Christmas images flood our minds at this time of year. The smell of pine, home-baked cookies and pies and the excitement of decorating the tree. But stepping out into the shopping throngs can push all these wonderful Christmas memories out of our thoughts as we face the glitz, glitter and commercialism that await us at the mall. Why not give your children the true meaning of a family Christmas with crafts and creations that are fun, bring joy and become family traditions for a lifetime?

Rather than purchase expensive and flashy tinsel garland for the tree, why not make your own the old-fashioned way? A garland of popcorn and cranberries makes a wonderful addition to the tree and is fun for all to make.

You will need:

*Cranberries, fresh

*Popcorn - air-popped is best, or microwave popcorn that is natural and not salted or buttered. The popcorn you string should be a day old, fresh popcorn breaks too easily. Make extra as the kids will inevitably consume it as they work.

*Heavy duty sewing thread. Waxed dental floss is another choice for the string, it won’t break and can make it easier to slid the cranberries on.

*Sewing needle. If you don’t want the kids to use a needle, try a toothpick. Securing the string to the toothpick is trickier but can be done.

You will need long lengths of thread. Tie a knot at one end and thread the other end through the needle. Each child can work on one length of garland and they can be tied together when they are finished, just leave a couple of inches extra thread at the top when you tie off.

Push the needle through the cranberry and then slide it down the length of the thread to the knotted end. Next do the same with a piece of popcorn. Continue alternating cranberries and popcorn until you have finished the garland length. Tie them all together and hang the garland on the tree.

After Christmas, you can take the garland and drape it over bushes outside to give the birds who winter in your area a nice Christmas feast of their own.