My ultra creative sister-in-law highly recommended the book I am Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty. It is full of wonderful, eco-friendly crafts, recipes and traditions that the entire family can enjoy together.

We decided to put our collection of pinecones to good use and try out the recycled glass ornaments. We used Prang metallic paints (see below) and colored recycled glass (size 1). The first night we started out by painting our pinecones. We decided to make six so that we could use each color of paint (they come in a six-pack and each color is truly amazing). The next day we used tacky glue and a paintbrush to adhere the colorful pieces of glass.

The girls were just the right age for this project. Our five-year-old successfully completed one ornament and our six-year-old maxed out at two. They were both very proud of their creations and couldn’t wait to hang them on our tree. The combination of the metallic paint and red and green glass really sparkle next to the lights. It is always the handmade ornaments that bring back the fondest memories each year.

Hmm...what to try next?