Christmas Crafts for the Community

As we head into the holidays, the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service agents are hosting workshops for the community members to create their very own holiday memories and build family traditions.

Crystal L. Garcia-Anaya, VCCES family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development agent, recently hosted a crafting workshop where she taught a half dozen community members how to make easy, affordable ornaments.

“This first one is really about making memories,” Garcia-Anaya said during the workshop she held at the Rio Communities Maker Space last week.

She holds up a finished ball ornaments, covered in a complicated blue and white floral pattern and topped with a fluffy bow. While the finished product might look intricate, it all starts with a simple paper napkin.

“I crafted with napkins as a child. My parents would bring home fancy napkins from military dinners,” the agent said. “I’ve made these ornaments many times. I made one using the napkin from my wedding 20 years ago. I even cut out our names and put them on it.”

The key to the ornament is a pretty single-ply paper napkin. Most napkins are two or three plies, so you will need to separate the plies and just work with the decorated layer, Garcia-Anaya said.

The other major component is Mod Podge, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can just water down regular white, craft glue.

“That’s all it really is,” she says. “Watered down glue.”

The instructions for the ornament are really just a guideline, she reminds the workshop participants.

“Make these your own. The instructions say to cut the napkins into strips, but you can tear them instead or even cut or tear out pieces of the pattern,” she said.

Other round ornaments can be used as a starting point, such as plastic or glass ornaments with a hanger already attached, Garcia-Anaya said, even the satin covered or wooden balls are an option.

“I’ve played around with the plastic ones and found that if you wipe them off with alcohol, the Mod Podge sticks better,” she said. “If you try glass, I’d do the same thing.”

Ball ornaments

Materials:

• Styrofoam ball (or ball of your choice)

• Paper napkins (Simple patterns work best, such as florals; single ply is recommended.)

• Mod Podge, matte finish

• Foam paint brush

• Clear glass glitter, or glitter of your choice (optional)

• Straight pins

• Ribbon

Instructions:

1. Paper napkins can come with two or three plies, but only one ply should be applied to the ball. Peel away extra layers, leaving a very thin napkin with the pattern. Tip: Work from the edge of the napkin to peel away the extra layers.

2. Cut (or tear) the pattern part of the napkin into 1 1/4 inch pieces or strips.

3. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the styrofoam ball.

4. Lay down a strip or piece of the napkin and smooth out any creases.

5. Go over the napkin with a small amount of Mod Podge to help press down the creases and make sure it sticks to the ball. (Be careful not to be too heavy-handed. This can tear the napkin. Dabbing the Mod Podge on works better than “brushing” it over the napkin.)

6. Work your way all the way around the ball, adding napkin pieces and Mod Podge until it’s covered with a pattern you like.

7. Once the ornament is covered, if you want to add glitter, add a light layer of Mod Podge and lightly sprinkle it with the clear glass glitter over a trashcan.

8. Add a bow and loop of ribbon for hanging to the top of the ornament.

9. Hang the ornament to dry in a place where it won’t get bumped. If you can’t hang it, make sure to rotate the ornament as it dries so no wet areas remain.

Notes:

• Don’t worry about the napkin pieces overlapping. It’s part of the process.

• The napkin will crease as you apply it, so gently pat them down with the foam paint brush.

• The project will lead to sticky hands and it’s easy to accidentally tear the napkins when your hands are sticky. Having a damp towel or wet wipes on hand to periodically clean your fingers while crafting is helpful.

During last week’s workshop, Garcia-Anaya brought felt tree kits made from scrap fleece material, which led to some nontraditional colored trees, but obviously you can buy the felt colors you want to use, she said.

“I saw these kits in a store for $35 and I thought to myself, ‘I bet I can find directions for that,’” she said.

After some hunting through extension service files and brainstorming with other agents, Garcia-Anaya created a set of instructions for the felt tree decorations.

The most labor intensive part of the tree project is the prep work of cutting the 44 felt squares. Garcia-Anaya said she used a rotary cutter to expedite the cutting.

Felt tree ornaments

Materials:

• Felt

• Embroidery thread, yarn or thin ribbon

• Large needle

•Hot glue or craft glue

Instructions:

1. Cut all the felt squares you will need for your tree:

• 6 2 inch squares

• 6 1 3/4 inch squares

• 6 1 1/2 inch squares

• 6 1 1/4 inch squares

• 6 1 inch squares

• 6 3/4 inch squares

• 8 1/2 inch squares (Set two of the smallest squares aside for the “star” on the tree.)

2. Squares will be stacked from largest to smallest and threaded onto the cord of your choice. Arrange colors in each stack of squares how you would like them to appear.

3. Cut a piece of thread or yarn to about 12 inches and knot one end; thread your needle.

4. Starting with the 2-inch squares and working up to the smallest squares, string them on the thread using the needle.

(If you are using a large, blunt safety needle, the eye of the needle may make a hole in the bottom square large enough for the knot at the end of the cord to pass through. If that happens, you can secure the knot on the back side of the first square using a dot of glue, or loop the thread through the felt twice to secure the thread. Depending on how sharp the needle is, you may need to make a small slit in the center of the squares to easily thread them.)

5. Once all the squares are threaded from largest to smallest, tie a knot in the cord at the top of the tree, forming a loop. Cut off the extra end of the cord.

6. To finish, add a dot of glue to one of the last two 1/2 inch squares and sandwich them together over the knotted thread at the top of the tree, creating your “star.”

Starting in February, Garcia-Anaya will be offering crafting workshops at the Rio Communities Maker Space, on the north side of Rio Communities City Hall, 360 Rio Communities Blvd., every other month during 2026.

The workshops, called “Healthy Hands, Happy Hearts,” will serve two purposes, she said.

“Working with your hands keeps them nimble and flexible, and crafting brings people joy and helps make memories.”

If you want more craftiness this year, the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service is hosting a hands-on infusion class, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at its offices, 404 Courthouse Road, Los Lunas.

You can create flavorful gifts, such as compote butter, black garlic salt and herb oil.

The service is also holding a Christmas jam class from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Rio Communities Makers’ Space, 360 Rio Communities Blvd.

Both classes are $5 and those wanting to attend should call 505-565-3002 by Thursday, Dec. 11, to pay and RSVP.