Photo OrnamentsI buy clear plastic balls available at craft shops. Then I look for photographs that have meaning to the person to whom you will be giving the gift.
Decorative Wreath Made From Puzzle PiecesMany years ago, my son made this craft at school. It looked really cute! It's a hanging holiday wreath decoration or an ornament. You can make it any size, but the one he made was about 4 inches wide.
Christmas Stars, Frames, Wreaths, and MoreGather small twigs from your yard (leave in a natural state, ones with lichen are especially attractive). Arrange these in a 5 or 6 pointed star. Hot glue where twigs join and attach a twine or string loop as a holder.
Christmas Tree TipsIf you buy a natural tree, check the ends of the needles. Rub some of the sprigs between your fingers. Cut 1 inch or so off the bottom before you put it into the stand, this will allow it to soak up more water and it will last longer.
Pine Cone Christmas CraftNext time you take your kids out for a walk or you visit your local craft store, get yourself some pine cones. Take plain old white glue and coat just the tips of the pine cones. Take silver, gold or the new iridescent white glitter and sprinkle on the glue.
Beautiful Beaded SnowflakesThese are quick and easy to make. You should be able to make quite a few while you watch TV. It is also easy enough for older kids to make them. Hang them on your Christmas tree, in your windows or tie on to packages.
Wire Outdoor Christmas TreeThe lighted Christmas decorations for your yard can be pretty expensive, but here is a way to decorate with little money. Take your tomato cages from your garden, clean with the hose and then tie the tops together with electrical tape.
Alternative to a Christmas Tree - Decorate House PlantsI'm not going to buy a tree for just myself this year. Instead, I am going to put all my twinkle lights in every houseplant (and that's a lot) I have. I may hang a few favorite ornaments with fishing line here and there or in the ficus.
Still Have Whole Pumpkins? Make a Snowman!Take 3 pumpkins - small, medium and large. Paint them with white poster paint. Hot glue them together like a snowman. Makes a cute decoration for porch or anywhere you wish.
Make a Christmas Tree With Junk CDsLast Christmas I made a tree out of the old and advertising CDs and bought a string of lights and taped each bulb in the center of each disc. The reflection was pretty and we had a neat yard decoration. Just be sure to use outdoor lights and cord.
Avoid Buying a Special Tree Disposal BagInstead of buying a special tree disposal bag, stand the tree stand on a large garden bag. Then put the tree skirt just goes over this.
A Christmas Theme for Your RoomHow about decorating along a theme this Christmas? Spice up your decorating projects for this Holiday season by using a theme.
No-Sew Tree SkirtFor an easy and economical tree skirt, I purchased a round holiday tablecloth (vinyl front, flannel back). I cut a small hole in the center and cut a straight line from the hole to the outer edge. It works great, is easy to clean & my kids love the design.
Blanket for a Tree SkirtInstead of using an expensive Christmas tree skirt, we have a pretty blanket we use at the base of our tree. A nice blanket is cheaper than most Christmas tree skirts.
Putting an Artificial Tree in a Christmas Tree StandWhen using an artificial Christmas tree many larger durable tree stands are too large. Buy some PVC pipe and cut it in small and equal pieces to place inside the tree stand to make a circle around the smaller tree base.
Making Paper and Felt OrnamentsIt isn't too late to still make quick paper or felt ornaments for gifts to stick into a card. One of my daughters is using brown felt and cutting out gingerbread men that she then puts faces and details on with a paint pen, a red gingham ribbon attaches it to the tree.
Fixing PlacematsSeasonal plastic coated place mats, over time, have a tendency of curling around the edges. Take two place mats that match and put contact cement on both mats and let cement set up, then stick them together for a sturdy place mat that you would have normally tossed out.
Tree Decorations the Kids Can MakeIn so many homes Christmas decorating is taken entirely away from the children. Here are some ideas if you and your children would like to make some decorations (and memories) for your tree.
Styrofoam Beads for Christmas OrnamentsYou can make beads to string on thread or thin elastic for bracelets or necklaces or Christmas ornaments by punching holes with a hole punch in Styrofoam egg cartons and meat trays.
