Homemade Christmas Gifts and Decorations for Under $10

1. Berry Votive Holder-Dress up any plain glass votivelong enough to pop out of a decent size vase. Use
holder with berries on wire at any Michael's craft storedecoupage glue and white tissue paper to create a
and wind around the holder. Once the circle is formedneat effect for the vase or leave as clear filled with
use some fine craft wire or picture hanging wire fromglass ornaments or whatever you like. Spray paint the
any dollar store and tie the ends together. My favoritetwigs white and use fishing wire to dangle tiny
colors are gold, silver, burgundy wine, or red. For a funornaments and vintage jewelry for fun effect. Use on
flair use cream or baby blue. Use these in your owna table, at an entry way, or in a bedroom. Feel free to
home or wrap them up as a set of four or six in aadd some basic white indoor lights for a nice evening
pretty box with a gorgeous bow for a great gift. Theglow.
exact same items double as napkin holders too!8. Monogrammed Towels- To stay in the budget, buy
2. Festive Napkin Holders-Use plain wooden napkinsome great basic kitchen towels with a simple stripe at
holders and paint them any color such as red, gold,the bottom in red, blue, green or even black. Use a
silver, or white and embellish them with a small bell,lettered script stencil and some fabric paint to paint
snowflake, beads, or simply another paint color withtheir surname initial on the towel. Feel free to make up
pattern of snowflake, polka dots, stripes etc.a set of two with different colors if you can find the
3. Funky Centerpiece-Fill an inexpensive glass vase (tallkitchen towels at a super discounted price.
cylindrical work best) with all sizes of the same color9. Holiday Centerpiece- One of the simplest
glass ornaments balls. I like red, green, gold, silver, orcenterpieces is a glass vase filled with water and real
blue. Use one color but multiple designs such as stripes,cranberries (not frozen, not dried) and a white floating
swirls, frosted, shiny etc. With a large enough bowl thiscandle. Use an interesting vase with a large opening or
can make a great centerpiece. Try hot and spicy reda great glass dish. Either way the cranberries and
for your dinner table. You can purchase inexpensivecandle will float and look wonderful. Ensure to use a
balls at dollar stores, discount stores like Ross,non-scented candle if this will go on your dining table.
Walmart or Target or try the Salvation Army.We wouldn't want the scent to interfere with the
4. Traditional Wreath- Use a pre-made artificialwonderful aroma of your home-cooked meal.
greenery wreath, then buy 2 colors of berries on a10. Home-Made Snow Globe- Use old jam jars to
wire. I used Gold with cream and Burgundy wine thiscreate a winter snow globe. You'll need water, the jam
year. Wrap the long end of the wire at the bottom ofjar, glitter of your choice, epoxy glue, ribbon and a small
the berries around the round wire holding the wreathfigurine or a few for the inside. Use the epoxy glue
together. Do this for each set. Alternate colors so thatand secure the figurine(s) to the lid on the inside. Then
it will go color one, color two, color one. The two colorspour some glitter or plastic mini snowflakes inside the
will come to a point so the top of the wreath has winejar. Now add distilled water without bacteria and close
color on one side and gold/cream on the other withthe jar tightly. Lastly add some ribbon around the
the meeting point as the very top and bottom. Fluff thebottom of the globe (the lid) to hide it and you are
greenery so that the berries don't look like they're justdone. Again, gift or your own décor...you decide.
floating on top. Once completed add a ribbon in the11. Holiday Dishware- Places such as Ikea and discount
same colors you chose for the berries at the bottom.stores can provide for a set of 4 bowls and plates
Wrap ribbon about 5 times at the bottom centre withthat you can paint up with glass paint. Be sure if you
centre of long piece of ribbon in middle. Eventually tie aare going to eat off of them that the paint is used for
large bow. The key is to find inexpensive ribbon that isthat. You can use white ceramic or glass bowls and
a bout 3" wide and leave 2 long tails at the bottom ofdishes. For the glass set, use glass etching cream and
the bow that hang about 8" long. Mount to front doora stencil for a great effect. Wrap up the set and
or above fireplace etc.away you go.
5. Create Cool Coasters- Use circular cut Plexiglas12. Primp those Pillows-Take your existing pillows and
from Home Depot or Craft store about 3" wide inmake them holiday ready with some simple organza.
diameter and use festive holiday fabric to have cutTake square or rectangular pillows and wrap the
same size. Use spray adhesive to attach the fabric tosheet of organza around the back until the ties meet
the Plexiglas. You can use wrapping paper orthe front. Now make a bow. The idea here is to use
wallpaper also. Create these for yourself or give a setcolors that work. So, if you have red pillows, use some
of four or six away. As a gift, remember they don'tgold organza. If you have plain white pillows, use red or
have to have a Christmas theme on them, use floral,gold etc. If you are handy with the sewing machine
contemporary stripes or even a photo.you can make some simple square slipcovers for your
6. Christmas Art Frame- Use pre-made frames thatexisting ones so you can change them back when the
are fun and fit at least a 4"x6" picture for holidayholiday is over. Using an old knit sweater is another fun
words such as JOY, LOVE or PEACE. Use prettycover for them. A neat idea for slip covers is velvet.
wrapping paper or fonts from your computer printedUse an iron and a stamper. Take the backside of the
out to slide behind the glass. Silver and Gold framesfabric and place the iron there. On the good side of the
are my favorite for the season. Feel free to use barnvelvet is where you'll press the stamper into. After you
board, wood, plastic, whatever you have around theare done the pattern will be revealed either as one
house. These are cute décor gifts for friendslarge centered detail or several small ones all over.
and family also.Use this for chair covers too!
7. Mini Snow-covered tree- Collect a bunch of twigs