Candy cane craft ideas with organic canes from Tru Sweets
Being the ardent crafter that I am, I love candy canes as much for their DIY potential as for their taste.
But when Tru Sweets sent us some of their organic canes to try, I couldn’t resist. While Tru Sweets candy canes have no artificial colors or flavors and are corn syrup free, in my self-administered blind taste test, I found absolutely no difference between these and “regular” candy canes.
In this case, no difference is a good thing. I’m no candy cane gourmet, but when I pick up a red and white striped stick with a curve at the top, I expect it to taste a certain way, right?
If it doesn’t, no dice. Even if the world’s top candy cane connoisseur were to inform me it is far superior to what I’m used to, I wouldn’t like it. My taste buds are conditioned to react in a certain way. If it looks like a candy cane, it had better taste like one.
And happily when I tasted Tru Sweets version, I was transported right back to my childhood, when I became well known among my friends for swiping candy canes off any tree I happened to pass, hiding them under my coat and making them last for hours as I hid in my closet, licking contentedly—a pint size candy cane kleptomaniac.
Tru Sweets candy canes should be available in your local Whole Foods and other natural markets. Yes, they’re more expensive than the ones you get at the dollar store, but if your family is going to eat them, don’t you want candy canes that are free of artificial everything?
When you get your candy canes home, of course you can decorate the tree with them, but how boring is that?
Here are a few crafty ideas I came up with to make and keep or to give as gifts to someone who loves the red and white treats.
This candy cane “wreath” works on its own or affixed to a large package. I glued the canes (in their wrapping) to a piece of cardboard covered in red fabric and added a bow to hang on our front door.
Years ago I picked up several large embroidery hoops at a yard sale. I made this easy candy cane “mobile” by tying three pieces of embroidery thread evenly spaced around, then looping them together in the center creating a way to hang the hoop. Then I put candy canes around the circle, tied them to thread and between these, hooked additional canes over the hoop. Added a few bows made from thick red yarn (what I had on hand—I’d hoped to find red ribbon in my stash, but no such luck). A Christmas decoration from a package given to me a year or two ago is wired on and creates a focal point.
I recently experimented with glass paint using masking tape to cordon off areas on this vase. I liked the ribbons of green and what better color to set off the candy canes? Filled the glass with green paper “stuffing” that surrounded a gift sent to me, added the candy canes and voilà, an easy centerpiece. On Christmas Eve I’ll probably add name tags to the canes as a little gift for our guests.
I don’t think this qualifies as a craft, but I wanted to show that just because a candy cane is traditionally red and white doesn’t mean you can’t add your own touch (or use them for Hanukkah!). I wrapped this one in ribbon, but if you have washi tape, you could just as wrap canes in that.
If you do a search for “candy cane crafts,” you’ll see some other fun ideas. Know that while organic candy canes make great eating, they aren’t just a treat for your tongue!
Do you have other candy cane craft ideas? Tell us about them.
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.
