Welcome back to our 12 Days of Crunchy Christmas Crafts for the whole family! So far, we’ve made pinecone bird treats, gingerbread nativities, and today we’re showcasing two super simple “snowed in” candle crafts that were big hits with our kids this week!
🎶It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas . . .🎵
*above pictures of our first snow in October
“Are you snowed in!?😲”
This is a text message I receive often from concerned out-of-state friends and family. I just love it. Snow is to Californians and Floridians as shopping malls are to me: terrifying. Whenever I open my phone and see this text, I have to laugh because one, we’ve never actually been “snowed in” up here in the Montana mountains since our house was basically built on stilts to avoid such a thing. . . and two, the prospect of truly being “snowed in” is positively thrilling to me. It’s a lot to communicate in a text, so most of the time, I simply reply “I wish.”
I remember one Christmas in California growing up we got away to a little cabin we loved up in the Stanislaus mountains and woke Christmas Eve to a foot or more of snow blocking the front door. My sisters and I were positively giddy.
Snowed in! What could be better than being absolutely stuck inside the place you love best in the world?
It was better somehow than waking even to overflowing stockings and gleaming presents under the tree. Dad had sensibly brought the snow shovel in the night before (always the weather man) and proceeded to dig our way out before breakfast. But I wouldn’t have cared a figgy pudding if he hadn’t.
I guess I was always destined for the snowed-in life; a willing captive to warmth, comfort, and all things merriment.
First up . . .
~Jack Frost Jars~
“This is so fun! It really looks like snow!” -The Captain, age 9
DIFFICULTY (aka Happiness Meter): Easy-Peasy
MESS METER: Minimal . . . just salt and maybe a little mod podge
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- recylced jars
- mod podge
- old paint brushes
- coarse grain salt
- assorted ribbons & twine
- fabric scissors
- trays/pyrex
- doo-dads (such as little pinecones or Christmas ornaments)
- tee lights or votive candles
TIME NEEDED: half an hour for several jars
KID RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars; fun and easy)
PARENT RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars; lovely process, lovely result)
1.) Assemble supplies.
2.) Paint jars with mod podge from the base of rim to the bottom edge.
Work quickly so that the glue doesn’t dry before sprinkling with salt. Go for a thick coat but not enough to where the mod podge will pool or run. For young kids, hold the top of the jar for them and help them paint on the podge. Don’t paint the actual base of the jar.
3.) Frost with salt. Lots of it.
Go for full coverage and work quickly.
4.) Place the jars on wax or parchment paper to fully dry.
5.) Tap off excess salt, then decorate the rims.
6.) Partially fill your Jack Frost Jars with more salt and pop in tee lights or votives!
🎶Frosted windowpanes, candles gleaming inside🎵
Next up . . .
~Snowed-in Tins~
DIFFICULTY (aka Happiness Meter): Easy-Peasy
MESS METER: Minimal . . . just salt!
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- a Christmas tin or two
- lots of coarse-grain salt
- tee lights or votive candles
TIME NEEDED: ten minutes tops
KID RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars; instant magic!)
PARENT RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars; fast-track craft!)
1.) Assemble supplies.
2.) Nearly fill tin(s) with salt.
*Note: we had lots of ice cream salt, so we half-filled with that first, and then topped with coarse grain salt.
3.) Nestle in little tee lights or votives.
4.) Display and enjoy the rest of your day!
🎶And since we’ve no place to go, let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!🎵
Thanks for crafting with us today! Hope to see you tomorrow!
Love, ~Candace Arden
PSSST! Today’s snowy crafts pair perfectly with our Magical Winter Wonderland Playlist for when you need a break from Christmas lyrics!
Oh funny, my family and I were originally from California too. Now, further up north, we’re hoping to get an official white Christmas this year XD. (Already made mini snow people last week before it all melted in the rain!)
It seems we have a lot in common! What are mini snow people?? That sounds cute.
Basically, we had a light layer of snowfall one day, and we made snow men/women but very small (like up to our knees. My sister did a puppy lol.) It’s easier when you don’t have a lot of snow to begin with, or don’t want to lift and stack heavy balls of snow.
Oh! Snowmen! That’s so sweet.