Craft- Care Package Christmas Ornament

Make a lasting memory of every deployment- not just the homecomings!
Here's how to make a Care Package Ornament:

Supplies:

• 1x clear ornament w/top (available at any craft store)
• 1x bow
• 1x permanent marker
• 1x toothpick or other small positioning item
• a few strips of packing materials such as foam peanuts and paper strips
• small paper print-outs of the unit symbol and blue deployment star
• your service member's deployment address

How To:

1. Cut strips of packaging material small enough to fit down the neck of the ornament.
2. Make sure the paper print-outs of the unit symbol and star are also small enough to fit.
3. Fill the ornament with a few packing peanuts and then using the toothpick, insert a few of the paper printouts and position them against the sides of the ornament.
4. Continue to fill with paper, additional print-outs and peanuts.
5. With the permanent marker, write the deployment address on one side of the ornament.
6. On the other side, write, "Care Package, Christmas (Year)".
7. Insert topper and add a bow.

Get creative- add paper currency from the foreign country, symbols of missed holidays/major life events or tiny pictures they've sent home.  Everyone will love looking through the time capsule years down the line!