by Augustine Bauer

Created on: November 18, 2009   Last Updated: January 15, 2010

What comes to mind when you think of New Year's? Snow, hot chocolate and, a warm fire? Or parties, excitement, and all your friends? Either way, some fun and simple crafts can spice up your celebration. In the following paragraphs I will include suggestions and instructions for crafts you can make with your kids, with your friends, or on your own.

You can easily create your own Times Square Ball in a few straightforward steps. Paint a Styrofoam ball with silver glitter paint. Once it has dried, thread clear beads onto silver pipe cleaners and poke the pipe cleaners into the ball. Add a hairpin to use as a loop and hang from your ceiling.

You could also make some English-style crackers to add a bang to your New Year. Fill an empty toilet roll tube with a paper hat, joke, cracker snap (available at craft stores), and small toy or gift. Make sure the cracker snap is towards the edge of the tube. Wrap your stuffed tube in wrapping paper and tie ribbon around the ends. Search 'Christmas Crackers' online to see what your finished product should look like. These crackers are not as effective as store brought crackers but work well enough and are a fun thing to make with kids.

Another festive activity to do in the New Year is to create a time capsule. Decorate a box and fill it with items that will help you remember the last year. You could either bury or hide this box or simply place it on a shelf somewhere. Decide on a time, maybe five or ten years in the future, when you will open the box and examine the contents. Alternatively, you could add one or two items to your time capsule every New Year's.

These crafts are always fun but there are many other activities you could enjoy doing this New Year's. Maybe you could create paper snowflakes for your windows or make gifts for your family and friends. If you feel like a long-term project you could start latch hooking a rug. This is particularly enjoyable if you a re comfortable in your pajamas and slippers by the fire, talking or listening to an audiotape. Remember these are for fun and your creations do not have to be perfect. Above all, do not be discouraged if your first attempt does not work. Try again. Have fun, be careful, and enjoy these crafts!

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