Christmas Workshop

Star of David

To make a star to hang in a window or on a Christmas tree, you will need: newspapers, acrylic paint, old plastic lid, paintbrush, 6 craft or ice-cream sticks, glue, and string. Cover the workplace with newspapers. Pour some paint into the plastic lid. Paint one side of each stick; let dry. Then paint the remaining sides; let dry. Glue three sticks together to form a triangle; let dry. Repeat with the remaining three sticks. Lay one triangle down. Place the other one, facing in the opposite direction, on top of it, forming a six-pointed star. Glue the two triangles together where they touch; let dry. Attach a piece of string for hanging.

Sandpaper Gingerbread People

To make gingerbread people to decorate packages, cards, or a Christmas tree, you will need: gingerbread people cookie cutters, medium sandpaper, pencil, crayons, a cookie sheet, an oven (use with an adult’s help), and a hole punch and string for hanging (optional). Place the cookie cutter on the back of the sandpaper and trace around it. Repeat until the paper is filled with traced figures, then cut them out. Pushing down hard with the crayons, color the details and decorations on the gingerbread people until the sandpaper barely shows through (see illustration). Place them right side up on the cookie sheet. Ask an older person to heat the oven to 250° F (120° C). When it is heated, place the cookie sheet on the center rack. Keep the oven door open and watch for a few seconds as the crayon melts. Have the older person remove the cookie sheet from the oven, then let your gingerbread people cool. If you are going to hang them, punch a hole near the top of each head and attach a piece of string.