10 Cheap Holiday Projects for the Home
1. If you are purchasing a real tree or have a faux tree that you don’t mind using try dipping the ends of the branches in copper, gold, or silver glitter. It is best to do this project outside before you bring the tree in. Simply spray the ends of the branches with adhesive and dip the ends into the colored glitter. Shake the tree slightly before you bring it in to drop the loose glitter. This will give your tree the sparkle of tinsel without the mess and will only cost about $3.
2. Create family photo ornaments. This is a very simple and cheap project for anyone. You will need 2-3″ wide ribbon, mini picture frames or lockets, and of course family photos. Attach the ribbon to the frame and then tie it to the tree or a banister. The wide ribbon will make big fat beautiful bows. If you mix the colors of ribbon, like using gold and red together, you will have a stunning handmade ornament. This project costs about $5 for 3 ornaments.
3. Make your own paper lanterns. You know the Christmas lanterns you can buy at the store? Well, you can make them at home. You will need card stock, glass candle holders (glass tubes) and a sewing machine. Layer the card stock in the color scheme you want and glue it together. Make sure the card stock will wrap around your glass candle holder. Then with the sewing machine you can punch holes and patterns in the card stock so light can pass through. Next, glue or tape the paper to the glass candle holder. When you light a candle inside the patterns will become illuminated.
4. Another Christmas must have is textured candles. If you can’t afford the expensive stuff or just want to save money you can make your own. You will need a piece of burlap or lace, spray paint, candles, and upholstery tacks. Heavily spray the burlap with your choice of color spray paint. While the paint is still tacky roll the candle across the burlap to transfer the pattern. If you want you can also roll the candle in glitter while it is still wet. Let the candle dry and then stick some upholstery tacks in your candles to give it some old world charm. If you choose lace you will have to wrap it around the candle and then spray it. When you take off the lace the pattern will appear on the candle.
5. If you find that you don’t have many ornaments or you are looking for something different, try using vintage clip on earrings. These earrings can be found at almost any thrift store or consignment shop for pennies. You could even use those ugly poinsettia earrings your Aunt Millie gave you ten years ago. Since the earring already have clips all you have to do is clip them to the branches of your tree or wreath. Look for old earrings that have large stones, flowers, or birds to catch the viewer’s eye. A handful of these earrings is enough for one tree and should only cost you $8-$10.
6. Do you have a million Christmas cards that you don’t know how to display? If you want to look at your cards all you have to do is make a simple Christmas card holder. You will need some thick wire that can be bent into different shapes, a 2-3′ long piece of 2 x 4, a drill, and some spray paint. Drill a row of about 20 holes down the center of the piece of wood. Next take the wire and cut it in different lengths from 3″-6″. Curl one end of each wire in a circle so that you can stick a card in it. Stick the wires in the holes in the wood. If the holes are too big the wires will fall and if the holes are too small the wire won’t fit so make sure you use the proper size drill bit. When the project is all put together you can add the finishing touches with metallic spray paint. Spray the entire piece including the wires so that it is all the same color. This is a great piece for a fire place mantle or coffee table and will only cost about $10.
7. If you want to add some sparkle to a room or window try hanging white or amber Christmas lights behind sheer curtains. Simply string the lights over a curtain rod from top to bottom. This works best if you use string lights because you are basically making a long loop over the rod to the floor and back again. Then hang a sheer in front of the lights and you will have a sparkly eye catching effect for any room. If you have clip on vertical blinds just remove them and clip the strand of lights into their places and hang a sheer for the same effect. This project is pretty much free if you already have the sheer curtains and some extra lights.
8. If you want to give your mirrors a bit of Christmas flavor than this project is for you. You will need a snow flake stamp, a metallic stamp pad, glitter, a large makeup brush, and a heat gun. Using your stamp, press onto the metallic pad and then gently push the stamp against the mirror. If you move the stamp it will smudge and you will have to start again. Mistakes can be cleaned away while wet by using window cleaner and a paper towel. After you have decorated the mirror with snow flakes you want to apply the glitter with the makeup brush while it is still wet. Be careful not to smudge the snowflakes. After you have applied the glitter you should point a heat gun at each snowflake for 20-30 seconds until the paint is dry and the glitter becomes embossed. This is a great idea for guest’s bathrooms and other mirrors in your home and they will last all season long. To remove the glitter snowflakes scrape downward against the mirror with a razor blade to remove the print and then clean with glass cleaner. This project costs about $10.
9. Another great holiday project is embossed velvet. For this you will need velvet in any color you choose, hard rubber holiday stamps, some water, and an iron. Place your stamp underneath the bottom side of the velvet fabric. Make sure you don’t use foam or soft stamps because they will melt from the heat of the iron. When you have your stamp in place, spray the surface with water and make sure your iron is medium hot. Press down with the iron on top of the stamp for about 15 seconds. If you move the iron you will smudge the design, so be patient and don’t move. Let it steam and then lift the iron and you will see your stamp design transferred to the surface of the velvet. This is permanent and cannot be removed after it is done. Use the fabric to make throws or pillows for your sofa, children’s clothing, or use it as a seat cover.
10. One other very cheap and very easy project is to make your own lighted garland. You will need a couple of rolls of 3-4″ wide wired ribbon; gold, silver, or white are usually the best colors to choose. You will also need a sewing machine and a few strings of lights. Measure the length of your garland to be and then take two equal length pieces and sew them together down the sides. Leave one end open so you can plug them in later. Once you have them sewn together stuff the lights inside and hang them. The wired ribbon will allow you to bend the garland into different shapes and it will hold. After you have them hung plug them in for stunning results. This kind of garland works great for stairs, banisters, and entry ways. The ribbon will cost about $6 and if you already have the lights, they are free.
