Santa and Elf Shelf

When they're not busy making toys, Santa and his band of elves are always happy to lend a hand around the house--here, by providing a place to hang wet mittens or display Christmas cards.

MATERIALS
Acrylic paints and brushes
Wooden ice-cream spoons
Clear acrylic sealer
Wood glue
Spring-action clothespins
3-foot strip of 1-inch pine lattice (or a yardstick)

1. First, paint the wooden spoons to look like Santa and elves (either as shown or in whatever style you like), then add a coat of clear sealer. When dry, glue each spoon onto a clothespin (the clip end should be down at Santa's and the elves' feet).

2. Paint the strip of lattice. When dry, evenly space and glue the clothespins in place along it. To hang, either nail the lattice to the wall or tie a long piece of ribbon to both ends of the lattice and suspend it from a nail.