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Add a homemade touch to your holiday — even if you're a beginner.
Celebrate the season by filling your interior with Christmas crafts, like paper garlands, homemade wreaths made of pom poms, salt dough ornaments and colorful DIY advent calendars. Including a mix of traditional, whimsical, minimalist and modern, these simple DIY Christmas crafts will give your holiday home a more personal feel — whether you're a beginner or expert crafter. Added bonus: some of these cool crafts double as handmade Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones — or a homemade Christmas card or DIY gift wrapping idea that can easily elevate store-bought presents.
Get the kids involved and make crafting a Christmas tradition, whether they act as an assistant on a more complex craft (you'll need a jigsaw to create a set of wood stocking) or take the lead on one of these super basic projects (they can totally handle a craft stick ornament). We also sprinkled in some fun ideas for adults, like a heart-shaped candy cane garland and DIY ornaments made in an embroidery hoop — add the date or set of initials to make it sentimental.
If you're sticking to a holiday budget, keep in mind that it's much more affordable to pick up a few crafting supplies than it is to shop for holiday decorations, gifts or cards. You might even be able to repurpose or upcycle things you already have at home (for almost free!), like gluing twine to a lightbulb or adding gold leaf to glass candle holders. At the end of the day, one of your projects may even be beautiful enough to sell!
Add shape and dimension to your holiday decor with these intricate paper snowflakes that can add visual appeal to windows, a mantel, you name it. Go for an all-white look or experiment with holiday shades of red, green or blue.
Upgrade simple or blank cards and envelopes with festive colors and pops of metallics. Get creative, whether you prefer elegant lines or decide to make your own Christmas tree pattern.
For this one, stock your crafting station with about 40-50 small and 20-30 large craft sticks. Hint: buy them green or paint them at least three different shades of the classic holiday hue. Glue the sticks to a 12" foam wreath, overlapping and mixing the shades of green as you go.
Pretty red and white striped straws are just begging to be topped with die-cut holly leaves and berries.
If you're expecting guests, this Japanese wrapping technique is a great way to elevate your table setting. It's surprisingly simple to wrap a small box or present with a standard cloth napkin or small tea towel.
Watch the video tutorial »
Add elegance to almost anything with gold leaf sheets, including simple glass candle holders. The most important thing is to make sure you're starting with a clean surface. Then do the following:
This festive craft makes it more fun to put a personal photo on display. For every ornament, you'll need five regular popsicle sticks, plus one jumbo stick for the bottom. Decorate your creation with a mini wreath and fake snow.
Get the tutorial at Inspired by Charm »
Wait — before you throw away those old light bulbs, recreate these elegant pears instead. Start by adding a dot of hot glue to the large side of the light bulb. Attach twine and begin to coil around the entire lightbulb, adding more hot glue as you go. Next, trim away any excess. Don't forget to use a twig as the stem, and use a crescent-shaped piece of paper as the leaf.
Recreate this star-inspired place setting just by learning a simple folding technique. Beginners are welcome!
Watch the video tutorial »
RELATED: Best DIY Christmas Table Decorating Ideas to Spread Holiday Cheer
Celebrate the season with bright colors or use red and green felt for a more traditional advent calendar. When you're finished cutting, ironing and gluing, use a cotton rope to create a hanger.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed »
Channeling the energy of a 1920s flapper, this striking ornament is simple to make with only a glass ornament, tinsel fringe trim and a hot glue gun — plus a ribbon or cord for hanging. Start at the bottom of the ornament and hot glue a small circle of tinsel fringe ribbon. Continue to glue rings of the ribbon above the previous ring so the ribbon slightly overlaps.
If your family has more mittens than you can count, round them up to create a playful Christmas tree. Add a few colorful pom-poms to the mix for visual interest.
Even if it's your first time using a jigsaw, these wood stockings are pretty simple to recreate. Outline your shape with a pencil before you start cutting — or if you're feeling bold, freehand it! Don't forget to stain the final product.
Get the tutorial at Inspired by Charm »
This mini Christmas tree craft couldn’t be easier to make; you might even want to make a whole forest of them! Use laser cut wooden shapes from the craft supply store, and paint them with decorative touches in gold for extra fanciness.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Cloth »
There’s no wrong way to create these whimsical holiday vignettes. You’ll need glass domes or bell jars, plus fun holiday objects of your choice — bottle brush trees, glittery snow and charming miniature houses.
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess »
Custom-make your own ornaments by painting them with chalk paint, then writing on them with a white paint pen. You can doodle on a holiday design, or personalize them with your names and special dates (birthdays, anniversaries and so on).
Up for a simply DIY wreath? Grab your stash of empty spools and wrap them in ribbon. Hang your new wreath with wire, and you're ready to welcome holiday guests!
Once you've made your own salt dough, use glass objects to create unique impressions in it. Try vintage crystal-cut glassware, doilies, leaves or pine needles. Use a fancy cookie cutter to create your shape. Hint: use a straw to poke a hole at the top for a ribbon or string hanger.
Print out these pretty sweater patterns onto matte photo paper or cardstock, cut out the shapes, punch holes at the top and begin stringing everything together.
Get the tutorial from A Beautiful Mess »
RELATED: Easy Holiday Hanging Hacks for Garland, Wreaths and More
Bring more holiday cheer to your dinner table by resting place cards — preferably with names written in calligraphy — on mini candy canes.
Who doesn't love a good holiday shaker? Show off your creativity by turning basic salt and pepper shakers into eye-catching holiday decor. Place everything from deer to evergreens inside your shakers for a cheery holiday look.
SHOP SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS
For a fun and unexpected twist, use twine, nylon thread or wire to add dried citrus to your garland.
RELATED: Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments That Are Easy to DIY
Yes, you can hot glue buttons right on top of gift-wrapping for an impressive presentation. Be sure to go for buttons in an assortment of colors and sizes to make a statement.
If you have a ton of battery-operated tea lights left over from all those Halloween pumpkins, put 'em back to work by making them into too-cute snowmen.
Get the tutorial at One Little Project »
Go for a mix of vintage and current holiday cards to make a creative Christmas wall tree. It can also serve as the perfect photo opp for family and friends.
These cuties make the perfect finishing touch for any gift. Just use hot glue to attach a mini deer and a bottle brush tree to a clothespin. After the gift is opened, you can use it as an ornament for the tree!
RELATED: Unique Gift Wrapping Ideas That'll Save Money and Spark Joy for the Holidays
Rather than toss your old Christmas bulbs, repurpose them into festive napkin rings. Simply place a loop of red and white baker's twine at the bottom of the bulb using hot glue. Tie your new creations around your favorite rolled napkins.
The secret to these oversize ornaments? A globe light and an old tuna can. Drill a hole into the can and attach an eye hook on top. Then, attach the globe light. Once assembled, decorate to your heart's desire.
Get the tutorial at Home Stories A to Z »
If your kids had enough of holiday gifts adorned with bows, reserve them for your front door. This creative wreath idea is good enough to use for years on end.
Can you cross-stitch? If so, you can crewel embroider a festive pattern on a small embroidery hoop, and get that DIY feel onto your tree.