South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-22
To DECORATE THE
CHRISTMAS TREE
Knick- KnaCks Made at Home
More Satisfactory and Less
Expensive Than Gaudy Bau-
bIeS Sold for the Purpose.

Homemade decorations for the
Christmas tree are really more salts
factory than the gaudy baubles sold
for this purpose, and which, because
of their frailness, the children are not
allowed To handle. From the tiny lit
tie children right up 10 the grown
folks each may have a part in fur
nishing the tree decorations. Then,
too. such work provides entertain
ment for many hours, and much in
qenuity may be exercised in their
fashioning. Children are taught 10
see the value which may lie in appar-
emily useless scraps. and for months
before Christmas are on the lookout
! for anything to be used for trimmings.
Scraps of all kinds are saved and
placed in a big box set apart for this
purpose pieces of gold and silver
tinsel cord. cOlored yarn, cOlored pa
per, ribbon, tissue paper, tinfoil, etc.
With such a collection 70 work with,
the actual cost of the tree decorations
need be only a few cents.
From cOlOred paper kindergarten
Grains may be made. cutting the paper
in narrow strips n pasting the ends
together. For bright rosettes take a
cardboard oundatio about the size
of a half dollar and paste loops of the
paper all around, covering the center
With a little scarp picture. Cornu-
cOpias for holding candy are easily
made from heavy paper, decorated
with stripes of a contrasting color, or
little scrap pictures, and having a
ribbon loop at the top TO hang by.
owballs are made of old tissue pa
per. Roll until about the size of an
apple. but before it gets too large.
fasten in a bit OF twisted wire for a
hook to hang by. Then spread with
a thin paste. and cover with cotton
batting.
Popcorn may be strung in long
chains, either alone or alternating a
piece of corn with a red cranberry. Or
the cranberries m8y be strung by
themselves, chains of the two coIors
being looped from bough to bough.
Nothing is much prettier than 10
just take h popped corn and pin a
piece to each twig. They look like lit
tie white blossoms
Fin cones may be gilded. or dyed
red. They look pretty either way, and
are tied on with a loop of ribbon or a
piece of wire bent like a hook.
Little animal crackers make a novel
decoration. They may be used singly,
or strung on cord. each child receiv-
ing a whole menaferie. When gilded
they make an effective ornament, but
must then be kept out of reach of the
little ones.
If you live near the water. during
the summer the children might gather
pretty little shells, these TO he strung
on strong thread and the tree fes-
with the chains. Either plain
or gilded they are nice.
Gilded walnuts. peanuts and acOrns
are often tied with a narrow red rib
bon n hung TO the upper boughs.
Gilded egg shells are light and pref
~. The eggs used in the Christmas
baking may be blown from the she'll
through a little hole pierced i'm each
washed out and put away TO dry. Run
a narrow ribbon. or cord, through the
shell to hang by.
Stars, crescents, rings, leaves,
hearts. bells and other shapes are cut
from cardboard and covered with tin
foil, a little being fastened TO the back
TO hang to.
Candy bags are made from tarle-
ton. Vary the usual square pattern
by cutting in a variety of shapes-a
f1ve-pOinted star. heart, stocking, etc.
Run a cord or thread OF wool through
the top for "a draw-string.
Groups of little sachet bags of
bright-colored silk. tied together by
varying lengths Of baby ribbon. are
very pretty on the tree, n may be
used afterward for othe rpurposes.
Red bells cut from cardboard, with
a cranberry hung by a loop for a
clapper. are cunning. and so are the
gilded clothes-pins which some use
for fastening small gifts to the tree.
These are suggestions. When once
you start making tree ornaments 9TH
err novel ideas will come to you. and
all sorts Of pretty and dainty trifes
made out of practically nothing.
Coo CIoro Scbofar'c hand Dofn4ad