Cheap Homemade Christmas Decorations

Many of us are feeling stretched for money at the moment. Rather than emptying your purse to fund a whole new selection of Christmas decorations, why not make some beautiful homemade creations with the help of your kids? These cheap homemade Christmas decorations can all be suited to fit the age of your child. They’re guaranteed to transform your house into a winter wonderland. Additionally, they keep the kids busy for an hour or two! Making DIY Christmas decorations can be a delightful and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday season.

The Benefits of DIY Christmas Decorations

Here are some reasons to consider making your own Christmas decorations this season:

1. Cost-Effective
   DIY decorations are often much cheaper than store-bought ones. You can save money while still creating a festive atmosphere.
2. Personalized Touch
   Handmade decorations reflect your unique style and creativity. You can customize them to fit your home’s theme, favorite colors, or sentimental ideas.
3. Family Bonding
   Crafting decorations can be a fun group activity, bringing your family closer together. It’s especially engaging for kids and can create lasting memories.
4. Eco-Friendly
   Using recycled or natural materials like pinecones, twigs, or paper reduces waste and makes your holiday celebrations more sustainable.
5. Relaxation and Joy
   Crafting can be therapeutic. It gives you a chance to unwind and enjoy the creative process during a busy holiday season.

DIY Christmas Decor Ideas:

Making decorations is a fun way to teach kids about crafting, patience, and resourcefulness. It also helps in building motor skills and creativity. Your DIY decorations will stand out because no one else will have the exact same ones. This makes your home truly special during the holidays.

1) Stained Glass Window Cookies

Edible decorations are surely the best kind, although they won’t stay up for long! I love to decorate my tree with gingerbread men and stained glass window cookies. The best thing about them is how easy they are to make.

You can find one of my favorite recipes here. Essentially, all you do is make your favorite cookie dough and then melt a hard candy into the middle of the cookie. Simple! Young children and adults alike will enjoy pressing out the shapes.

2) Paper Lanterns

Image by Macinate.

All you need for this DIY paper lantern project is a single piece of paper, scissors, and some tape. So it’s great for when you’re running low on craft materials!

Use two contrasting colors to create the beautiful effect in the picture above.  Older children can experiment with different shapes. They can also add LEDs to create a beautiful string of lights.  These simple, cheap homemade Christmas decorations are so easy but so fun.

3) Felt Stockings

Image by David Goehring

The best holiday decorations are the ones you can get out year-on-year. Felt stockings are sure to hold their charm. Simply cut out two pieces of felt in a stocking shape, stitch them together with a needle and thread. Then use fabric glue to stick on a loop so that they can be hung from the tree.

Older children may need a little assistance with creating the initial template, but after that they should be good to go. With younger children, it’s best to present a readymade stocking and allow them to customize it with their own special festive design. They can use fabric paint or stick-on embellishments.

Perhaps Santa may even leave a treat in it come Christmas Day!

4) Shoebox Nativity

Image credit Siraya Says

Here is another great idea for cheap homemade Christmas decorations.  Dig out an old shoebox and transform it into a beautiful homemade nativity scene. Construct a tiny cardboard manger and some fluffy cotton wool sheep. Place in cut-outs of all the nativity characters and top it off with a star hovering above on a stick. Add some shredded newspaper to create the effect of straw and you’re done!

5) Snowflakes

This cheap Christmas decoration is a classic.  Paper snowflakes have to be one of the most stunning, yet simple, decorations to make! Fold a square piece of craft paper into quarters, sixths, or eighths. Encourage your children to experiment with snipping in different places – you’ll soon have plenty of beautiful snowflakes to stick up on the windows. For an extra bit of Christmas shimmer, I like to add a few blobs of clear glitter glue. This makes them sparkle in the light.

6) Paper Chains

Image by Steve Snodgrass

Perfect for very small children, paper chains look great draped around a tree or along a banister. Bright colored or shiny paper is best. You can always get your kids to decorate them with sequins and glitter too.

Older children can also join in by searching online for some Santa or Rudolph paper chain templates. These will challenge their abilities a little more.

Paper chains are super cheap homemade Christmas decorations that your kids are sure to love.  You can use them for garland for your Christmas tree, as decoration over your doorways or on the mantle. You can even use them to make a countdown chain!

7) DIY Snow Globe

Snow globes have to be the prettiest Christmas decorations of all, and homemade ones are even better!

For this project you’ll require a glass jar (baby food jars are perfect), figurines, a glue gun, liquid glycerine, water, and glitter.

• Ensure that the jar is completely clean, and then use the hot glue to stick the figurine to the inside of the lid. Leave the glue to dry.
• Fill the jar with water, leaving a little gap at the top. Add glycerine and a teaspoon of glitter.
• Line the inside of the lid with glue and screw it on tightly.
• Flip over and place on a tray while you test to ensure it is watertight!

Et voila, a gorgeous sparkly snow globe!

8. DIY Christmas Ornaments

Homemade Christmas ornaments are always a great decoration that you can use year after year.  You can find some DIY Christmas ornaments ideas here:  gingerbread man, melted snowman, and easy photo ornaments.

9. Christmas Banner

You can make a cute, cheap homemade Christmas banner out of stock paper and photos.  Here is a tutorial.  The DIY banner looks great on the wall or over the mantel.  You can customize it to any Christmas words or sayings like, “Be Merry”, “Jolly”, or “Yule Tidings”.

10.  Christmas Centerpiece

Your centerpiece can be inexpensive and homemade and still look super elegant.  You can use boughs trimmed from the bottom of your Christmas tree and then tie them up with red ribbon and place some ornaments around.  Get more simple natural centerpiece ideas here.

Conclusion

DIY Christmas decorations bring a blend of creativity, joy, and personal meaning to the holiday season. They allow you to save money and reduce waste. You can create unique pieces that reflect your personality and style. More importantly, making decorations is a chance to connect with loved ones, build memories, and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of crafting. Whether simple or elaborate, handmade decorations make your celebrations more heartfelt and special. They turn your holiday space into a reflection of your love and effort.

What cheap homemade Christmas decorations did you enjoy making as a child?  Which ones of these thrifty DIY Christmas decorations were your favorites?

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