Turn Multiple Christmas Lights Easily with One ClickRemote wall boxes that plug into wall outlets come with a clicker that comes in different frequencies, i.e. A, B, C, D. The clickers also states which channel clicker it is, so you won't mix up the combination.
Elf Sitting on SpoolTo make a Christmas elf sitting on the spool, wind some knitting wool on the spool. Glue it at start of winding, wrap around and glue a tab at the end to hold it. Leave a little piece dangling down.
Glass Ornament BallsA quick and easy Christmas tree ornament can be made by using clear glass ornament balls. Drop paint through the hole and then turn it upside down and let sit overnight. The paint will spread out and coat the inside of the ball.
Put Your Tree in a PlaypenGot a toddler who won't leave the Christmas tree alone? Put it in the playpen. (the tree, not the kid)!
By Linda
Half of a Christmas TreeIf you have limited space, use an artificial tree and place it close to a wall and leave the back branches off and decorate. It still looks good in less space.
You may want to attach a string to the middle of the tree for added support and put a tack in the wall and tie the string to it.
Poinsettia Tree DecorationsSilk Poinsettia clusters tucked into the branches of your Christmas tree is attractive and cheap when you buy them at "after Christmas markdowns."
Easy Christmas Tree DecorationsIf you are new to decorating your own tree and don't have a lot of decorations, here are some thrifty ways to decorate your tree.
Use a Timer for Christmas Tree LightingFor many years we would plug in our tree every evening and then before we went to bed we would unplug it. It finally dawned on us that we could eliminate doing that by using a timer connected to that outlet.
Paperwhites Make Great Greenery During the WinterPaperwhites make great greenery during the winter and don't need a period of cold in order to bloom. They can be planted in a bowl of rocks or sand with garlands to make them look more festive.
By Lynn
"Silver" Chain Outdoor Tree DecorationHave the kids or grandkids make you a chain of silver for the tree. Mine made me enough to decorate my dwarf peach tree when they were in grade school. Now they are grown and it is still used. They made a "paper chain" using foil.
Packing Peanuts for DecorationsYou can use a large needle with fishing line to string together packing peanuts for draping over trees in the yard at Christmas. It won't hurt the tree, but if you live where there is significant wind, forget it. You can also use them indoors on the Christmas tree.
Yard ArtYou might consider it a decoration idea. My husband and I make and sell yard art. We also give yard art to our friends as Christmas gifts. This picture is one of my friend's snowman after a rare snowfall here in central Arkansas.
By Harlean from AR
Burned Out Light Bulb Christmas OrnamentsUse old burned out light bulbs as Christmas Bulbs: Paint and decorate with glitter, sequins, spray snow, and then add a decorative string or ribbon around top (base) of bulb for hanging.
Snowman Favor CupFrom the Laundry Room to Snowmen! Save those big caps from your Liquid Laundry detergent bottles. Wash them out good and turn them upside down (so it looks like a cup).
Cinnamon Apple Sauce OrnamentsOk, it's Christmas in July, er August! Make these and store them for Christmas or use them hanging in your car.
Using Key Chains as Christmas OrnamentsIn order to save money on Christmas tree decorations I use key chains as ornaments. Some key chains look similar to ornaments and are made of sturdier material. Keep this idea in mind when buying souvenirs on vacation.
Saving Money by Decorating YourselfA friend recently told me they'd received a bid of over $1,000. to put up their Christmas lights, this year. To save money, she's decided to put up their own Christmas lights themselves....
Christmas Ornament Decorating IdeaTurn your favorite Christmas ornaments upside-down and place into the top of taper candle holders. By using candle holders of various heights, it makes for a beautiful mantle display or tabletop decoration...
Scrunchies for Decorative StemwareBuy holiday decorated hair scrunchies and place them around your stemware for a festive look.
Mirrored Tiles for the TreeGlue mirrored tiles to ornament hangers or pieces of ribbon, then hang from your Christmas tree for a beautiful and sparkly look. You could get by with using less lights due to the reflection these tiles will produce.
