The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative and bring a personal touch to your home with DIY Christmas decorations. From sparkling ornaments to advent calendars, crafting your own decor adds charm, warmth, and a sense of accomplishment to your holiday celebrations. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, these top 5 Christmas DIYs are fun, budget-friendly, and sure to impress family and friends. Let’s dive into these festive projects and make your home merry and bright this season!
1. DIY Holiday Christmas Ornaments
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Gather your supplies: Look for clear glass or plastic baubles, old ribbons or twine, scraps of fabric, miniature trinkets, and small seasonal decorations at your local thrift store. Pick up acrylic paint or metallic markers for decorating, and sprinkle in glitter or adhesive gems if you like sparkle.
2. Prepare the bauble: Remove the top of the ornament and set it aside. If you found an old or plain ornament at the thrift store, this is the perfect time to give it a fresh base coat of paint — either inside or outside.
3. Decorate: While the paint is still tacky, add glitter, gems, or small trinkets. Use your creativity to make each ornament unique — mix and match colours, textures, or patterns from your thrifted finds.
4. Add finishing touches: Thread ribbon, twine, or a strip of fabric through the top. Optionally, add a small tag with a name or the year for a personal touch.
5. Display and enjoy: Hang your ornament on the tree, gift it to a loved one, or place it in a decorative dish for a festive display.
Watch our collaborator Nancy as she guides you through the process in her DIY vintage ornament video. Seeing the technique in action makes it even easier to recreate these stunning ornaments and adds a personal, hands-on touch to your holiday crafting. For even more ornament inspiration, watch our collaborator Anna, DIY holiday decorations for a thrifted tree.
2. DIY Upcycled Advent Calendar
The yummiest way to count down to Christmas is with a DIY advent calendar, and there’s no better way to kick off the holiday season than with a project that’s both festive and sustainable. This upcycling craft lets you choose your favorite treats or small gifts to fill each day, making the countdown to Christmas extra special for family and friends.
For this project, we’re repurposing a secondhand muffin tin — a thrift store find that’s perfect for a creative twist on a classic holiday tradition. With just a few simple supplies, you can transform it into a charming, one-of-a-kind advent calendar that adds a playful and festive touch to your holiday décor.
Supplies
- thrifted muffin tin
- sheet of self-adhesive film
- cardboard
- tissue paper
- Mod Podge
- sponge brush
- Sharpies
- stencil
- treats
- X-acto knife
- scissors
- cord
3. DIY Snowman Apron
Bring holiday cheer to your kitchen with a DIY Christmas decoration that’s also wearable! This festive snowman apron transforms a thrifted apron into a fun and charming statement piece for your Christmas celebrations. Using stencils, cookie cutters, felt, and scrap fabric, which you can find at your local thrift store, you can create a unique design featuring a snowman, reindeer, elf, or any holiday character you love. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family, so kids, teens, and adults can all join in the crafting.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1. Find your base: Source a secondhand apron from your local Salvation Army Thrift Store. Wash and iron it to get a smooth surface for decorating.
- 2. Create your character: Use felt, scrap fabric, or stencils to design your festive figure. For a snowman, pin the pieces to the apron to visualize your layout before attaching anything.
- 3. Add fun details: Personalize your snowman (or other character) with a bowtie, buttons, or mittens. You can even remove the existing apron pocket and replace it with creative shapes like mittens or stockings.
- 4. Attach your design: Stitch, sew, or use iron-on adhesive to secure all the pieces. Once everything is attached, your festive apron is ready to wear and spread holiday cheer!
Once your snowman apron is complete, you’ll have a festive piece full of personality and charm. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the season, spark creativity, and share holiday fun with the whole family, all while keeping things budget-friendly and eco-conscious.
4. DIY Holiday Mantel on a Budget
Add festive charm to your home this season with a DIY Christmas decoration that’s simple, stylish, and thrift-friendly. Using secondhand frames from your local Salvation Army Thrift Store, you can create a holiday mantel display that’s personalized, affordable, and easy to update each year.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Thrift your frames: Find secondhand frames that fit the size and style you want for your mantel. For a cohesive look, paint the frames using metallics, black, or classic holiday colours.
2. Select and print images: Choose seasonal or vintage images from free online sources. Tools like Canva make it easy to size and arrange the images before printing at a local store.
3. Arrange your display: Place the frames along your mantel, layering them or mixing heights for visual interest. Add small thrifted accents, like bottle brush trees or ornaments, to complement the frames.
4. Enjoy and update: One of the best parts of this DIY is how easy it is to swap out images each season. Your thrifted frames can be updated year after year, keeping your mantel fresh and festive.
Watch our past collaborator Tijana McAllister of A Plentiful Life, create beautiful DIY Manels. This project is a simple way to upcycle thrifted finds into a charming holiday display. It’s budget-friendly, creative, and adds a personal touch to your seasonal décor.
5. DIY Festive Centerpiece
Create a magical mini winter landscape with a DIY Christmas decoration using thrifted glassware. This festive centerpiece brings charm and holiday cheer to any table, windowsill, or sideboard. It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to repurpose thrifted finds and add a whimsical touch to your home décor.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1. Gather your supplies: Find thrifted glassware large enough to hold small figurines. Thrift Epsom salts (scented or unscented), fairy lights, small holiday figurines, and cedar or evergreen cuttings.
- 2. Prep your materials: Wash the glassware thoroughly to remove any dirt or residue.
- 3. Create the snow base: Pour Epsom salts into the glassware to mimic snow.
- 4. Add lights: Hide the fairy light battery pack in a small bag and place it in the salts. Bury the lights so they sparkle throughout your display.
- 5. Build your village: Layer in your holiday figurines and arrange them to create a festive winter scene.
- 6. Add greenery and accents: Place cedar, evergreen cuttings, or other small decorations around the glassware for extra holiday charm.
Craft, Thrift and Celebrate
From handmade ornaments to a festive snowman apron, a thrifted holiday mantel display, and charming glassware centerpieces, these DIY projects prove that holiday decorating can be creative, budget-friendly, and sustainable. By upcycling thrifted finds from your local Salvation Army Thrift Store, you can craft unique décor that reflects your personal style while keeping the season eco-conscious.
Whether you’re looking to add sparkle to your tree, bring a cozy touch to your kitchen, or create whimsical displays for your mantel or table, these projects are perfect for anyone who loves hands-on holiday crafting. Each DIY is simple to follow, customizable, and a fun way to bring warmth, charm, and personality into your home this festive season.
So gather your thrifted treasures, get creative, and start crafting your own DIY Christmas decorations that will delight your family, friends, and guests. Happy thrifting and happy holidays! Ready to start your next DIY adventure? Find your local thrift store.
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