on't throw away those 16-ounce size plastic soda (pop) and water bottles. Turn them into decorative Christmas tree candy holders that will add a festive feel to your holiday table. "This was easier than I thought it would be when I read the directions," says Lynda Hannan.

An adult or older child should be responsible for the cutting part of this project. For each candy holder, turn over a bottle (with its lid on) so that the lid will form the base of the tree. The funnel portion of the top of the bottle will form the cup to hold the candy. Use a pen to sketch a tree shape (a triangle) up one side of the bottle. Cut off the bottle above the funnel-shaped spout, but don't cut it all the way across. Cut up around the triangle.

Our reviewing families found the picture to be a big help as a cutting guide. Peggy LaClair said, "When I first started reading the instructions and looked at the picture, I thought I understood, but when I started cutting the bottles I got confused. I had to try three bottles before I got it right. Then after that it was easy." Note to self: Have extra bottles on hand to practice.

You should now have a candy container with the bottle lid forming the base, the funnel forming the cup and on one side a triangle-shaped, curved tree that is about five inches high.

Cut green yarn or embroidery floss into 1/2-inch bits. Rub glue (white school glue works well) all over the tree shape, and press the pile of green snips into the glue to cover the tree. Decorate the tree with collage materials such as sparkle stems, beads, sequins and sticker stars. Glue a strip of ribbon around the lid that forms the base of the tree to decorate it.

One family reported they had trouble getting the bottle to stand upright on the lid. If you run into this problem, try gluing the base of the tree to a circle of red or green poster board to stabilize it. Or add modeling clay around the lid to stabilize it.

As always, the test families had many of their own ideas for decorating the project. "We used bits of green yarn and ribbons and sequins," said a Mom from Nebraska. The Hannans, with their two young children, decided not to use embroidery thread: "We used cut up pieces of green felt in geometric shapes. Then we glued on miniature pom-poms for decorations and a yellow pipe cleaner bent into a star."

Tuck a square of Christmas tissue paper in the cup behind the tree, and fill it with your favorite Christmas goodies. This idea can be used for other holidays, too. Just choose a simple shape that is appropriate for the occasion. For now, though, create one and fill it with treats for Old Saint Nick!

TAKE IT FROM ME:
"I took the cut pop bottle outside and sprayed it with adhesive glue. After that my daughter just pushed on pieces of green foil (the kind that's wrapped around a poinsettia plant) onto the glue-no mess!"
-Tricia S. from Ohio

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