Editor’s note: The following post was originally published on Green and Clean Mom. “Green & Clean Mom can inspire you to try a little harder, be a catalyst for change and to offer you some new tips and news on how to be the green, sexy and sassy mom…I know you are!”

When I think back to my childhood, I remember spending lots of time around the holidays making decorations and food for our family celebrations.

Some of the simplest activities were also the most fulfilling, because we were actively creating, not just purchasing. The time that went into each craft or treat was also a gift, a gift that said “I took the time to personally craft this for you. You’re that special to me.”

I started a short list of my favorite simple holiday crafts from the past, and I’m hoping that you readers will add to it in the comments.

• Salt Dough Ornaments – One of the classic kid-crafts, salt dough is cheap and easy to make, and ornaments made from it can last for years. Mix one cup fine-grained salt with 2 cups of flour. Add 1 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil (oil is optional, but makes the dough smoother). Adding a teaspoon of ground cinnamon darkens the dough and adds a great scent. Mix well, then knead until smooth (5 to 10 minutes). Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to form the shapes, or shape by hand (wreathes or twists or candleholders). Use a straw to cut a hole in the ornaments for hanging, then bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 250° F for about 2 hours. Let cool, then paint and add glitter or other decoration. For kids, you can carve their name and the date on the back with a toothpick. Makes a great gift for Grandma!
• Popcorn Garland – Stringing popcorn garlands and hanging them on your outside trees will make your neighborhood birds and squirrels very happy. Simply pop a batch of popcorn, thread a medium sized needle with cotton thread, and start stringing! Add raisins or dried cranberries to your garland every so often, or make a pattern with the dried fruit. Hanging these edible garlands onto your Christmas tree gives it an organic look and feel.
• Pine Cone Bird Feeder – Remember this? Take a large pine cone, wrap a wire for hanging around the top, smear peanut butter into the crevices, and roll in bird seed. Dried fruit can be added to spice it up a bit. Mount these solidly to a fence so the squirrels don’t run off with it, or hang in front of a window so you get a good show at dinnertime.
• Clove Pomander – This craft is an oldie but a goodie, and it’ll make your house smell wonderful. Take a navel orange, a tangerine, or any other citrus (never tried it with a grapefruit…), tie a length of string around it,  and buy a large bag of whole cloves. Check out your local health food store or co-op for bulk cloves. Insert the cloves up to their head into the orange, and repeat until the whole orange is covered. Hang these in closets, pantries, or bathrooms, or put into your clothes drawers to scent your wardrobe.

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Image: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons License