A little early this year, but I love the holiday season and all that comes with it. Crafting ornaments with my grandma is a huge part of my childhood memory and even though I miss having her around, every time I think of it I feel joy. Sure, you can go to the store together and pick anything you’d like, have it look just perfect. But I think I’ve never seen my grandma smile at her tree more than when it was full with our crafts. Here are some DIY holiday decorations that you can make without spending any money and create great memories with your kids or grandkids!
Paper Accordion Wheels
You may find this familiar since it’s often used for DIY decors and photo wall backdrops. Paper accordion wheels also work perfectly for the holidays. All you have to do is fold a piece of paper multiple times until it looks like an accordion. It would make out a fan. Combine three or four of these accordion-like fans to create a circle. You can do this with any size and any kind of paper. You can even recycle old newspapers, old magazines, printed documents, and music sheets instead of using craft paper. If you have a color theme in mind, you can simply paint them after.
Snow Pinecones
Bring the white winter indoors with these DIY snow pinecones. You can gather pinecones from a nearby park or forest if you don’t have pine trees in your yard. All you have to do is paint some parts of them white to get that snow-covered look. If you want some sparkle, you can sprinkle white glitter over it after painting. Place the pinecones in a decorative tray or bowl to serve as centerpieces. You can also use the snow pinecones as ornaments for wreaths, garlands, or trees.
Paper Snowflakes
Here is another papercraft that you can do at home. However, this may require some time and focus since it involves cutting out intricate designs. You can find a tutorial that involves some folding and cutting out the pattern. You also have the option to print out a snowflake pattern and trace them onto paper, but this method will have a longer prep time. Once done, you can stick the paper snowflakes on your walls and windows. You can also hang them from the ceiling in various string lengths to recreate a snowfall effect.
Light Bulb Snow Globes
Turn old light bulbs into decorative snow globes. All you have to do is remove the filament from the bulb. Then, you can place items in it like pictures, leaves from a holiday plant, or colorful beads. For the snow, add in some styrofoam balls, glitter, or fake snow. You can seal the bulb with a small cap or cork. Once sealed, you can attach it to a durable base like a piece of wood.
Stick Figurines
Test your creativity and imagination with stick figurines. All you need is some twigs and sticks from your backyard and wood glue. Glue them together to form holiday figures like snowmen and reindeer. You can choose to paint these figurines or have them as is. Once you’re done, you can display these figurines as centerpieces or on your mantel.
Ice Skates Wreath
If you have a pair of ice skates that you’re no longer using around the house, you can give it new life this holiday. Fill in the ice skates with greenery then use the greens to hold other festive elements like pinecones or berries. Use a nice ribbon to hang the skates on your door. Make sure the ribbon can handle the weight. Skip the usual winter wreaths and stand out in your neighborhood by using ice skates instead.
Berries on a Shell
Another way to bring the outdoors indoors is to display berries. Here, you can see a stem of berries displayed on a huge shell. It’s a great holiday decor for those living in coastal towns or in areas where there’s no snow. If you do not possess a shell, you can always use decorative bowls as an alternative.
All-Natural Wreath
You can create a good holiday wreath from some wire and materials that you can gather in your backyard. Get some sturdy vines and form the wreath base with the help of wire. Once the base is done, attach other natural decorative elements like pinecones, berries, evergreen, and holly using wire or a glue gun. If you hang these wreaths indoors, it acts like potpourri since it can release a pleasing scent that reminds you of the woods.
Display Holiday Cards
If you’re the type who keeps the cards you receive every holiday, then this year is the time to take them out and showcase them as your holiday decor. You can line up these holiday cards in a row on your window sills or your mantel. You can also create a bunting out of them. Then, run the string of holiday cards across your walls. This idea not only adds a personal touch to your holiday decor but also shows how you are loved and how much you appreciate your card senders.
Holiday Mug
For those who lack the space for a tree or for those who can’t afford one, here’s a cute solution for you – the holiday mug. All you have to do is place a branch of greens in a festive mug. Then, decorate the greens with holiday ornaments of your choice. This idea is also great if you have holiday-themed mugs that you barely use.
Mini Book Ornaments
For book lovers, mini book ornaments offer a cute and whimsical way to decorate your tree. Cut up old books into small pieces. Cut up colored paper to serve as the book covers. You can keep the cover and pages together with a stapler. Hang a thread on one side of the cover for some while you place the thread in the book’s spine for the others. This way, when you hang the mini book ornaments, some books will be flapped open while some will remain closed.
Tree on the Wall
Here’s another Christmas tree solution for those who need to have one but can’t. Make one out of sticks! Just collect twigs and branches from your garden. Make sure you gather various lengths. Lay them horizontally and arrange the lengths until you can make out the figure of a Christmas tree. Secure the sticks together with twine like what you would do to form a DIY ladder. Hang it on the wall and you can start decorating it with lights and ornaments.
Fairy Lights in a Jar
Make your own magical lantern by combining an old jar with fairy lights. You can use any kind of jar as long as it is clear and transparent. Place fairy lights in the jar, and you’re done. The effect is like fireflies in a jar. It’s an easy way to give a warm, cozy glow around the house. You can add fake snow in the jar for a more winter theme or add tinsel for a shimmering effect.
Winter Candle
You can create your own winter candle with leftover candles. Collect them in a pot and melt the wax. Add in fragrances like cinnamon or pine so that it smells just like winter when you light it later. Set the wick into your mold and pour the melted wax. Give it time to cool down and solidify. Once it’s ready, take the candle off the mold and decorate the exterior with pine needles, twine, or berries. You can also simply take unused candles in the house and decorate them.
Cardboard Snowflakes
You can also create snowflakes using cardboard rolls from tissue paper and kitchen towels. Slice the cardboard rolls so you end up with cardboard rings. Then fold and glue the rings together to create a snowflake shape. You can choose to paint them white or leave as is. If you want some sparkle, add glitter after painting. You can dangle these cardboard snowflakes from the ceiling or stick them to your walls and windows.
Holiday decorating does not necessarily mean spending. Most of these ideas can be done without spending a single cent! So, gather your materials and start expressing your creativity by repurposing these everyday items into holiday decorations.
