Winter means cozy, indoor activities, like knitting a warm scarf and breaking out the friendship bracelet kit for your kids. 

Focusing on a fun hobby can help distract from the recurring daydream of a beach day, sipping frosé at your favorite vineyard or some other warm weather activity. Because let’s face it, there’s a whole lot more to do in the summertime than the winter.

Decorate Your Front Door

All you’ll need is a string of Christmas-tree lights and a glass lantern (Target has a ton of cute and affordable options). From there, you simply fill the lantern with your lights and watch it glow. It’s the perfect front door décor piece and easy to make at home. 

Pipe Cleaner Animals

This one is for the kiddos. So break out the pipe cleaners, googly eyes and hot glue, all of which can be purchased on Amazon or at your local craft store. 

Making pipe cleaner animals is the perfect rainy (or snowy) day activity for young kids. They may wind up making an entire zoo of animals if their hearts desires. 

Homemade Starbucks-Level Coffee

Ladies and gents, we are deep in holiday-themed coffee season, and whipping up some homemade coffee concoction could really get those creative juices flowing. Besides, who wants to spend $5 on a fancy coffee every morning? Not us! Turns out, Starbucks’ vanilla sweet cream recipe is surprisingly simple to make at home. Did we mention it takes less than five minutes? Time for you to call the shots with your coffee order and land some major barista bragging rights in your household. 

You can either make this drink iced or hot (no judgment for those winter iced coffee drinkers) 

• Take a cup and combine cold milk, sweetener, vanilla extract and salt. 

• Use a milk frother to turn it into a foamy mixture. 

• Froth until it reaches a whipped consistency. 

• Combine the coffee and foam. 

Voilà! 

Friendship Bracelets

This one is for the tweens. Even though it’s more commonly known as a classic summer-camp craft, there’s nothing stopping you from doing it in the winter as well! You’ll need the string, a clipboard or safety pin and some charms for extra pizazz. 

From chevron to candy stripe to diamond, there are so many different designs and patterns to learn, you’ll be occupied all winter long. Start with something simpler and work your way up to the more intricate patterns. Once you get going, it’ll be hard to stop. Before you know it, all your family and friends will be rocking one of your custom-made friendship bracelets. 

DIY Dog Bed

This one is for your pup. Well, your dog will reap the benefits, but you can enjoy the steps to build this DIY doggy bed. Plus, it might even elevate the décor in your home. 

How does everyone feel about a farmhouse-themed dog bed? Thanks for the inspo, Chip and Joanne Gaines. If you’ve ever watched their show, you know Joanna is obsessed with shiplap. And if Joanna is obsessed with shiplap, that means we are, too. 

Supplies Needed

  • Pine shiplap (whichever size you prefer) 
  • Kreg screws
  • Wood glue
  • Spackle
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • And a dog cushion, of course! 

Start with cutting the wood boards for the frame. You’ll need enough for the sides, back and front of the dog bed. Then start to build the base, using the drill and wood glue. It should resemble a box. Then, it’s time to spackle any imperfections and paint it. Finally, put the cushion in the middle! You’ll be getting doggy kisses for days. 

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