How to Make Gumdrop Christmas Tree Balls

These sweet, edible Christmas ball ornaments are perfect for decorating a Candyland-themed tree or just adding a fanciful, festive element to your traditional tree. Even the youngest elf can assemble them with safety and ease. Make colorful designs or just affix the candies randomly for a beautiful rainbow ornament that will tempt anyone passing your Christmas tree. Or, use these treats as edible centerpieces. Just keep them out of reach of hungry pets and toddlers...

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gumdrops
• Styrofoam balls
• Toothpicks
• Gold string
• Craft glue
• Scissors

1. Break all of the toothpicks in half. This project will not work if the toothpicks are not broken, as they will knock into each other in the center of the Styrofoam balls.

2. Impale the flat ends of the gumdrops on the toothpicks. Use the sharp end or the broken end. Insert the toothpicks about halfway, so that there is a solid piece of wood extending from the bottom of the gumdrop.

3. Glue a gold loop to the ball. This serves as the ornament hanger. Hold the loop in place until the glue sets up. With most craft glues, this takes about 30 seconds to a minute at most. Use a large drop of glue to make sure the hanger holds.

4. Stick the gumdrops into the Styrofoam. Place them close together so that no Styrofoam shows through. The toothpicks will hold the candies to the ball. If you do not plan on eating the gumdrops at a later date, add a little security by placing a dot of glue on the underside of the gumdrop before sticking it into the ball. Once you have inserted a candy, do not wiggle it around or the hole will not hold the toothpick tightly.

5. Allow the balls to sit for about 2 hours, letting the glue dry completely. Once the adhesive has set, you are ready to hang these rainbow treats on your tree.

Tips & Warnings

• These balls are fairly heavy when they are done, so do not hang them on flimsy branches.
• If you are not going to eat them later, spray the balls with a clear craft varnish to preserve them so that you can decorate with them for years to come. However, store them in a sealed container to prevent rats or bugs from invading your Christmas boxes during the intervening months.