Decorating & Design
12 Festive Projects To Spark Holiday Cheer
Published on December 13, 2024
If you’re looking to shake up your decorating this season, consider trying some DIY holiday crafts. Here are 12 simple yet festive decorations you can make at home!
Reusable Holiday Crackers
What You’ll Need:
- 12″ x 12″ fabric squares
- Fabric spray adhesive
- Scissors
- Leftover toilet paper rolls
- Double-sided tape
- Small trinkets
- Cracker snaps
- Ribbon
How to Prepare the Fabric: If there is any fraying, spray the fabric edges with adhesive and allow to dry. Trim any loose threads with scissors.
How to Make the Crackers:
1. Lay a fabric square upside down and position a leftover toilet paper roll at the top center. Apply double-sided tape on the fabric, then roll the fabric around the tube to secure.
2. Drop a trinket into the tube and add the cracker snap. On one side, pinch the fabric together and fasten with ribbon, then repeat on the other side. Repeat the steps to create more crackers.
Korean-style Fabric Wrapping
A gift wrapped with a bojagi (traditional Korean wrapping cloth) is a sustainable alternative to using paper. Watch our video here to learn these easy steps!
What You’ll Need:
- 2 squares of matching contrasting fabric
- Sewing materials
- Scissors
- Elastic bands
How to Prepare the Fabric:
If you’re making your own double-sided wrapping cloth, just sew two squares of scrap fabric together back-to-back. Ensure the cloth is twice the size of your gift.
How to Wrap the Gift:
1. Place the gift in the center of the fabric with one corner toward you. Starting with the bottom corner, fold it inward toward the bottom edge of the gift, making sure to leave enough fabric to partially cover, then place overtop of the gift. Repeat the step on the top corner and place it over the previous layer.
2. While holding down the two layers, work on the remaining two corners. Neatly fold the sides of each corner inward before placing them overtop. When you have both the left and right corners pulled over the gift, secure the ends of the cloth using an elastic band and tighten. Flip the ends of the cloth outward so the other side of the wrapping cloth is showing and create a loose bow.
3. Secure the bow using a second elastic band. Fuss with the “flower” until it looks pretty.
Rustic Menorah
What You’ll Need:
- 2 pieces of 18″ x 4″ wood
- Wood glue
- Painter’s tape
- Wood stain
- Rag or paintbrush
- Acrylic paint
- Drill
- Candleholders
- Candles
1. To create an L-shaped base for your menorah, glue the long edge of one piece of wood to the bottom face of the other piece. Once the glue is dry, use painter’s tape to section off a ¾” strip at the bottom.
2. Using a rag or paintbrush, apply wood stain to the top
portion. (You may need to apply 2 or 3 coats to achieve your
desired shade.) Let the stain dry, then carefully remove the tape.
3. Now, tape off the unstained portion and paint it with acrylic paint. Once the paint is dry, carefully remove the painter’s tape.
4. With a drill outfitted with a bit the size of your candleholders, drill 9 holes into the top edge of the menorah: one for each night of Hanukkah, plus the shammash. Set the candleholders into the holes (they should fit snugly) and add your candles.
Patterned Ornaments
Put leftover wallpaper or gift wrap to good use by applying it to premade wooden ornaments.
What You’ll Need:
- Leftover wallpaper or gift wrap
- Wooden ornaments (find these at Michaels)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Ribbon
1. Trace the ornament shape onto your paper twice and cut out the shapes, then glue one to each side. Finish your ornament with a ribbon for hanging on the tree!
Paperwhite Gift Sachets
These gift sachets are a perfect party favor during the entertaining season.
What You’ll Need:
- Fabric sachet bags (find these at Michaels or through Amazon)
- Embroidery patches (find these at Michaels or through Etsy)
- Fabric glue
- Paperwhite bulbs
1. Just glue on holiday-themed embroidery patches, or create a custom design using a potato stamp (see next craft). Then, fill the sachets with a few paperwhite bulbs and instructions on how to plant them.
Potato Print Stamping
What You’ll Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Potatoes
- Unfolded paper clip
- Utility knife
- Trimming tools
- Paper towel
- Fabric-safe or acrylic paint
- Recycled containers for paint
- Paintbrush
- Gift wrap, fabric runners, holiday crackers, napkins and cards for stamping
1. First, draw the designs for your potato stamps on paper. We tried snowflakes, holly leaves, robins and trees. Next, cut the potatoes in half.
2. Transfer your design by placing the drawing over the cut side of the potato half and using the unfolded paper clip to pierce the flesh with tiny holes along the edges of the design.
3. Remove the paper. Using a utility knife, carve away the potato flesh surrounding your design to a depth of about ¼”, then dry the stamp with a paper towel.
