PHOTOS: (DOOR, TOPIARY) AMY BATOG, (PINECONE PROJECTS) KELSEY HANSEN; CRAFTS: MARCIE MCGOLDRICK & HEIDI SHARKEYCoverPhiladelphia Cream Cheese Ad 1Philadelphia Cream Cheese Ad 2ContentsHome Depot AdReynolds Wrap AdEditor's LetterOlay AdBlue Buffalo Treats Ad 1MastheadBlue Buffalo Treats Ad 2Cheerios Ad 1From the EditorsCheerios Ad 2Off the PageWalmart AdHoliday Gift GuideTorani AdHallmark AdBHG Real Estate AdSketchers AdPurina One AdShop-Festival of LightsDecorate-Let It SnowMinted+Brides AdCook-Winter GreenEgglands Best AdPurina AdOpzelura Ad 1Opzelura Ad 2Opzelura Ad 3Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls AdPillsbury Cinnamon Rolls Ad 2Organize-Putting Away the HolidaysGlad AdDayQuil NyQuil AdPedigree Ad 1Pedigree Ad 2Fasenra Ad 1Fasenra Ad 2Fasenra Ad 3Grow-Winter WondersCook-Cathedral Window JellyHome for the Holidays AdFleischmann's Yeast AdKaro AdDecorate-Around the Kwanzaa TableHeifer AdPurina Friskies AdPoise AdCook-Baked Up BigKerrygold AdGlucerna Ad 1Glucerna Ad 2Make-I Did ItRenewal Window AdFresh Files AdSyfovre Ad 1Syfovre Ad 2Syfovre Ad 3Syfovre Ad 4Cook-5 Ingredient Cozy BowlsJimmy Dean AdStouffer's AdArexvy Ad 1Arexvy Ad 2Holiday Entertaining Essentials Ad 1Holiday Entertaining Essentials Ad 2All the TrimmingsOut of the BoxAlmond AlchemyChristmas in Full ColorAll Spruced UpWorkbookCookbookGoya AdThe Perfect Plate AdJTV AdHershey's Kisses AdThrive - A Better SmoothieZzzQuil AdFresh Files Ad 2Ensure Ad 1Ensure Ad 2Thrive - In The KnowCelebrate Magazine AdStylemakerDove AdPost Office Ad