Making Ornaments and Napkin HoldersMy mother and I made our own holiday ornaments for the Christmas tree. We bought clear tree ornaments and different colors of craft paint. We put 1-3 colors in the bottom then twisted and twirled the bulbs so the paint covered the inside.
Making Punched Paper or Fabric Candle ShadesThe punched tin look for candle holders is very popular right now. Get that look with paper or fabric by using your sewing machine. Take a strip of whichever medium you wish to use and sew holiday designs onto it, "without thread"...
Heart Ornaments from Scrap FabricTake old scraps of quilting if you have some or your favorite fabrics and cut out a few hearts and sew up leaving a small place to stuff them and then whip stitch them shut. Then hot glue green and red antique or old buttons on them for extra charm.
Pine Cone DecorationsWhat I really like to do is, collect pine cones. Then put them in a low oven, about 225 degrees F. for 15 minutes or so. Then I dip them in melted candle wax that was left over from candles I burned. I then sprinkle them with glitter...
Making Christmas Swags by Reusing ItemsThese are some swags I made for our porch where we keep our firewood. For each swag I took two branches from our old artificial Christmas tree. I laid them on top of each other, with one slightly higher.
Pretzel Christmas OrnamentThese ornaments are easy enough for pre-schoolers to do. Just smear some Elmer's glue on the front of your pretzel and dip it in some glitter. Cut a piece of yarn for your hanger.
Acorn Christmas WreathHi everyone, I'm a newbie here. Just wanted to share my idea for a wreath my daughter and I made one Christmas.
Shopping for Decorations for the Different HolidaysAll year long I buy holiday decorations after the holiday. You can get great deals up to 90% off. I also find neat things a garage sales and put all the decorations in a plastic tub...
Advent or Winter Countdown CalendarStart an easy Advent calendar or winter countdown! Cut out two large white construction paper circles. Have child draw a snowman face on one...
Baby's First Christmas Tree DecorationsWe had our first child in August. Christmas came the next day (it felt like it!) I had saved the baby shower cards and ribbon from the gifts. So I got creative like I always do and decorated my tree.
Snowflake GuyMy version of snow since we don't get it where I live. He is made from scrap yarn, foam, hot glue, a Styro foam ball, wiggle eyes and some snowflake doiley things.
Nativity Scene from OrnamentsI got these little wooden nativity scene cutouts from Oriental Trading last season after Christmas. I re-found them this year, and decided to paint them up.
Snowman Floral BucketUse a galvanized bucket or in this case I used a galvanized floral bucket used to display fresh flowers and paint a simple snowman on it with acrylic paints...
Reusing Old Christmas Cards (Holiday Craft Idea)Reusing Old Christmas Cards (Holiday Craft Idea). When my sister and I were kids, we didn't have a lot of money in our family. We didn't know it and still had a ton of fun!
Save Energy With LED Christmas LightsIt may be time to retire some of the large incandescent Christmas lights you have been bringing out every year. You can save a bundle on your power bill by switching to LED Christmas lights.
Dryer Sheets to Keep Cats Away from the Christmas TreeKeep cats away from the Christmas tree with fabric softener sheets. Encircle the tree with the sheets when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house and pick them up when you return.
Creative Christmas DecorationsCreative Christmas Decorations. Out at the farm where we've lived most of our lives, we had a huge deck to decorate for Christmas. We had whiskey barrel planters in 2 corners so I went to a thrift shop and got used artificial trees.
Sturdy Paper SnowflakesSturdy Paper Snowflakes. To make paper snowflakes more sturdy, dip them in melted wax from old candles and leave them on wax paper to dry.
Paper Chain GarlandLooking for Christmas garlands that cost little or no money? Make a paper chain garland using the funny pages from the newspaper or colorful gloss ads.
Decorating Your Table With LightsDress up your buffet table with a simple string of Christmas lights. It's easy to simply tape lights onto the side of your table then place your cloth over.
