Decorating & Design
December 1, 2020
35+ Of House & Home’s Best Holiday Crafts!
Here at H&H, the countdown to the holidays has officially begun! One of our favorite ways to celebrate the season is by filling our homes with handmade decorations. From wreaths and garlands to stylish and unique gift-wrapping ideas, click through for our best holiday crafts from the archives.
Flower Tree Advent Calendar
Trade your traditional Christmas count-down calendar for a unique flower tree version. This pretty project doubles as a festive decoration for any tabletop.
Learn how to make our Flower Tree Advent Calendar.
Wintry Lanterns
Glowy lanterns filled with miniature houses, bottle brush trees and snow (read: cotton batting) are sure to make the season bright.
Learn how to make our Wintry Lanterns.
Dip-Dyed Gift Wrap
It’s so easy to transform plain paper into artful gift wrap. Simply grab some rubber gloves and powder dye, and get dippin’!
Learn how to make our Dip-Dyed Gift Wrap.
Custom Christmas Crackers
Introducing a sweet, stylish and simple project to personalize those crackers everyone loves opening on Christmas day.
Learn how to make our Custom Christmas Crackers.
Colorful Paper Bag Stars
Bring some merry to your windows this holiday with a heavenly group of paper bag stars.
Learn how to make our Colorful Paper Bag Stars.
Fresh & Faux Wreath
Making your own wreath is easy and fun! This one includes fresh greenery and faux winter florals for a look that feels elegant yet moody.
Learn how to make our Fresh & Faux Wreath.
Creative Gift Wrap
This season, give presents that are just as thoughtfully wrapped as they are picked. Personalizing gifts is as simple as putting paint brush to paper or decorating gift wrap with cutouts of seasonal greenery.
Learn how to make our Creative Gift Wrap.
Seasonal Centerpiece
Shine a light on your table this season with a festive centerpiece. Add a ring of pomegranates — a symbol of good luck and abundance — to the mix for an extra rich holiday look.
Learn how to make our Seasonal Centerpiece.
Felt Leaf Garland
A felt garland — rather than the expected swag of greenery — feels fresh and new for the holidays.
Learn how to make our Felt Leaf Garland.
Elegant Gift Wrap
Turn ordinary presents into haute gifts by wrapping them in tissue or scraps of solid-colored fabric you have laying around the house.
Learn how to make our Elegant Gift Wrap.
Ombré Wood Block Menorah
Wood blocks dipped in a tranquil shade of blue make a lovely menorah when placed en masse.
Learn how to make our Ombré Wood Block Menorah.
Salt Dough Ornaments
Pantry staples and holiday spices (read: star anise seed pods) are the key ingredients you’ll need to make a batch of these charming handmade ornaments.
Learn how to make our Salt Dough Ornaments.
Holiday Card Tree & Hanukkah Candle Gift Bags
Finally — a good-looking place to display all those holiday cards! Place gift bags with candle cut outs beneath this tree’s towering branches to further glow up your festive decorating.
Learn how to make our Holiday Card Tree & Hanukkah Candle Gift Bags.
Wrapping Paper Kirigami Bows
Don’t know what to do with all of your wrapping paper scraps? Turn them into kirigami bows — it’s an origami technique that involves cutting and folding paper.
Learn how to make our Wrapping Paper Kirigami Bows.
Georgian-Inspired Mirror Wreath
Add festive charm to a mirror with a Georgian-inspired wreath overlay. It offers an old world look thats elegant enough to be hung anywhere, from the front hall to the dining room.
Learn how to make our Georgian-Inspired Mirror Wreath.
Dried Orange Ornaments
Deck the halls with dried orange slices this holiday season! In Graham Kechnie and Andraya Frith’s old stone house, the citrus fruit is used to make ornaments for their Douglas fir.
Learn how to make Dried Orange Ornaments.
Dried Orange Garland
And in their master bedroom, a garland made from dried oranges decks out the fireplace.
Learn how to make a Dried Orange Garland.
Natural Christmas Wreaths
Dress up windows (or doors) with a more natural, homemade wreath made from berries, pinecones and evergreen bough.
Learn how to make Natural Christmas Wreaths.
Custom Christmas Crackers
Celebratory crackers are a must during the holidays! Play around with the different patterns to suit your home’s holiday palette.
Learn how to make Custom Christmas Crackers.
Gilded Leaves
Instead of splurging on a centerpiece, make your own using faux-aged glass bottles, paired with spray-painted leaves and branches for a touch of metallic glam.
Learn how to make Gilded Leaves.
Paper Gift Toppers
Skip the predictable bow in favor of intricate paper toppers, like this spiky star and 3-D paper ball.
Learn how to make Paper Gift Toppers.
Advent Calendar
No Christmas countdown is complete without an advent calendar. Take cues from our senior editor Sally Armstrong who used twigs for a simple, natural look and linen bags to hold each day’s surprise treat.
Learn how to make our Advent Calendar.
Paper Cone Party Favors
Everyone loves a party favors. Fill cones with candy and keep them on a tray by the front door to give to guests as they leave.
Learn how to make Paper Cone Party Favors.
Pompom Garland
For a playful look, dress your mantel with a pompom garland done in a sophisticated sugar-plum palette.
Learn how to make our Pompom Garland.
Christmas Card Garland
Instead of stowing Christmas cards away, show them off by clipping them to a clothespin.
Learn how to make our Christmas Card Garland.
Holiday Gift Tree
This multipurpose holiday gift tree idea can work three ways: as a chic advent calendar, a party-favor display, or as a small space-friendly tree!
Learn how to make our Holiday Gift Tree.
Chalkboard Christmas Tree
Don’t have the space for a towering evergreen? Try a crafty approach to a Christmas tree like this chalkboard wall hanging.
Learn how to make our Chalkboard Christmas Tree.
Festive Paper Garland
Set the tone for your holiday soiree with a standout paper garland strung on the stairs.
Learn how to make our Festive Paper Garland.
Holiday Lantern
Instead of a classic wreath, hang a DIY lantern with an old-world feel on the inside or outside of your front door.
Learn how to make our Holiday Lantern.
Holiday Cookie Package
Baked goods make for great gifts around the holidays, especially when they’re wrapped in a nice little package. This origami-style wrapping comes with two pockets so that you can add a little something extra, like a gift card or a tea bag, to go with your cookies.
Learn how to make our Holiday Cookie Package.
Vintage-Inspired Holiday Calendar
Count down to Christmas with this stylish advent calendar made out of a repurposed picture frame.
Learn how to make our Vintage-Inspired Holiday Calendar.
Mini Potted Tree
Don’t have the space for a full-grown Christmas tree? Pot a mini pine tree instead. These also make for great hostess gifts.
Learn how to dress up a Mini Potted Tree.
Seasonal Leaf Garland
Mimic the look of winter greenery covered in a blanket of snow with this seasonal leaf garland DIY.
Learn how to make our Seasonal Leaf Garland.
Vintage Garland
Photocopy vintage Christmas cards on cardstock to create this simple garland idea.
Learn how to make our Vintage Garland.
Mini Gift Box
This sweet take on place cards is a fun way to welcome guests, and they can double as party favors.
Learn how to make our Mini Gift Box.
Holiday Mantel Decor
Dress up your mantel with these customizable paper lanterns that offer a glowy look.
Learn how to make our Holiday Mantle Decor.