How to Make Old-Fashioned Snowflake Christmas Ornaments

When I was a child, my mother made these ornaments and allowed my brother and I to help. The ornaments reflect the tree lights, and though they are relatively fragile, will keep for years with proper care.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• newspaper
• scissors
• 2 bowls
• flour
• water
• bluing
• mica flakes

1. Cut out paper snowflakes from the newspapers, just as children are taught to cut out snowflakes in elementary school. Don't make them extremely small or too large.

2. Pour mica flakes into a bowl wide enough to accommodate the largest snowflake.

3. Put flour into a bowl wide enough to accommodate the largest snowflake. Add a little water to make a paste which is slightly on the thin side.

4. Add enough bluing to flour paste to color it a light to medium shade of blue.

5. Coat a paper snowflake with the flour paste by laying the snowflake into the paste and then turning it over so the other side is coated with paste.

6. Lay the pasted snowflake into the mica flakes, turning to coat both sides. Gently shake to knock-off excess mica.

7. Lay snowflakes on flat surface to dry. When completely dry, an ornament hanger can be inserted into one of the points of the snowflake.

8. Hang the snowflakes on your Christmas tree, particularly in those areas that need something to fill a 'hole'.

Tips & Warnings

• Mica flakes can be purchased online. Search for old-fashioned mica flakes. It is inexpensive.
• When packing away ornaments after the holidays, put ornaments into a separate box, stacking them lightly one on top of another.

[leanan]

on 11/6/2008 These sound wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[Kilogramm]

on 10/22/2008 This is a great idea!

[lildutchgirl56]

on 9/27/2008 I love crafts, thanks for sharing.

[showpup]

on 9/27/2008 This sounds like fun! Thanks. 5*