Handmade for the Holidays

(Family Features) A holiday-ready home is filled with small touches that celebrate the season. Welcome guests with these easy DIY projects that lend an extra special feel to your home.

Extend a warm greeting with a faux fur wreath that dresses up the front door, such as this design from the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Then, put some empty Mason jars to use with a display perfect for an entryway table or ledge. Make it even prettier by nestling the jars among some evergreen branches and finish them off with a pretty bow or twine.

Pompom Fur Wreath

Crafting time: Weekend project

Skill level: Some experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:

• Pompom makers: 2 1/2-inch, 3 3/8-inch, 4 1/2-inch
  
• Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn: Grey Heather, Taupe Grey, Natural (2 skeins each)
  
• Scissors
  
• Hard foam tubular 12-inch wreath
  
• Bernat Faux Fur Pompoms: Grey Lynx, White Rabbit (2 each)
  
• Hot gun and glue sticks
  
• T-pins or 2-inch pins with pearl heads
  
• Decorative ribbon: 2 1/2-inch-by-12-foot, blue-grey

1. Follow directions on pompom maker packages to create three different sizes of poms of various colors using chunky yarn. If desired, mix yarn to give some pompoms a speckled look. Make about 50-60, depending on the fullness of the desired look.
   
2. After making pompoms, place pompoms around wreath, varying sizes and incorporating fur pompoms, as well. The overall look should be a kind of hilly terrain look to give it depth.
   
3. Once desired placement has been achieved, glue them in place with hot glue. If needed, secure poms with T-pins or pearlhead pins.
   
4. Using blue/grey decorative ribbon, create a bow with trailing ends and glue in place with hot glue.

Rose Gold Holiday Mason Jars

Crafting time: 1-2 hours

Skill level: No experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:

• Smooth Mason jars
  
• Jelly jars
  
• Rose gold spray paint
  
• Provided templates: Deer head, tree, snowflake
  
• Scissors
  
• Pencil
  
• Sharpie
  
• Detail paintbrush
  
• White enamel paint
  
• Gold acrylic paint
  
• Medium flat paintbrush
  
• Scrap strips of fabric
  
• Baker's twine

1. Lightly spray inside or outside of smooth Mason jars and jelly jars with rose gold spray paint. Allow each coat to dry completely.
   
2. Locate templates at joann.com by searching for the project title; print templates and trim shapes. If the outside of the jar was spray painted, trace the shape with a pencil. If the inside of the jar was spray painted, trace the shape on the glass with a Sharpie.
   
3. Fill in each design using a detail brush and white enamel paint. Apply additional coats as necessary.
   
4. Paint jar rims gold.
   
5. Apply a thin layer or dry brush gold acrylic paint on jelly jars for added texture and dimension.
   
6. Embellish jars by making bows and knots with scrap strips of fabric or baker’s twine around rims of jars. Fill with sprigs of dried flowers or branches or other seasonal decorations, or for jars painted on the outside, fill with candies or treats for an edible gift.

Find more ideas for DIY projects to spruce up your home this holiday season at joann.com.