Recycling Christmas CardsWhat do you do with your Christmas cards? I decided to recycle mine! I took all my cards and turned them into Christmas gift cards for next year!
Bead and Sequin Ornaments (Grandma...My grandma made the most beautiful bead and sequin ornaments and they have always been my favorites on our tree. This year I attempted to recreate these stunning ornaments. These are great decorations and also make a wonderful gift.
Spool Yo Yo TreeHere is another cute yo yo Christmas tree project, for the yo yo enthusiast. You can make one or a whole grove.
Hanging Ball Made With Old CardsTake 20 used Christmas card (or any other card) fronts and cut out 4 inch circles. Using a triangle template, fold the edges of the circles up to form flaps. Glue the flaps together, add a hanging ribbon and you have an 8" decorative ball.
Baby Food Jar Christmas TreeHere's a picture and instructions for the baby food jar "Christmas tree" my daughter made for my friends 80th birthday.
Sparkleball DecorationI had so much trouble locating directions on the internet for making a "solo" cup light ball that I just created my own free website that gives easy to follow step-by-step instructions. I call them sparkleballs.
Popsicle Stick SnowflakeThese intricate snowflakes were easy to make and fun to design. We made them as a family and everyone chose to use a different pattern. The instructions are for only one of the designs, but feel free to create your own.
Pom-Pom ReindeerAnother craft for left-over pom-poms and extra craft bits. The cute reindeer has pom-poms for a body and head and chenille stems as antlers and legs.
Toothpick Christmas TreeToothpicks and Styrofoam balls come together to make an amazingly elegant table top Christmas tree.
Snowmen Button BraceletCelebrate the season with a DIY Christmas bracelet. I really liked the idea of forming different figures from buttons. This is a great use for buttons left over from old clothes. I decided to make a bracelet with snowmen.
Making Winter Scarf Covered WreathsThis simple and very easy DIY consists of a wreath and a winter scarf. This project is no sew, no glue. You just take your scarf and simply wrap around and tuck the ends into the pleats of your wrapped wreath. Making this project so simple!
Plastic Spoon TreeHere's a fun and easy way to make a chic looking tree for the holidays, or any time of the year. I think they look lovely both indoors and outdoors. All you need are plastic spoons, a piece of paper, and hot glue. The bigger the paper, the taller the tree.
Aluminum Pie Pan SnowflakeDon't throw away those aluminum pie pans, when you can make snowflakes!
Costume Jewelry Christmas TreeI make costume jewelry Christmas trees as gifts for family. This one on black background was given to me 30 years ago and made by my 86 year old aunt. It is one of the most loved things in my home.
Sweet Gum Mini-WreathThis wreath is made from the seed pods from the sweet gum tree. This is a pattern for all you Southern folks that have these seed pods to clean up every fall from your yard.
Baby Food Jar Santa Candy JarThis is a vintage pattern that I used many years ago, but is still a popular recycle craft. It is a Santa candy jar made from a baby food jar.
Button Star OrnamentThis craft can be made using collected buttons left over from old clothes to make a star to decorate your Christmas tree. I used wire from an old transformer, so this project cost almost nothing. You can use any other color of buttons.
Wooden Spoon DeerHere's a fun craft made from 5 wooden spoons, pom poms, felt, ribbon, glue, bells and other trims.
Snowman Made of Plastic CupsI still have two more half spheres of plastic cups which I previously turned into a chandelier. One is small and the other one is big so I got the idea of making another decoration which is a snowman.
Candy Bar Christmas TreeThese make a wonderful gift. People love getting these trees and they are so much more personal than a box of chocolates. Happy Holidays!
Recycled Necktie Tree SkirtThis was made from men's ties that I got from friends who's husbands no longer wore them. I did open them up but if you have enough you would not have to open them up. Cut the length you want from each (should be the same length, then hand or machine stitch them together.
Christmas Tea TreeThis is a cute Christmas tea tree to make and gift to a tea lover, or as decor for the holidays. You could pair this gift with a mug filled with chocolates.
