Plaid is in this season! Make these clever package tie-ons that double as ornaments. Made from plaid scarves and pipe cleaners purchased from the dollar store, these are so simple and fun to make that you'll want to spend all evening making them to dress up your packages.

I found these cute plaid scarves at the dollar store and immediately wanted to incorporate them into some winter projects. I thought they would be super cute as ornaments. Of course, at this point in the month, most people are past the tree-decorating portion of their holiday preparations, so these ornaments will make super cute tie-ons for packages, and the recipient can keep the tie-on for next year's tree.

I used plaid scarves, but you can use anything to cover these ornaments - ribbon, fabric of any type, yarn or thread (crochet around the pipe cleaner, or wrap), etc.

They take about ten minutes each to make.

Project Materials:

• Plaid scarf, $1
• Pipe cleaners, $1
• Cookie cutter, $1 or on hand

Total Cost: $3

To Make:

Part 1: Making the Shape

Bend a pipecleaner along the edges of a cookie cutter, paying special attention to each crease and corner of the cookie cutter. When you have bent around all edges of cookie cutter, fasten ends of pipecleaner together to finish shape. Tweak the shape of the ornament, if needed. If your cookie cutter’s sides are longer than one pipecleaner, you will want to start by bending two pipecleaners together.

Cookie cutters with definite corners and angles are better for this project, as pipe cleaners are pliable, even after they're shaped!

Part 2: Wrapping the Ornament

Cut a narrow (1/2" is a good width) strip all the way down the length of your scarf. Tie a knot of fabric around the shaped pipecleaner and begin to wrap the fabric around, making sure to cover the pipecleaner completely. When you finish covering the pipecleaner, tie off. Tie a strip of scarf to the ornament for hanging, or add coordinating ribbon, twine, etc.

Slip the ornament back onto the cookie cutter to give it a little shape refresher (it may have become bent out of shape during the wrapping phase!).

Tie onto a package, and give!

Check out more cool dollar store crafts at my blog.