Making this cuddly pillow is so quick and easy, it's like performing a magic trick. What's the secret? Knots. The pieces are tied together (fleece fabric needs no hemming), which makes this gift simple enough to complete in an afternoon, and cute enough to give to a best friend or cousin.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Fleece
	Scissors
	Ruler
	Chalk
	Fiberfill
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. Cut 2 identical heart shapes from the fleece, 1 red, 1 green. To allow for a 4-inch fringe, be sure to cut the hearts 8 inches larger than you want your finished pillow. We cut ours 26 inches across and 22 inches long for an 18- by 14-inch pillow.

2. On 1 fleece heart, use a ruler and chalk or a disappearing-ink pen to draw a heart 4 inches in from the edge of the fabric (see illustration). Measure and draw fringe that's about 1 inch wide and 4 inches long (up to the center heart, as shown).

3. Stack the hearts with your chalk lines on top. Cut the fringe, through both layers of fleece, stopping at the center heart.

4. Begin at the bottom point of the heart and tie the top piece of fringe to the bottom piece by double-knotting them. Continue up the side of the pillow. At the dip at the top, knot together the top 4 fringes (2 pairs) into 1 double knot to cinch the opening more tightly. Then go back to knotting just 2 fringes until only 4 pairs are untied.

5. Stuff the heart with fiberfill. Tie the remaining fringes. Brush off any chalk that still shows. Ink lines should disappear according to the package directions.

6. For a twist on this gift: Try a different shape, such as this lion pillow. We knotted together squares of orange and yellow fleece and brought our king of the jungle to life with cord whiskers, and felt eyes and nose attached with tacky glue. For square pillows, cut off and discard the corner fringes before you begin knotting.

idea courtesy of Family Fun

Although cookie cutters are best known for their work in the kitchen, these fun-shaped baking utensils can also play a role in decorating your family's Christmas tree.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	3-foot length of 18-gauge gold-colored craft wire
	Pencil
	Star-shaped cookie cutter
	Wire cutters
	20-to 24-gauge colored lightweight wire
	Ribbon
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. To make an ornament like the one here, wrap one end of a 3-foot length of 18-gauge gold-colored craft wire around a pencil to form a hanging loop. With the loop at the top of a star cookie cutter, press the wire twice around the perimeter of the cookie cutter to form a star shape, twisting it around the hanging loop and using wire cutters (a parent's job) to snip off any excess. Remove the cutter.

2. Now your child can complete the ornament by wrapping the wire outline with lengths of 20-to 24-gauge colored lightweight wire, securing the ends in place by wrapping them around the cookie cutter outline.

3. Finally, tie a hanging ribbon to the loop, and your ornament is ready for display.
 

idea courtesy of Family Fun

Sometimes a simple idea, like shaping strands of beads into ornaments, is all it takes to check off most of the people on your child's gift list.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Pipe cleaners
	Transparent craft beads (5- to 10-millimeter diameters)
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Bend an end of a pipe cleaner into a 90-degree angle. Have your child thread on beads from the opposite end, stopping a half inch from the tip.

2. Twist together the two ends, and the strand is ready to shape into a star, a candy cane, or another festive object.

Variations:
Twist together the ends of two pipe cleaners for a longer strand, or attach short beaded lengths to add a striker to a bell or holly berries to a wreath.

idea courtesy of Family Fun

While melting and pouring wax is best left to adults, the creative parts of this candle-making project (choosing the perfect crayon to color the wax and decorating the glass holder with beads) are meant for kids.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Large saucepan
	Metal canning jar lid rim
	Coffee can
	Paraffin wax
	Crayons
	Paint stirrer
	Candlesticks (one for each jar)
	Thick widemouth glass jars
	Metal tongs
	Plastic beads
	Tacky glue
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Set up a double boiler to melt the paraffin. Fill the bottom of the saucepan with 4 to 5 inches of water and drop in the canning jar lid rim. Then pack chunks of paraffin into the coffee can, setting it on the jar rim so that it doesn't directly touch the bottom of the pot.

2. Melt the wax over medium-high heat, carefully adding more chunks until the can is about two-thirds filled. To color the melted wax, break half of a peeled crayon into pieces. Add them to the wax and slowly mix with a paint stirrer, then turn off the heat and let the paraffin cool for about 10 minutes (this will help minimize shrinkage when the wax hardens).

3. Using a sharp knife, cut the candlesticks 1/2 inch shorter than the jar heights (adults only). Now, heat the jars by running warm water on the outsides but not the insides (this will help prevent cracking when you pour in the hot wax).

4. With metal tongs, dip the bottom of each candlestick into the melted wax and stick it to the inner jar bottom. When the candlestick ends have hardened enough to hold, carefully pour enough wax into the jars to cover the candlestick tops but not the wicks.

5. Once the candles cool completely, your kids can glue beads to the outside of the jar, arranging them in a border around the rim, perhaps, or creating a multicolor pattern all the way around.

idea courtesy of Family Fun