Gingerbread Ornaments

I made these in preschool about 20 years ago, and my parents still have them (and they still smell good!) Use alphabet cookie cutters, trees and stars, or gingerbread men!

Recipe:
-3 cups applesauce
-3 cups cinnamon
-1 tsp cloves, ginger, or allspice for scent (optional)

Mix ingredients together until it is thick enough to hold a form when cut into cookie cutter shapes. Flatten the mixture on a flat surface and cut into cookie cutter shapes.

Place cookie shapes on a cookie sheet to dry for 3 to 4 days depending on the size and thickness of the cookies. If using as a hanging ornament, make hole with drinking straw before drying.

Paint, or spray with polyurethane if desired. Thread with ribbon.

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

Treasure Bottles

I made Chase one of these to take on a long car trip and it was a hit. They're also a fun distractor during church.

Instructions:
Save a 20 ounce drink bottle, remove the label, and wash it. (Make sure the plastic is clear, not colored). Fill it halfway with white rice. Add assorted treasures (penny, cheap ring, fake bugs, etc.- craft stores have lots of great things) to the bottle and continue filling with rice. Be sure to leave enough room so that the rice can move around fairly easily. Superglue the top on so your child won't accidentally spill rice everywhere.

Your kids can shake their treasure bottles to "uncover" the things inside. Older children can use them as "I Spy Bottles"- keep a list of objects you added and have them hunt for all of them. The more rice you add the harder it will be (and vice versa).

Idea Found Here
Courtesy of FamilyFun.com