For the kids...I did this with glitter instead and included it in a letter from Santa recruiting them to help guide the reindeer with the glitter sprinkles.
DIY Gingerbread Scrub: Not only is it very cheap, quick and easy to put together but it also smells incredible and is super good for your skin. You just need brown sugar, oil, ground ginger and mixed spice (or pumpkin pie mix).
Pinecone elves: I'm thinking of putting all the loose materials to make these into the advent stocking numbered for that day, and let the kiddos wonder and anticipate what we'll be making (they're still so little that they love surprises like that).