Crocheted Recycled Christmas CardsSince I can't stand to throw out all my beautiful Christmas cards,I cut shapes from them, then punch holes around the sides, and crochet on them to make beautiful new Christmas Ornaments. I decorated our tree at church last year with them and received raves!!
Winter Wonderland AngelI like making a craft now and then where I use only what I have on hand, so it helps to keep my scrap pile under control. I attempted to do just this when wanting to make a Christmas present for a friend.
Acorn ElvesThese are acorns I gathered near Salem, Massachusetts this fall while on a trip there. They came from my husband's ancestor's property where they settled in 1634. I wanted to make some kind of keepsake out of them and found this idea. So Christmas decorations seemed like a fun idea. I also crafted with my 11-year-old granddaugheter and she had fun making them too.
Nativity OrnamentMade from old wooden clothespins.
Scrappy Christmas QuiltJust another fun technique for a quick quilt using Christmas fabric scraps. Just fabric, no batting or flannel!
Zig Zag Christmas Table RunnerThis table runner could be used for any holiday themed table runner. I had a lot of Christmas fabric so I made a Christmas themed one. It was a fun way to use up scraps other than making a traditional nine patch block, etc.
Christmas Goodie BagsSanta or elf "long johns" are filled with small candies for Christmas. I made these for my daughter-in-law's special needs students.
Spool Christmas TreeMade from fabric and old wooden spools
$1 Store WreathI bought the wreath forms at Dollar Tree to make these three similar but different Christmas wreaths.
Vintage Ancestor OrnamentMaking these for Christmas for each of my five children using vintage "1960s" pictures of my husband's family and my family.
Ruffle Christmas TreeThis small Christmas made of organza and hot glue will perfectly decorate your interior. It's lightweight and durable, so you don't have to worry about dropping it. You can insert a Christmas garland inside.
Sticky Tape Christmas BulbThe simplest sticky tape is enough to decorate your Christmas tree. I figured out how to make a Christmas bulb out of transparent duct tape only using expired eyeshadow. Instead of eyeshadow, you can use any powder (of course, a powder that is safe for health), for example flour. So it will cost you almost nothing.
Ugly Christmas Tree SweaterMake your ugly Christmas sweater yourself! The advantage of this project is that the sweater will not be damaged. After the holidays are over, you can rip off the beaded organza ruffles and wear your sweater as usual.
Birch Bark SnowflakeI like to use bark for crafts. This time I decided to make snowflakes from birch bark. You can hang these snowflakes on Christmas tree or use them to decorate Christmas gifts.
Christmas Ball from Plastic Roll-On ContainerDo not throw away empty roll-on antiperspirants or deodorants. You can make little Christmas balls from them. It won't take long and will cost you almost nothing.
Reindeer Rice Krispie TreatsThis is a simple way to decorate Rice Krispie treats for Christmas. These cute reindeer treats are sure to bring anyone some holiday cheer.
Brussels Sprout Christmas TreeI thought this Brussels sprout stalk would make a fun table decoration. I was able to get the Brussels sprouts and cranberries on sale and the star and lights at the Dollar Tree.
Pine Cone WreathI saw this on Pinterest.
Covid Christmas Car KitBecause I was given a lot of fabric, and I generally make and distribute treats to friends and neighbors at Christmas time every year, I decided to change it up a little and made these "car kits" with hand sanitizer, kleenex, and masks to keep handy in the car.
Handmade/Homemade GiftsChoosing the perfect gift for each person on our list means paying attention throughout the year and taking note of preferences. This is particularly true when making gifts.
Keepsake Christmas OrnamentMade from my Grandmother's old perm rods. I wanted to do "something" with them and so I fashioned these two different ornaments; an angel and a Christmas tree.
Five-Minute Thrifty Goodie ContainersMade from berry containers from the produce department, I used Christmas fabric and plan to use to gift homemade fudge in them.
Candy Cane Rice Krispie TreatsThese festive treats are super simple to make and really delicious. They make perfect gifts or a great addition to a holiday party.