Packing Peanuts GarlandDo you have some Styrofoam packaging peanuts lying around? String them together using a large needle and sturdy thread (or fishing line).
Family Keepsake Christmas TreeFamily Keepsake Christmas Tree. This weekend, I saw the most lovely little Christmas tree. The decoration were a string of lights and then, the best part! It was covered with "things" from the family such as a silver baby spoon.
Handmade Christmas WreathHandmade Christmas Wreath. A couple years ago, I needed a new Christmas wreath for the front door. Being frugal, I wanted to see if I could make one just as nice but more inexpensively than new.
Easy Lighted Christmas BasketsThis is a quick and easy gift that packs a big punch. This will light up anyone's Christmas and is a great gift because holiday decorations are always appreciated. Get the kids together and gather your own pinecones it will make for a great outing.
Baby's First Christmas OrnamentsWhen my first granddaughter was born I wanted to make a special ornament for her that would last and not break. I bought a set of children's ABC blocks and screwed a small eye hook into the top of each one.
Walnut OrnamentAn easy traditional Christmas ornament. Take a walnut shell, add a loop of ribbon or other cord (to hang it) and glue the 2 halves around the cord.
Free Christmas Trees - Make Your OwnFree Christmas Trees - Make Your Own. Trees don't have to be the traditional pine tree. Be creative and inventive. Almost anything can become a tree of sorts and the more unusual the better. It will bring back floods of memories for years to come
Reusing Baby Mobiles As Christmas OrnamentsReusing Baby Mobiles As Christmas Ornaments. Each of my baby girls had their own infant/crib mobile. When the baby outgrew her infant/crib mobile, I took the mobile apart and made Christmas tree ornaments out of the pieces by attaching some silk holly and a pretty ribbon.
Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas OrnamentsThis is a very simple recipe and one that you will really enjoy!
Jigsaw Puzzle OrnamentsThese two photos show ornaments that are much different than the green and red ones I made in 1992. After writing the directions for these, I decided to make some more. I assembled a 550 piece puzzle and sprayed it gold.
Reindeer Basket For ChristmasMeasure around rim of basket; add 1/2 inch. Cut a length of 1 1/4 inch ribbon to the determined mesurement. Glue ribbon around the basket rim, overlapping ends back. Glue reindeer head to back of basket at rim. Glue 1 reindeer front leg to each side of basket at rim.
Decorated Pumpkins and SquashI purchased my pumpkins and squash in early October. After Thanksgiving I converted them to Christmas decorations with a little spray paint and wire rimmed ribbon.
Christmas Ornaments From Curtain RingsAn old curtain ring made into a Christmas decor. First I washed them then let them dry (alternatively painted them) then sketch a design on it with glue and sprinkled with glittering dusts.
Paper Napkin Craft - Three WaysI know it might seem a little early for Christmas projects, but I thought I would post this one early. Here are three different ideas using the same beverage sized napkin.
Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas OrnamentsWhen making long lasting, nicely scented Christmas decorations with the kids, mix white school glue and lots of cinnamon (until you get a doughy consistency).
Making Fancy Shower Curtain HooksYou know those pricey matching shower hooks to match the pricey shower curtain you bought? Well I finally found my "snowflake" shower curtain for Christmas.
Milk Jug LightsRinse out your jugs and let dry. If it is windy in your area, you may want to put sand or rocks in the bottom of the jugs to keep them in place. Place one light into the mouth of each jug.
Hang Apples For Holiday DecorationTie a length of nice holiday ribbon to apple stems and suspend them from the ceiling or in an archway or doorway from thumbtacks. Make sure though, that they hang higher than the tallest person's head, who lives with you or visits, so they don't get bumped!
How To Cut Paper Snowflakes?How do you cut paper snowflakes? Here are tips from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own techniques here.
Craft Projects You Can Make Out Of Your Christmas CardsI would like to see pictures of things done (for Christmas) out of old Christmas Cards!
Popsicle Stick Picture FramesI make picture frames out of Popsicle sticks that are absolutely beautiful. I paint the sticks then decorate further with glitter or stickers.
