The only thing I can think of is the Hershey Kisses ornaments. You have to have the small syrofoam balls that are squeezable. Squeeze one into a tear drop shape like a candy Hershey Kiss. then you wrap it in foil (kitchen foil is ok) and stick in a pre prepared little strip that says
"Merry KISSmas" along with a nice hanger made from some gold or colored cord. They will want to make a lot of them for the tree or gifts.
Or I think I have the link to the "Christmas Cheer Shakers" which are salt shakers filled with tiny sparkles and shaped sequins etc. And it comes with a poem about shaking some cheer.
If you want I can look it uup It might even be on the old craft forums pages

Rather than hijack your thread I'll start a new one calle Cheer Shakers

My kids made a cute Santa candy jar in scouts or class. It is the tall junior baby food jar size. You wash off the label. Then you turn the jar into Santa's head with a red felt santa hat lid. Glue polyester fiber on the jar to make the beard and hair and trim the red felt conical hat with it too. Then glue on eyes and a little red pom pom nose. Fill with peppermints.

How about dressing something for Christmas? You could take a basic bear, stuffed animal, snowman, etc., and give it some clothes to give it personality. If a pre-made stuffed animal didn't fit into the budget, maybe you could get someone to sew together some gingerbread men/women or a snowmen. All you would need is the basic cookie cutter shape and a size like maybe 10" tall so it'd be easy to work with. Since you are working with women, maybe a female snow person or gingerbread person would be more fun to design. Let them glue or hot glue a face to the body. You buy google eyes with lashes. You could make pre-make hats out of circles of felt. Have the ladies glue or hot glue lace, flowers, or feathers to decorate each hat. Let them decorate felt or ribbon scarves. Get some pretty buttons to finish the look. I think the finished product would look nice and you could keep the costs low.

Here is a link that might be useful: felt hat pattern

This project looks easy and useful! You could use Christmas colored ribbons (or fabric as a reader suggested).
Handsome Hangers

OR make up a large batch of hand lotion (I think someone at the KT has a recipe too) and put in glass jars.

Ingredients

(All these ingredients are Dollar General brand)

* 1 petroleum jelly
* 1 aloe vera lotion (green bottle)
* 2 pink baby lotions
* 2 vitamin E creams

Mix with mixer

Then let the seniors decorate the jars. Instructions for the scrapbook papered jar Do a search for joyous jars Day 2 (it's a bit past half way down the page) for instructions.

Lydia, I really like those hangers and they are so simple to make.

And then there are the cinnamon dough ornaments. We made these at a Sernior Center a couple of times. Easy to do and nice results.

Just make sure you have a variety of cookie cutters and ribbon and some paints Preferably white for a frosting look

Ingredients:
3/4 - 1 cup (cheap) applesauce
One 4.12oz bottle ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of white glue (the school kind)

Tools needed:
Rolling pin or a glass
Cookie cutters
Straw or toothpick
Wire rack

Method:
Combine the applesauce, cinnamon and glue to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a cookie cutter. Make a hole for a ribbon with a straw. Place on a wire rack and let dry for several days, turning occasionally.
A Waxed paper lined box can be used to tote home and they keep (dried out) for years and smell good every year.

Using a clear glass ornament, remove metal top, place about 10 kernels of micro popcorn in them. Microwave them for just long enough to make them pop until it's pretty full, shake out any unpopped kernals and replace the tip, tie a ribbon on for decoration, adding a sprig of greenery and glue on some red berries.

Bring a small microwave to the meeting place and let everyone take turns doing their own. These are really cute, cost very little to make, in fact everyone could do 6 probably for under $3. And they hold up great, I received one at a ornament party years ago and it was fine, last time I checked it. Super cute on a tree with garland of popcorn and cranberries.

Have you seen the cute cloth jewelry bags? They are made from 2 large round pieces of fabric and 2 smaller ones. I can send you the instructions.. You will need a sewing machine.. A serger is even better..

Susie

Flamingo!
That sounds great!
It sounds adorable and the cost can't be beat.

Are there any tips I need to know about micro-ing the popcorn? Can the balls break? Is ten always enough?

One of our gals is "popcorn crazy!"

This sounds like the project, if I can find the clear balls.

Michael's and HObby Lobby have the clear balls

Here is a very inexpensive ornament that I've been making and your group could too.

You will need two empty toilet paper rolls, scissors, glue, spray paint and cording for hanging. ( You can use an empty paper towel roll).

Cut each of the tubes into 7 pieces, making the cuts about 1/2 inch wide. Put 7 aside. With each of the other 7, fold in half, then glue folded end inside a point of each of the 7 you have to the side. ( See pictures below) Put glue on the end with the insert of each petal and arrange in a circular shape like a flower. Let dry. Take outside and spray paint the color of your choice. I used metallic gold. These are pretty done in silver, white, red, etc. When paint is dry, add a hanger of cording.

I found some instructions online, Judy.

"To make this ornament, remove the cap from a clear glass ball ornament, add in a teaspoon or so of unpopped popcorn, place the ball without the cap in a small paper bag, then pop it in the microwave for a minute or so until the corn pops. Microwave times will vary with different ovens and ornament sizes so experiment until you find the right formula."

I think my friend added some red berries INSIDE the ball after the popcorn was popped and cooled and tied a ribbon on the outside, along with some fake greenery. Oh, and allow for some breakage until you hit on just the combo of kernels and time in the micro!

Also this one-

Here is a link that might be useful: Photo and instructions...

I was just going to suggest the crumpled paper bag..then scrolled the rest of the way to see that Flamey added that..

I sold those balls at a craft show years ago with ones I'd hand painted..PEOPLE "gobbled" up the popcorn balls.. LOL

How about decoupage plates...these are fun and easy and look much more expensive than they are. I don't have a picture of the ones I made, but here is a link to how to do it. You can make them for all seasons and the Christmas ones are really nice. I coated the bottom of mine with an extra coat of Modge Podge so that they could we wiped off and used over and over. You can't put them in dishwater, but they can be cleaned....

Here is a link that might be useful: decoupage plates