Organza Spiral Christmas TreeOrganza and beads look great together. I used them to create this Christmas tree. You can use an LED garland instead of beads or make the Christmas tree without adding beads.
Stars from Fishing Line and Hot GlueI figured out how to make beautiful stars from fishing line and hot glue. Thanks to the glitter and beads, the stars shine perfectly. You can hang them on a Christmas tree or use for decoration.
Accordion Christmas Tree from Plastic BottleDon't spend a lot of money on Christmas décor, rather use what you have at hand to create it. I figured out how to make this wonderful Christmas tree from a plastic bottle. I used a green plastic bottle, but you can use it in a different color, as Christmas trees don't have to always be green. You can also use any other decoration for such a Christmas tree, for example crystals, beaded garlands or even buttons that you can sew with threads if you don't have a suitable wire.
Miniature Christmas Crochet HatThis miniature Christmas crochet hat is such a cute holiday decoration. Attach them to a string of yarn and create a pretty garland to hang in your home. Use them on a wine bottle cozy outfit or use as a handmade hat ornament. Such a cute way to make your home décor festive.
Christmas Rainbow Cheetah Gift TagHave your kids help partake in Christmas wrapping! They could design cute little gift tags or make as a flat homemade card. This is a cheetah my daughter designed.
Clear Ornament IdeasHere are two fun and simple clear ornaments ideas. The first one, I bought these rub on transfer Christmas theme last year for 90% and finally got to using them. For the second, in your backyard or on a nature walk collect flowers to press and use double sided tape or mod podge to adhere on clear ornaments!
Needlepoint Canvas Wreath OrnamentI was given a lot of circular needlepoint canvas shapes and found this quick and simple ornament to make.
Gingerbread People Wall DecorationsHere is an inexpensive/free way you can decorate your home for the holidays. You can cut out gingerbread people from cardboard, shipping boxes or craft paper then decorate! Hang the gingerbread people individually with tape or as a garland.
Personalized Spool OrnamentsTo celebrate my grandson's first Thanksgiving and first Christmas and to commemorate family who can't be here this year due to COVID, I created some cute but simple tree ornaments using just photos and empty thread spools for an old fashioned look!
Homemade Printed Tissue PaperWith just a few supplies, a computer, and a printer it is super easy to make small pieces of custom tissue paper for the holidays!
Mini Gumball Machine Christmas OrnamentI saw this idea at a craft boutique and since I had the supplies to make one, I made my own version.
Wall Tree Activity AdventThis advent is simple to throw together using Ikea's wall tree, and cardstock. Our family likes to do activity-based advents like this one and when I saw IKEA was selling this decoration, I knew I had to make it into an advent calendar.
Money Gift in a Candy JarThis candy jar is a fun way to gift money in a surprising way.
Pine Needle Christmas TreeThis is a craft my son thought of on his own and had our family do individually; it was a lot of fun! We collected pine needles, drew our own Christmas trees then decorated it!
Giving Money in Rolled SocksAre you looking for a more interesting way to give cash rather than the standard cash in a card? There is usually a holiday sock sale before the holidays, which is a great way to stock up on socks to wear and to give.
Giving Money in a Pez DispenserPez is a classic holiday candy and kids love using the dispenser. If you are looking for a way to give cash that is not simply putting it into a card, you can try this trick.
Giving Cash in a Candy StorybookHere is a simple way to make giving cash a little extra special this holiday season. During Christmastime, there are always a few different candy companies that make a storybook style candy box. When I was a kid, I always got the Lifesavers book in my stocking.
Gift Money in a Candy BoxThis is a simple way to give cash as a gift. You fill the spaces in a candy box with cash and give it as if it was just a normal box of chocolates.
Craft Wire Christmas Tree & Star OrnamentsThis year, I donated all of my glass ornaments so our Christmas tree is looking a little bare. I decided to make some wire ornaments. I made 2 so far and looking forward to make more.
Christmas Dino DecorationHere is a cute dinosaur with a Christmas hat you can make with supplies from home. You can change the reptile/animal to your child's liking and add a Christmas hat. This dino would be a nice decorative piece to add in your home if you like your kid's artwork displayed.
