Who’s excited for Christmas? Oooh, I am! I am! With Christmas just 2 weeks away, Santa Claus will soon be coming to town – which means that it’s time to spruce up your home with some festive decor. (You wouldn’t want him to think you’re Scrooge, would you?)
Since I love Christmas and the entire holiday season so much, I thought I would share with you my Top 10 Holiday Craft Ideas. All of these projects are simple and inexpensive…not to mention fun! In fact, I’ve made several on this list! So, put on some holiday tunes, light a balsam & cedar candle, and get in the holiday spirit making these charming holiday decorations.
1. Cone Trees
I found this idea on Pinterest last year, but waited until this year to make these for my daughter’s bedroom. Using light pink pom pom trim, tinsel and sequins, I used this easy tutorial to create her little tree forest. (While I used fabric/trim, I’ve also seen these cone trees made with feathers, tiny ball ornaments, painted/glittered acorns, etc. The options for fun little cone trees are endless!)
2. Faux Snow Photo Ornament
I love creating homemade ornaments with my children each year to give to their grandparents. To celebrate my daughter’s first Christmas, I created a personalized photo ornament. Using clear ornaments, I just removed the tops, inserted a photo (I cut mine in a circle with scalloped edged scissors), and then inserted some faux snow for a fun, wintery effect. I finished it by tying a red ribbon to hang it on the tree.
What better way to save your children’s hand prints than to make an ornament out of them? We made these adorable salt dough ornaments last year and they are still just as cute this year.
4. Thumbprint Reindeer Ornament
Next up on our homemade ornament list is this super cute thumbprint reindeer ornament. I found this idea last year but waited for the after-Christmas sales to buy some blue ornaments. (As seen this tutorial, you can use any color ball-style ornament, but I found that the brown reindeer really pops on a light blue background.)
Ahhhh, snow globes. I love everything about them. The tiny delicate snow that beautifully swirls and floats to the bottom. The magic of that each snow globes hold…almost like a crystal ball. So, when I discovered that I could make my own snow globes using old spaghetti jars, mason jars, etc., I was ecstatic. I plan on making a few of these and lining them up on our buffet or a window ledge.
6. Glitter Reindeer Silhouette
If you know me, you know I love anything gold…and if it sparkles, all the better! So, this year I wanted to find a holiday themed craft I could make that would jazz up my holiday decor a bit. Welcome glitter reindeer silhouette! (This tutorial uses a plain white canvas, but I’m toying with the idea of using a canvas wrapped in tartan plaid…another holiday favorite of mine.)
7. Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
I made these simple (but yummy smelling) ornaments as a child and couldn’t wait to make them again with my own children. Made with just cinnamon and applesauce, this holiday craft is kid-friendly and will leave your home smelling like Christmas.
I adore monogrammed things. (Have I mentioned that before? 
), so the idea for this monogrammed wreath using a few materials you can find at your local craft store, really got my heart pumping!
9. Christmas Tree Hand Print Painting
Get the whole family involved in this special holiday craft. Using the hand prints of the smaller hands on the top, make your way down, row by row, using the hand prints of the bigger hands (that’s you dad :)), on the bottom. Voila! A family-created Christmas masterpiece!
Remember my glitter reindeer project? Well, I can’t resist turning plain items into beautiful glittery masterpieces, so I turned my attention to pine cones! I actually got the idea when my son brought home a pine cone that he had bedazzled with a bit of glitter during a fall classroom art project. I took the same idea and tailored it to fit a winter-y color scheme with the help of some silvery white glitter spray and extra silver glitter for the tips.
Do you have a favorite? Have you made any of these holiday crafts before? I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to make the glitter reindeer canvas. I can see him now…sitting nice and regal on our buffet.
Filed under: Christmas, Holiday Guide, Holidays, How To, Kids, Outer Banks, Seaside Vacations, Seasons, To Do