4. Use a paintbrush to apply paint directly onto the raised surface, then press the stamp firmly onto gift wrap, holiday crackers, napkins or cards to create festive designs. Hold each stamp down for 3 minutes, then carefully lift the stamp straight up and allow the paint to dry.
Use a fine-tip marker to add the robin’s beak and legs!
Clay Gift Tags
Handmade tags give gifts a bespoke feel.
What You’ll Need:
- Air-hardening clay
- Rolling pin
- Ruler
- Knife or trimming tool
- Wood skewer
- Wooden beads
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Thin ribbon
- Marker
1. Roll out clay until it’s about ⅛” thick. Using a knife or trimming tool, cut rectangles that are ½” wide and 3″ long.
2. Pierce the top of the tags with a wooden skewer to make holes.
3. While the clay is hardening, paint the wooden beads as desired and cut lengths of ribbon.
4. Once hardened, attach a ribbon to each tag by folding it in half and threading the looped end through the hole, then weaving the two loose ends through the looped side and pulling tight to secure.
5. String painted beads onto the ribbon for a decorative touch and secure with a knot. Write the recipient’s name on the tag with a marker and place underneath the tree!
A Festive Table Setting
Set the scene for a holiday meal by artfully arranging your table.
What You’ll Need:
- Tablecloth
- Plates
- Cutlery and glassware
- Potato-stamped napkins
- Reusable holiday crackers
1. Select items in a pretty color scheme — think blue and orange, silver and gold, red and black, or your favorite color combo. Then add a dose of fun with DIY holiday crackers.
Holiday Windowbox
Give your windowsill a dose of holiday cheer with a festive planter.
What You’ll Need:
- Planter box
- Potting soil
- Branches
- Cedar and pine sprigs
- Bells of Ireland, Cape lily
- Hypericum berries, blue thistle and other small plants
- Reindeer moss
1. First, fill your planter box with potting soil (we found our planter on Facebook Marketplace). Start by placing the largest and tallest branches along the
box.
2. Next, add your showiest florals, such as bells of Ireland. Cut the stems so the blooms are a bit lower than your branches and arrange them throughout. Then, add in greenery to give the arrangement fullness.
3. For interest, pop in smaller berries and pretty flowers at the base. Finish it off by tucking reindeer moss amongst the branches and florals to cover the soil.
4. Gently mist with water throughout the season and, if necessary, refresh any wilting flowers or greenery.
Floral Tree Skirt
What You’ll Need:
- Fabric tree skirt
- Floral embroidery patches (find these at Michaels or through Etsy)
- Fabric glue
1. First, lay out your fabric skirt and arrange your floral embroidery patches in your desired pattern. Overlapping the florals will create a pretty, layered effect. (Taking a photo is a great way to review and tweak your design!)
2. Working one section at a time, attach the patches to the tree skirt with fabric glue, moving your way around until all the patches are adhered.
Cone Wreath
This colorful wreath can be customized to match your holiday palette.
What You’ll Need:
- 8 pieces of 12″ x 12″ paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Thin double-sided tape
- 12″ x 12″ round cardboard cake plate
- White glue
- Hot glue gun
- Ribbon
How to Make the Cones:
1. Cut a piece of 12″ x 12″ paper in half on the diagonal so you have two triangles. To make the first cone, position the triangle with the longest side at the bottom and the point at the top. Take the right-hand corner of the longest side and fold it up and over, until the long point lines up with the top point. Adhere with doublesided tape.
2. Now, place double-sided tape on the remaining half of the long end of the triangle and roll it around the first part of the cone to complete the shape. Repeat these steps with pieces of paper until you have enough cones to fill the cardboard cake plate (about 14 or 15).
How to Make the Wreath:
1. Glue the cones to the cake plate, positioning the closed points of the cones in the center. For the middle of your wreath, use an elegant fabric flower or create a simple paper rosette, adhering it with hot glue.
2. On the back, hot glue on a long loop of ribbon that can be used for hanging your decoration on a door or window.
Hanging Wreath
What You’ll Need:
- Ribbon
- Grapevine wreath form
- 4 flameless candles
- Hot glue gun
- Holly and pine branches
- Floral wire
1. Begin by measuring how much ribbon you need to attach the wreath to a hook in your ceiling. Cut the lengths of ribbon and attach them to 4 quadrants of the wreath, making sure they’re equally spaced.
2. Next, carefully set 4 flameless candles into the spaces between the ribbons. (If you need a little extra hold, use hot glue.)
3. Weave winter greenery through the branches of the wreath and attach with floral wire, if needed. Once complete, hang the wreath by its ribbons on the ceiling hook, ensuring it’s secure.
Cathie Ferguson
House & Home