Propagating Plants Inside a Christmas Ornament BulbMake these cute and inexpensive ornament bulb propagation planters to give as gifts or simply to decorate your desk, bathroom, or home.
Reindeer CandleEver received a candle with no scent, but you hated to toss it? Here is an idea for making it into a holiday candle.
Christmas WreathAfter cleaning and organizing my crafts, I found a few items I could use to make a Christmas wreath. I purchased a wreath and some bows at an after Christmas sale and then added my craft items to make a wreath.
Poured Paint Christmas BulbA friend gave me ten of these silver Christmas bulbs that someone had decorated with a writing paint, so I decided to upcycle them using the "paint pour" technique.
Fancy Paper SnowflakeI've always loved to cut out paper snowflakes and hang them in the window during Christmas. (I've even used them to separate layers of cookies in a cookie tin.) It's so much fun to slowly and carefully unfold the snowflake to see the end result. All you need is printer paper, a pencil, and sharp scissors with a fine point.
Starburst Pipe Cleaner Tree TopperThis is an easy and inexpensive way to create a retro tree topper that's also fun to make. All you need is a package of silver pipe cleaners and that's all there is to it. If you want to change up your colors from year to year, this is also a great way to coordinate your topper to match your tree.
Pinecone Reindeer OrnamentMake this cute reindeer ornament with just a few supplies - a pinecone, ribbon, a pipe cleaner, pom pom, googly eyes, and hot glue.
Clothespin ReindeerEvery Christmas I love to make new decorations and ornaments. And this year, I found two reindeer crafts that I had to try. They are easy to make and can be used as regular decor that you set out or ornaments for the tree. I like the traditional look, but you could also mix it up with different paint and accessory colors!
DIY Animated Christmas Hearth ShirtUgly Christmas clothes have been popularly funny for years. You can make this video animated fireplace top for under $10. My best friend throws an ugly Christmas attire contest every year. We realized we were spending at least $60 on our outlandish tops, trying to outdo each other when shopping for these items. I came up with this top for this year's party and it was such a hit.
Hershey Kiss-mas TreesBy using Hershey Kisses as the stand you can make this cute holiday decoration. Make a bunch and you can have a Christmas forest on your mantel or holiday table.
Scrabble Tile and Dollar Tree OrnamentsI love Scrabble tiles and making things from them. I also love Dollar Tree ornaments. Today, I made some ornaments from both.
Pasta Jar Snowman LuminariesSnowman crafts are perfect for Christmas because you can leave them out through January! And in my area, the heavy snows don't usually happen until at least the first of the year anyway. I have a lot of old glass jars sitting around, as well as small LED votive candles. After searching for jar crafts, I came across these snowman luminaries.
Crochet Chain Wrapped Foam Tree TrioI love these tree shapes you can get at Dollar Tree stores. They are easy to decorate in all sorts of ways. Today I finished this trio.
Funnel and Broken Jewelry Christmas TreeThe other day, I had two funnels in my pantry. When I moved the biggest one, it knocked the next smaller one off the shelf. When I picked it up, I realized it sat on the larger one like it was stacked, like a Christmas tree. More on that later in the post. This was a labor of love and I hope you like it.
Mini Gift WreathI love anything tiny. Smaller versions of things amaze me. So today, I made a wreath using mini packages.
Ripped Fabric Wrapped Faux Candy CanesI have had these for a few years, meaning to do this for almost that long. Well this last week, I got the chance. They had lights inside, so when I took off the end cap, I tossed them. While I might not be able to display them outside (cruddy weather), you can see how cute they are, the world's biggest faux candy canes.
Oversized Bow Pinecone Ornament for DoorWith just a few simple supplies, you can make this cute oversized bow pinecone ornament! It's a great & inexpensive way of decorating the door handles in your home or any handles around your home!
Paper Plate OrnamentHere's an inexpensive kid's craft for making paper plate ornaments. It would be a perfect little station for the kids if you're hosting a Christmas party!
