Christmas Decorations, Easy Toddler Activity

These really are too easy and turned out so well! I will be using this concept for some other projects as soon as more cookie cutters arrive.

We used a tupperware baking sheet under them, but I think any flexible non stick surface would do, (baking paper). Simply fill some metal or oven proof cookie cutters or moulds roughly 2 layers deep, and bake at around 180c. Keep an eye on them until they are all melted. The plastic beads we used did not emit any nasty smell and did not burn, even when I got impatient and turned the over up to 200c, however, make sure the area is well ventilated just to be on the safe side.

Try to pile the beads up in the middle slightly, but only leave them 1 high at the edges, to avoid any bits sticking to the sides higher than other areas (you can see where this happened on the small man) Once cooled, remove the cutter and there you have it. I ran cool water over them to cool them a bit faster and this didn’t damage the shiny finish at all.

The husband drilled some holes in the top for string, and there you have it.

We will make a stack of smaller Christmas coloured ones for the trees next year.

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Place the beads, trying to keep them at only 1 high around the edges

Green and red for the tree

Nice and flat and smooth edges

Once out of the oven,

Drilling the holes for string

Ms 4 showing off her man

You can see some sharp edges on this one where the beads were 2 high.

The finished 3d tree from jelly mould

In the sun

Catching the sun light

Pink baby

12 responses »

Denise iles on November 28, 2013 at 7:23 am said:

How do you know if your cookie cutters are oven proof???? Mine don’t say anything on them….

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- thestick81 on November 28, 2013 at 8:01 am said:
  
  If they are metal, they will be fine. If they are plastic, I would not risk it. If they are silicone, they should have a temperature rating on them, or the oven symbol. Some silicone is only freezer safe, so be careful with that one (learnt that the hard way!).
  
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wholeknitandcaboodle on January 16, 2014 at 7:31 am said:

Found your blog on Pinterest! Too bad I didn’t catch you in time to do all the awesome Christmas activities but they’ll go on my list for next year. Going to make some sun catchers with my three year old this afternoon- so excited! Thanks for the great ideas!
Sarah

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- thestick81 on April 11, 2014 at 8:48 am said:
  
  Thanks for letting me know. Try it again now, it should work. 🙂
  
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Veseli on September 28, 2014 at 6:53 am said:

hello I’m buying beads ironing. you risk nothing by breathing vapors with children? and after you can make cookies with these same molds? thank you

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- thestick81 on September 30, 2014 at 10:43 am said:
  
  I wouldn’t say you risk nothing. Make sure you do it in a well ventilated room. You can use the cutters to cut cookies again after. The plastic should come right away from them once it has cooled.
  
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Bedelia Urbaniak on October 13, 2015 at 9:36 am said:

Great ideas for my granddaughters. But for the beaded ornaments what type of beads do you use and where do you purchase them?

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- thestick81 on October 14, 2015 at 5:09 pm said:
  
  Just any hobby or cheap shop with a craft supplies section. They are often called pony beads or just plastic beads.
  
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Debbie Berish on February 12, 2017 at 12:03 pm said:

How long do you leave them in the oven?

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- thestick81 on March 19, 2017 at 9:03 am said:
  
  It will depend on your oven, you just need to keep an eye on them. It doesn’t take long. Maybe 20 minutes max?
  
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