Yesterday was first Teen Library Council-hosted event of the year – a Christmas “crafternoon” – two hours of teen-led holiday crafting. The teens researched and selected each of the crafts on offer (there were four different craft stations), and they had a blast teaching each other how to make different holiday-themed goodies. I’ll be sharing instructions for the easy, budget-friendly crafts they picked, which just happen to be perfect for kids and teens (and cost-conscious librarians/educators…!)
Waffle Cone Christmas Trees
Supplies: Waffle cones, paper plates, icing/frosting (make your own or buy it in a can), food coloring (for tinting the icing green – this is optional and we didn’t end up using it), candy for decorating (the bulk section of your local supermarket is your friend!)
Step 1: Use some icing to stick your waffle cone to a paper plate (you might need to trim the bottom of the cone to make it flat).
Step 2: Use frosting/icing to stick candy decorations on to your tree.
Step 3: Admire and enjoy!
This is a slightly messy, very easy and very popular craft that’s great for kids and teens.
Pro tip – don’t put all your candy stock out on the table at once – a large percentage of the decorations are going to go straight from the bowl to the mouth without stopping on the waffle cone tree, so try to keep some candy in reserve to refill your supplies!
Allergy Alert: Because we bought our candies from the bulk section of the supermarket, where there is always a risk of cross-contamination, this craft is not suitable for children or teens with food allergies. You can purchase candies marked “peanut/nut free” and use egg-free royal icing recipes if your location has allergy policies (this will probably make the craft more expensive), but the cones themselves might still be problematic for children with gluten intolerance, and the general sweetness of the craft might not be suitable for diabetics. Teenagers are generally more aware of their allergies (though I shudder to think of the risks I used to take as a teen with life-threatening allergies), but when working with children it helps to be aware.