DIY projects and creative, budget-friendly materials bring holiday decorating to new festive heights.
Jacob Fox
Keep holiday spending under control with these innovative and cheap Christmas crafts that spread holiday cheer.
Pinecone Ornaments
Stroll through the neighborhood and collect a few fall pinecones and pine needles.
Credit:Jacob Fox
Arrange this foliage in glass ornaments, bowls, and hurricane vases for a fragrant and festive look.
Match the display to your otherholiday decorationsby adding a few colored ornaments or tinsel to the mix.
Wrap the jar with a piece of plaid ribbon and secure it with tape.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Tie on twine and a sprig of evergreen.
Fill with a simple pillar candle for a charming Christmas decoration.
A few pieces of mirrored paper are used to create the ornament tops.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
All that’s left is stringing the finished ornament balloon garland up with fishing line.
Glitter Ornaments
Blaine Moats
Dress up basic ornaments with glitter.
Apply glue to the punch-out and stamp it on the ornament.
Credit: Andy Johnson
Embroidered Ornaments
Theseeasy Christmas ornamentsstart with a trip to the laundry aisle.
Inexpensive wool dryer balls get a festive holiday makeover with a few embroidery stitches.
We free-handed snowflakes but try stitching other holiday shapes like stars or trees.
Credit:Blaine Moats
Patterned Ornaments
Adam Albright
Use air-dry clay to create one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments.
Simply roll out the clay and use a patterned crystal glass to stamp a design.
Poke a hole to hang and let dry according to package directions.
Credit: Adam Albright
This inexpensive Christmas craft doubles aspretty gift toppers.
Cupcake Wrapper Gift Wrap
Cameron Sadeghpour
Personalize your gifts with cupcake wrappers.
Or nest a group of holiday-theme wrappers to create a frilly starburst.
Credit:Adam Albright
Pair your wrapper art with simple gift wrap so your creation takes center stage.
you could also buy a pack of just the lids as an inexpensive alternative.
Hot-glue boxwood leaves (preserved or real) to the top of a Mason jar lid ring.
Credit:Cameron Sadeghpour
Embellish with any ornaments you have, or gather small pinecones to glue to the lid.
Paper Pom-Pom Wreath
keep your scraps of paper to create thispretty Christmas wreath.
Create easyfringed paper pom-pomsand glue them to a foam wreath formthat’s all it takes!
Credit: Brie Passano
Hang this wreath inside or in a protected area, so it keeps its shape.
Family Photo Garland
Steven McDonald
Looking for cheap Christmas crafts to plan out the holiday?
This homemade photo garland is an affordable idea but oh so endearing to the heartstrings.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Drape the nostalgic display across a mantel or shelf by clipping old snapshots to a piece of festive ribbon.
Start with the great-great-grandparents at one end of the garland and progress to the youngest generation.
Wreath Ornament
A 4-inch grapevine wreath sets the scene for a pretty winter moment.
Credit:Steven McDonald
Create this easy Christmas craft by painting the wreaths.
String Tree Craft
Kathryn Gamble Lozier
Forget the fridge.
Spotlighting sweetholiday cardson a festive board gives them the “tree-t-ment” they deserve.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
First, staple a neutral fabric to the back of an old corkboard.
Cardboard Christmas Trees
Brie Williams
Have Santa-ready kiddos?
Spare the expensive breakables and try these classic cardboard trees on for size.
Credit:Kathryn Gamble Lozier
Create thiseasy sewing projectby cutting a stocking shape from cardstock.
Draw a simple pattern on one side using a metallic marker.
Sew the two together and fill with Christmas treats or candy.
Credit:Brie Williams
Golden Memo Frame
Cheer up your entryway with a dazzling “dipped” frame.
Hanging Countdown Christmas Calendar
Ray Kachatorian
Can’t wait for Christmas?
Count down the days with a homemade Advent calendar.
Credit:David A Land
Fallen birch branches tied with number-stamped muslin bags help create this fresh outdoor spin.
Use strong yarn or skinny rope to assemble and hang.
Fa-La-La Garland
Richard Leo Johnson
Make your fireplace or a blank wall sing with these homemade ornaments.
Credit: Adam Albright
Trace the outside of different-size embroidery hoops onto a roll of canvas.
Cut out the circles and paint them with green chalkboard paint; let dry.
Place the painted circles in the hoops and add hanging ribbon.
Credit:Ray Kachatorian
Use chalk to write a festive refrain.
Just paint the back of an antique picture frame with black chalkboard paint, then write your favorite phrase.
Postcard Ornaments
Dana Gallagher
Add a natural touch to this year’s Christmas tree withvintage postcards.
Credit:Richard Leo Johnson
This is a botanical print, but any image you find will do the trick.
Use a hole punch to create a hole at the top, thread a ribbon through, and hang.
Gingerbread Display
Transform a plain glass cake stand into a sparkling centerpiece with a homemade gingerbread display.
Credit:John Granen
A sweet house, deer, and icicle-tipped trees look magical sitting on a sugar snow bed.
Christmas Cake Topper
Give your favoriteholiday sweeta festive makeover with these adorable Christmas animal cake toppers.
Decorate your own using just a few dollar-store materials like felt, toy animals, and bottle brush trees.
Credit:Dana Gallagher
Peppermint Candy Christmas Wreath
Looking for cheap Christmas crafts to make as a family?
Try this sweet peppermint candy wreath.
Glue small cinnamon candies in the gaps.
Add a ribbon, and hang on the front door or a wall peg.
Wreath-and-Candle Table Topper
This easy display adds a natural, festive feel to your coffee table.
Surround a candle of your choice with store-bought faux greenerythat’s it.
Credit:Ray Kachatorian
Christmas craft ideas don’t get any easier.
Use a battery-operated candle instead of an open flame near fresh greenery or any flammable materials.
Ombre Wreath
Matthew Clark
Dress your front door with this festiveombre pinecone wreath.
Credit:Dana Gallagher
We used shades of blue, but this technique looks great with classic red and green or metallic tones.
Credit: Ray Kachatorian
Credit:Matthew Clark