Artificial SnowI was looking for a way to jazz up some Christmas decorations, etc. and found this quick, easy artificial snow recipe.
Handmade Christmas Ornaments for GiftsWhen I decorate for Christmas, I like to make gifts. This year I want to make diamond shaped fabric ornaments with a lovely lace border.
Candy Decorated Christmas TreesTry these as an alternative to making an entire gingerbread house. My school's PTA had this as one of the crafts this weekend and it was a big hit with all the kids.
Themed Trees for Your Loved OneMaybe not every year, but as a special surprise, prepare a themed tree for your husband, partner, or child. One year, I made a Star Wars tree for my husband. I took a white plastic tree from the Dollar store, and decorated it with purple and blue lights.
Lace HeartsCut lace about 14 inches, then fold over and sew a seam to slip a piece of 4 inch pipe cleaner in it. Make sure the lace is gathered. Then glue 2 red hearts in the center. I bought mine at a Dollar store.
Homemade Texas OrnamentsHere are two easy homemade ornaments. The snowman was made from a shotgun shell. Empty of course. It has a little felt cowboy hat that was purchased.
Juice Can Lid Christmas MagnetsCute, quick and frugal gifts or decorations! The magnets are used canning jar lids and smaller ones are from frozen OJ concentrate can ends. Base coat white or brown and paint faces.
Sparkle SnowmanMy husband made this snowman for his holiday potluck at work. Everyone loved it. It was much harder than a regular sparkleball, but still doable. We just used an old hat and scarf that we had around the house but you could really decorate it up if you wanted to.
Holiday WreathThis takes a wire coat hanger, and a box of 25 of the thinner gallon size plastic bags (not Zip-loc)
Recycled Magazine Christmas TreeUsing an old magazine and some tea bag envelopes, you can make a very unique Christmas decoration.
Tatted SnowflakeTatting pattern booklets are available in the craft sections of stores. This snowflake is a simple one.
Reuse Gift Cards For Tree DecorationsHere's a fun and cute way to use those gift cards given from retail stores. We all receive them in so many themes and characters that are so pretty. Just use a hole punch in one corner and hang them from your tree as decoration.
Making Ornaments from Can LidsYou can make free Christmas ornaments and other year round decorations with lids you've taken off the tops and bottoms of soup, tuna, juice, and other cans with the can opener. Just use a permanent marker to draw out a flower (or whatever) and then cut it out with tin snips.
Decorative Christmas CraftWe made these at a Christmas party last month and they went over so well. Any age child (or adult) can make these. You need a square of fabric 18 x 18 inches for each item. You need one roll of toilet paper per item. You need something for the top of each.
Scrap Fabric WreathI made a yo-yo quilt for my mother-in-law for Christmas and had 4 bags of scrap material. I made a fabric wreath using the scraps.
Gourd AngelsPick your gourds, wash in dish soap and bleach, let dry, about an hour. Pick which colors of acrylic paint you want to use on the dress, and skin tone for the face and you are ready to paint. When you are finished painting, set aside and let dry, I always let them dry overnight just to be sure.
Kids' Santa OrnamentYou will need red or green puff paper (I get it at the dollar store), cotton balls, glue, a small pic of the kid that is doing the ornament, black gel pen, silver gel pen, and scissors.
Seashell Christmas Globe OrnamentsI live at the beach and constantly pick up interesting shells and rocks. I have been wanting to use them in an interesting craft and decided I would start looking for very tiny shells and very tiny rocks.
Gourd Snowman Head1 clean round gourd, glue, cotton balls or cotton fiber fill of any color, 1 large Christmas bell, acrylic paint, acrylic sealer, spray at least 2 times for good coverage.
Decorate Cheap Christmas StockingsIf you need Christmas stockings because you missed out on last year's after Christmas sales, you can make really fun ones without sewing and for a little cost. Just buy the cheapest red felt stockings you can find (try drug and discount stores) and sheets of felt at a craft store.
