It’s the holiday season! It may be hard to get into the spirit this year but we’ve got you covered! Ingrid, Clémence, and Natalie propose little ways to make you feel cheerful before the end of 2020.
Last year, the librarians made snowmen and reindeer to hang on the Center’s garland. To do the same, you’ll need:
Egg carton
Scissors
White and black paint (for the snowman)
String (we used twine!) or glue
Options for decoration: markers, ribbons, pom poms, yarn, googly eyes, buttons, wrapping paper left over from wrapping presents
Instructions:
Reindeer:
1. Separate the egg carton into individual cups, cutting so that the bottoms are flat.
2. If making the reindeer, the easiest way to connect the different cups is to use glue. However, you can also connect them using twine. If you want to follow the way the librarians created, use the scissors to add a hole in the centers of two cartons. When you place the edges of the two cups against one another, you should be able to string them together and create the body. The librarians tied a knot against the bottom of one and created a loop to hang from the tree on the other (this side was knotted on the inside of the reindeer’s body).
3. On the top part of the body, either glue a cup to the front of the body. If you’re not using glue, take the scissors to again create a hole as a connection point on the body and the head, linking them with knotted thread.
4. Now, to decorate with tape or glue! Antlers, a red nose, drawn or glued-on eyes, ribbons, have fun and get creative!
Snowman:
1. If making a snowman, paint 3 of the cartons white and one black before setting them aside to dry. Either glue the cups together or use the scissors to put a hole through the centers of all four cups, securing with knots at the top, middle, and bottom. Be sure to leave a loop at the top in order to hang the ornament from your tree!
2. Once the snowman is secured, it’s time to decorate!
Bonus craft! To make matching scarves for yourself and your ornament (perhaps in the colors bleu, blanc et rouge?) there’s no need for knitting needles! Grab some yarn and follow this video for an easy finger-knitting tutorial!
What a better activity by a cold afternoon than preparing Christmas biscuits? It’s a family friendly activity, it’s delish and your house will smell like Christmas! Keep some for yourself and give the other to your family, neighbors and friends; they will love this special attention.
Want to add a French touch to your biscuits? Look for these French recipes or create French shapes such as a yummy rooster biscuit, a bottle of Champagne or an Eiffel Tower!
If you have ever purchased jam from the brand Bonne Maman, you may have wondered how you can re-use the jar with the special gingham-patterned lid. Why not make your own festive Christmas snowglobe?!
What you’ll need:
Used and clean Bonne Maman jar
A homemade or store-bought Christmas tree (small- to fit in the jar!)
Glycerin (optional; it makes the glitter float better)
Glitter
Sequins
Water
Spoon
Superglue or a hot glue gun
Instructions:
1. Glue the tree to the lid of the jar.
2. Fill the jar with cold water
3. Add a few teaspoons of glitter into the water-filled jar and mix. Add some drops of glycerin if you choose.
4. Screw the lid onto the top of the jar.
5. See your spirits lift!
The fun, Frenchy holiday activities don’t stop there! You can also study your French holiday vocabulary (more here); perfect your Christmas cocktails: vin chaud or soupe de champagne; or experiment with a new recipe for bûche de Noël (you heard it here first: la bûche is this holiday’s answer to spring’s sourdough bread making!).
Egg Carton Ornaments with Ingrid
Last year, the librarians made snowmen and reindeer to hang on the Center’s garland. To do the same, you’ll need:Egg carton
Scissors
White and black paint (for the snowman)
String (we used twine!) or glue
Options for decoration: markers, ribbons, pom poms, yarn, googly eyes, buttons, wrapping paper left over from wrapping presents
Instructions:
Reindeer:
1. Separate the egg carton into individual cups, cutting so that the bottoms are flat.
2. If making the reindeer, the easiest way to connect the different cups is to use glue. However, you can also connect them using twine. If you want to follow the way the librarians created, use the scissors to add a hole in the centers of two cartons. When you place the edges of the two cups against one another, you should be able to string them together and create the body. The librarians tied a knot against the bottom of one and created a loop to hang from the tree on the other (this side was knotted on the inside of the reindeer’s body).
3. On the top part of the body, either glue a cup to the front of the body. If you’re not using glue, take the scissors to again create a hole as a connection point on the body and the head, linking them with knotted thread.
4. Now, to decorate with tape or glue! Antlers, a red nose, drawn or glued-on eyes, ribbons, have fun and get creative!
Snowman:
1. If making a snowman, paint 3 of the cartons white and one black before setting them aside to dry. Either glue the cups together or use the scissors to put a hole through the centers of all four cups, securing with knots at the top, middle, and bottom. Be sure to leave a loop at the top in order to hang the ornament from your tree!
2. Once the snowman is secured, it’s time to decorate!
Bonus craft! To make matching scarves for yourself and your ornament (perhaps in the colors bleu, blanc et rouge?) there’s no need for knitting needles! Grab some yarn and follow this video for an easy finger-knitting tutorial!
Bake and Give Christmas biscuits with Clémence
What a better activity by a cold afternoon than preparing Christmas biscuits? It’s a family friendly activity, it’s delish and your house will smell like Christmas! Keep some for yourself and give the other to your family, neighbors and friends; they will love this special attention.
Want to add a French touch to your biscuits? Look for these French recipes or create French shapes such as a yummy rooster biscuit, a bottle of Champagne or an Eiffel Tower!Create a Bonne Maman Snowglobe with Natalie
If you have ever purchased jam from the brand Bonne Maman, you may have wondered how you can re-use the jar with the special gingham-patterned lid. Why not make your own festive Christmas snowglobe?! What you’ll need:
Used and clean Bonne Maman jar
A homemade or store-bought Christmas tree (small- to fit in the jar!)
Glycerin (optional; it makes the glitter float better)
Glitter
Sequins
Water
Spoon
Superglue or a hot glue gun
Instructions:
1. Glue the tree to the lid of the jar.
2. Fill the jar with cold water
3. Add a few teaspoons of glitter into the water-filled jar and mix. Add some drops of glycerin if you choose.
4. Screw the lid onto the top of the jar.
5. See your spirits lift!
The fun, Frenchy holiday activities don’t stop there! You can also study your French holiday vocabulary (more here); perfect your Christmas cocktails: vin chaud or soupe de champagne; or experiment with a new recipe for bûche de Noël (you heard it here first: la bûche is this holiday’s answer to spring’s sourdough bread making!).