Veggie and Cheese Christmas TreesThese tiny little Christmas trees make for cute little edible crafts. You can get creative with the types of veggies you use to make these, you don't have to stick with cucumbers and carrots. The little star topper is made from string cheese. Using slices of round cheese sticks helps to make equal sized stars!
Rainbow Christmas CountdownThis is a craft I made earlier this month, but I haven't had a chance to post because I have been sick for the past week.
Wreath ChandelierIf I'm not mistaken, my disposable plastic glasses chandelier has been hanging for three years and still the lights are in very good condition. This season I will be saying goodbye to the plastic material and create another eye satisfying decor, minus the disposable glasses, plus the old series lights.
Christmas Flower CrownHere in Tahiti it is a tradition to make a beautiful crown to wear on your head for Christmas. Each year at this time the flowers are blooming everywhere and it is so beautiful. We go in our garden and pick a basket full of flowers and a few leaves to make a crown to wear on Christmas.
Wooden Ball Gift Tag OrnamentHere is a tutorial on how to make this cute, wooden ball tag ornament for your tree or to use as a gift tag for a present.
Rainbow Pinecone OrnamentsBrighten your Christmas tree with these colorful and beautiful rainbow bell pinecone ornaments! These ornaments would also make great gifts too!
Noel Q-Tip PaintingThis is a fun indoor craft my son and I made together. We will place this on our fridge. It could be made as a gift from a toddler/kid to anyone in the family, friends, as a nice art piece, or you can make for your fridge or to hang in your home to display.
Minimal Cardboard Christmas Tree DecorationYou can make these simple and minimal themed Christmas tree decor pieces using just cereal boxes or any thin cardboard pieces you may have laying around. They are perfect to place on your mantle as decor!
Recycled Bottle Gold Leaf Candlestick HoldersIf you are looking for a unique and elegant candlestick holder for the holidays why not make some out of old beer bottles. I had a lot of empty beer bottles given to me for my bottle art and decided to see what I could do with a few of them for the holidays.
Holiday Swag DecorationMake a holiday swag decoration for your home. It can be placed indoors or outdoors.
Christmas Silhouette Candle HoldersDuring the holidays I end up burning more candles or even lighting tea lights around the house. It is festive to see all the bright lights from the tree and other decorations around your home. This year I wanted to give my friends and family some candle holders they could place on their dinner table for Christmas.
Colorful Paper Mini Table Top Christmas TreeThis cute pine trees are simple but adorable. I love making them in variety of colors. My plan is to put these under my Christmas tree which I plan to install in a few days.
Recycled Bottle Holly Leaf Candlestick HolderRecycling for the holidays is a great way to make your Christmas crafts and save a lot of money. This is such a fun project. I was looking for ways to recycle some old beer bottles that a person gave me for my bottle crafts I love to make. I had the idea that the beer bottles were the perfect size to make cute little candlestick holders that could sit on your table or around your home.
DIY Light Bulb Grinch OrnamentI made this Grinch ornament from a burnt out light bulb. All you need is acrylic paint, some red and white fabric, and some hot glue. No sewing is necessary. Tie on some ribbon and hang it on the tree. I think he's pretty cute!
Recycled Plastic Bottle Christmas BallsI'm pretty late with Christmas decorations this time. There is no time to buy new Christmas balls, travel time takes longer than shopping so I'd rather spend it making an alternative holiday tree ornament.
Rainbow Unicorn OrnamentHere's a trending animal this year, unicorns. Of course my daughter was a unicorn for Halloween (one of her outfits.) With the left over colorful tulle I had, I was able to make this really simple unicorn ornament.
Ornament Holiday CardI can't believe it's December already! I am starting my DIY holiday cards that I make every year with items I collect or have on hand.
Personalized Felt OrnamentsMaking personalized felt ornaments was really fun and most of all really thrifty versus buying Christmas ornaments. You can make a bunch for your tree and probably enough to make as gifts! Let me share with you all some of the ornaments I made.
Cash Trees As GiftsI decided to give cash gifts rather than gift cards.