Icicle Ornaments

These are fun, nondenominational winter gifts that are quick and easy to make, especially with some prep!  They're also cute tied into present bows, or secretly hung all over the house.

Use medium-gauge wire and cut pieces about 3 inches longer than you want the finished icicle to be.  Curl the bottom into a little spiral using needle nose pliers.  This step can be done to all of them before you begin.  Let kids string beads and sequins on the wires, and then curl the top into a hook.  Note how the tops of the wires are curled in too (click the pictures to make them bigger!)- that prevents them from being pokey.  We used a big marker to make the top hooks even.

Decorate with wild abandon!

Snow Spray Paint

Food coloring and water in a spray bottle make awesome earth-safe spray paints!  Experiment with spray settings.  Write messages to passersby on your lawn!  Watch your creations melt!

If you don't have an old spray bottle in your recycling bin, you can find them in the cosmetics section of most drug stores and dollar stores.

I checked with the ASPCA and they said food coloring is pet-safe, but if your dogs are prone to eating snow but they might pee rainbows for a little while.  Do not be alarmed.