Raines Realm

Christmas is almost here! Presents wrapped and under the tree, check. Goodies baked, check. Hot chocolate stockpiled, check! So, now that everything is ready, what are some fun things to do with your kids while you wait for Christmas day? Here's six fun crafts to occupy the rest of the week. 1. Painting mugs - this craft is so simple! All you need is some dishwasher-safe acrylic paints (less than $1 each at craft stores and Wal-Mart), painting supplies, and mugs (only $1 each at Dollar Tree), and painter's tape. Put down a drop cloth and have fun! After everyone finishes painting, let sit for one hour, then bake per directions on paint bottle. Fun works of art for the whole family! 2. Painting ornaments - such a fun craft to do with children of all ages! These are great for adding to your tree or for giving to family and friends as stocking stuffers. You can find the complete recipe with directions here . 3. Bird Feeder - if you like birds, why not make birdseed ...

We all want to show our loved ones how much we care, especially during the holidays. Perhaps, you're better off skipping the long lines and parking lot brawls, and baking gifts that will last year after year. This recipe can be used for a variety of projects like making ornaments or little knick knacks. You can let your children or pets add their little hand or paw prints. You can even create your own designs using your fingers, toothpicks, straws, or anything you can think of. Let your imagination guide you as you gather your supplies. You will need flour, salt, water, and acrylic paints. The original recipe for this project can be found  here . Ornament Mold Recipe 4 cups Flour 1 Cup Salt 1 1/2 cups Water Directions  Step-by-step instructions 1. Combine all ingredients in bowl and knead for 15 minutes. 2. Roll out dough and use cookie cutters or a butter knife to cut out shapes. 3. Add handprints, footprints, fingerprints, pawprints, (you get the idea...