Good thread, Val!
I have made the crane mobile before as a gift. The balancing IS tricky, so as a tip-when you cross your two sticks (I used dowels), cut a notch on the top of one, and on the bottom of the other so that they fit together nicely. Then use a long pronged push pin to hold them together, and wrap the intersection with the fishing wire. For some reason the weight of the tack in the center seems to make the balancing a bit easier.
Anyway, I do a lot of origami, and this year I am making notecards for both of my grandmothers. I am just going to buy the blank cards with the envelopes at JoAnne's with my 40% coupon and paste a variety of origami designs on the cards. I will tie the cards and envelopes up with a ribbon, and there they are.
FYI-Origami for Christmas by Chiyo Araki is my all-time favorite origami book. They have such classic and beautiful designs in there, many which do not have to be used for only the christmas season. I finally broke down and bought this book after checking it out of the library so many times. They also have some breathtaking, beautiful holiday projects and the instructions are supurb.
I am also giving apple pies that I made a few weeks ago to close family.
I LOVE your cookie sheet idea. I have been trying to find a magnetic board forever! I never thought of a cookie sheet
