Craft Project – Page 6 – Wineberry Wood Press

11Dec 2023 by catbird 1 Comment

Magic Crystal Geode Lanterns

Fall and winter are prime lantern time, and I am constantly thinking of different ways to make lanterns this time of year. It feels like it suddenly gets dark at 4 or 5 pm so the desire for more light is almost instinctive I think. Winter and Winter Solstice seem like the perfect time for sparkly magical lanterns, and they have serious snow queen vibes. It was really hard to capture the extreme sparkliness in photos, so I did my best, but these are way more sparkly in person. This is actually a pretty simple craft, but will need too cool overnight and dry out for at least another day.These little lanterns are perfect for a Winter Solstice lantern walk or party! Magic Crystal Geode Lanterns I’ve always loved making…

09Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments

Fun Winter Solstice Craft Ideas for Kids

Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Winter, Winter Solstice

Looking for fun crafts to do with (or without...) kids for the Winter Solstice? Click the text next to the images for the tutorials. Save for later! Lanterns & Light Crafts: Make a star shaped Winter Solstice lantern to light the longest night! Craft these simple snowy tree lanterns from a recycled jar and some unexpected evergreen plants. Geode Lanterns Make ice lanterns with natural materials! Orange Pomander candles are the perfect way to decorate a winter nature table Ornaments & Decorations: Make Winter Solstice Tree & sun ornaments with a golden sun tree topper Make beautiful spice mosaic ornaments Craft some stars from twigs Make some woodsy mushroom ornaments Craft dried orange garlands to decorate your home Decorate your windows with lovely stars that also diffuse scent Gifts &…

05Dec 2023 by catbird 1 Comment

Aurora Borealis Pinecones

Campfire, Craft Project, Folklore, Nature Art, Winter, Winter Solstice

The Northern Lights or aurora borealis, is a natural phenomenon caused by energized particles from the sun hitting the Earth's upper atmosphere. The earth's magnetic field directs these particles towards the poles which is wy they are more visible there. The result of this atmospheric bombardment is beautiful colored lights dancing in the sky that have inspired human observers for a millenia. The famous Italian astronomer Galileo gave the lights their name in 1619, but the earliest known record of the phenomena is a 30,000 year old cave painting in France. Galileo named the light for the Greek goddesses of the of dawn, Aurora, and the north wind, Boreas. They feature in folktales and myths from around the world. The Inuit people believe they are spirits, while the Vikings attributed…

04Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments

The Best Winter Solstice Party Ideas

Craft Project, Nature Collection, Play, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

We love to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the longest night! Looking for some fun and easy ways to celebrate with friends and family? Check out some of our favorite parties and celebrations! Fun for all ages! Winter Solstice Bonfire Party A warm bonfire is always welcome on a cold winter day and the perfect way to have fun with friends outside for the Winter Solstice. Ancient people traditionally burned huge bonfires on the Solstice to welcome back the sun. So invite some friends over to welcome back the sun and keep toasty warm while celebrating! Make sure you have plenty of chairs and warm blankets to keep everyone cozy. Hot chocolate is always a good choice this time of year, you can even make it over the…

23Nov 2023 by catbird 2 Comments

Crystalizing Frost Paint for the Frost Moon

Craft Project, Frost Moon, Full Moon, Learning, Nature Art, Play, Winter

November is the time that the really frosty mornings start for us. The Assiniboine and Creek people call this moon the Frost Moon, the Anishnaabeg and Passamaquoddy call it the Freezing Moon, and the Algonquin tribes call it the Much White Frost on Grass Moon. The Abenaki refer to the Freezing River Maker Moon, and the Arapaho people call it the When the Rivers Start to Freeze Moon. This is a great time to explore outside and look for different types of frost. I always seem to find myself taking pictures of leaves that look like they are dusted with icing sugar. If you have old wondows like us you'll start to see beautiful feathers of frost form on them in the morning. There are even "frost flowers" that is…

21Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Simple Snowy Tree Lanterns

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

This is a winter variation on my favorite simplest lanterns. It makes use of pressed ferns which look remarkably like little evergreen trees. While some ferns die back in the winter, there are a number that are evergreen, so take a look around for some ferns growing even if it's the dead of winter. These lanterns use the simple jar method and are quick and easy for kids to put together. If you are looking for a more elaborate lantern, I have tons of lantern ideas here. Light up the longest night with beautiful lantern! Snowy Winter Tree Lanterns We used a punch to make the snowflakes, but you could also cut them from folded paper. My son made yet another lantern from the paper the snowflakes were cut from…

12Nov 2023 by catbird 17 Comments

2023 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Craft Project, Free Printable, Play, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won't open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you'll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes two exclusive excerpts from my Winter Solstice book that will only be available through this calendar and only in December 2023. This calendar is now closed. Look for a new calendar in November 2024!! Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Happy Winter Solstice! Click Here for the materials list-- there are some spoilers here, but I tried my…

03Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Scented Window Star Diffusers

Craft Project, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

Waldorf style window stars make a beautiful decoration this time of year, but I wanted something more. I decided to use them essentially a diffuser for holiday scents. They looks stunning and fill your home with gentle scent. To make these stars you will fold them the same way you would standard window stars, but you can’t use the traditional kite paper because it will repel the oil. (Kite paper is coated in wax.) Instead use regular tissue paper, which you can cut into squares yourself or you can find tissue paper for floats which conveniently comes in pre-cut 5.5 x 5x5” squares. (This is what I used) This is a great kid project and a fun way to involve littles in holiday preparations. Adding some paper snowflakes to the…

30Oct 2023 by catbird No Comments

Cinnamon Birds

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice

These are a classic holiday craft-- I remember making them as a kid and I now make them with my kids. I love the birds strung on a garland and paired with dried orange slices, they look and smell amazing. They are also super easy to make with kids and are basically play dough until you dry them. Use cheap bulk cinnamon for these not the nice stiff you use in baking. This is a rare case of quantity over quality. When I made these as a kid I always added glue, and I do think it makes them a little sturdier, but they work fine without it and leaving it out makes them compostable which is nice. You can paint or decorate these but I never do because I…

29Oct 2023 by catbird 5 Comments

Solstice Simmer Pots & a Gift Idea

Craft Project, Folklore, Winter, Winter Solstice

One of the easiest things to do around the winter holidays is to make a simmer pot. A simmer pot is basically a homemade air freshener made by simmering fragrant pieces of fruits, herbs, and other spices in water. You throw some nice smelling things into a pot and let it just simmer on the stove all day. It makes the house smell amazing and cozy and like the holidays. There are three other important facets to this tradition beyond the lovely scent for me: 1) I use up discarded things like orange peels and fallen evergreen branches. It kills me when I see recipes that tell you to cut up 3 fresh oranges or apples. There is no reason. Eat the food. Lots of people don't have enough food and…

Category: Craft Project