Hot cocoa mix ornaments for your Christmas tree

'Tis the season of festive parties, caroling choirs, baking and shopping. And oh, what fun it is to shop when strolling through outdoor European-style markets, sipping hot cider while purchasing locally sourced and homemade goods like maple syrup, seasoned nuts and tangy jams and jellies.

I also feel the holiday spirit when I pop in at a craft fair where I can chat with local vendors, like 9-year-old Aidan Bispala, who set up shop with his sister and friends in a neighborhood craft boutique to benefit the music department at his school. A top seller of the kid-crafted goods was the hot cocoa mix and the dip mix ornaments trimming a pine tree by his cashbox.

He methodically explained how he used a funnel and spooned cocoa mix, topped off with several mini marshmallows into a clear, clean ornament, and how he carefully measured herbs and spices to create his veggie dip mix ornament. He replaced the metal caps ("the toughest part," he said) and tied on tags with "how-to-use" recipe directions that his mom, Kate, designed on their computer. He also made extras, a clever gift to deliver to friends and neighbors.

Here are two ideas for creating these ornaments in your kitchen with school-age kids. Start with clean, food-safe clear ornaments with cap off, then set out ingredients, measuring utensils, ribbons and recipe tags, assembly-line fashion.

HOT COCOA MIX

2 tablespoons or single-serving package of your favorite instant hot cocoa mix

1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips

Chopped peppermint from a candy cane (optional)

10-12 mini marshmallows

Using a funnel, add ingredients one by one in order, beginning with the hot cocoa mix. Replace cap and tie on tag with a ribbon.

Directions on tag: Single-serve hot cocoa. Just add to a mug of hot water and stir.

DILL DIP MIX

1 teaspoon dried dill weed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon onion flakes

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Mix in a small bowl with spout. Pour through a funnel into the ornament. Replace cap and tie on tag with a ribbon.

Directions on tag: Add mix to 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup mayonnaise. Stir until blended. Refrigerate two hours. Serve with crisp veggies or chips.

Make salt-dough holiday ornaments

What do wire out of the toolbox, salt in the cupboard and twigs from the yard have in common? They're some of the makings of a family holiday craft you can enjoy this weekend. The holidays are busy, so discover how nice it is to pause and do something fun together.

When you stir up a simple dough of flour, salt and water, creativity is endless as you shape eye-catching ornaments for your tree, or build a mini indoor snowman.

This traditional salt-dough recipe, which is easy to mix and roll out or sculpt, is a keeper. Once the creations are slow baked in an oven, grab paints, glue and glitter from your craft drawer, buttons and beads from a jar, and get crafting.

Here's the basic stuff you need:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water

Medium-size mixing bowl, rolling pin, cookie sheet

Toothpick or straw

Acrylic paints

White household glue, optional

Ribbon or wire

Cookie cutters (see "Extra idea")

Mix the flour, salt and water together in a medium-size bowl. Knead several times on a floured board or countertop. If the dough is too dry, just add a bit more water. It it's too sticky, add flour. Now you are ready to shape and bake the dough. Here are two ideas to get your started:

MAKE HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to 1/2-inch thickness. Dip cookie cutters in flour and cut out your favorite shapes. Poke a hole near the top with a toothpick or straw for hanging on a tree, garland or through ribbons on the top of presents.

MAKE WHIMSICAL SCULPTURES

Play with some of the clay in your hands and shape into a snowman, house, bird or reindeer.

Bake the cutouts or small sculptures on a tray in an oven heated to 250 F for about 1 1/2 hours, or until dough is hard to the touch. Cool completely on a rack.

Paint with acrylic paints and let dry. For extra shine, coat with white household glue. Thread ribbon or wire through ornaments, twist or tie.

Extra idea: Make your own cookie cutter shapes for small hands to grab onto by bending and shaping with pliers the open end of small tomato sauce cans. Shape into a symbol of the season, such as a star.

Donna Erickson's award-winning series "Donna's Day" is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit donnasday.com and link to the new Donna's Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families." (c) 2016 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.