Simple Cheap Party Decorating Ideas

50 DIY Christmas Decorations Anyone Can Make

Get ready to deck your halls with these simple holiday crafts—and get the whole family involved in the Christmas festivities.

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'Tis the season…for holiday crafting!

There's nothing like holiday crafting to get you into the Christmas spirit. Plus, it's a great way to spend time with the family and save money on holiday decor. But what if you're the least crafty person on the planet? Don't worry! These DIY Christmas decorations are easy enough for anyone to make. (Yes, even you—we promise.) Many of them are also made from upcycled and natural elements, adding an environmentally friendly spin to the season. So, brew some hot cocoa, turn on the holiday tunes, and spend a day making these festive crafts and decking your halls in all sorts of wonderful ways!

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Pom-pom wreath

Add a little bit of fun and sophistication to your holiday season with this colorful craft. All you'll need to create the perfect pom-pom wreath is a foam wreath form, pom-poms in an array of sizes and colors, and a hot glue gun or fabric glue. Whether you want to stick to a green-and-red color scheme or do something more colorful is completely up to you, and it's part of the fun! Once you've got your preferred pom-poms, simply glue them to the wreath form for a fun (and fuzzy) Christmas craft. Depending on the colors you choose, you can even keep up this decoration after the holidays are over. Here are 6 other winter decorating ideas to get you through the post-holiday blues.

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Pine cone ornament

This do-it-yourself decoration is as easy to make as it is inexpensive. On your next walk, collect some pine cones to bring home and create a joyful holiday centerpiece. Glue mini pom-poms onto the pine cones for a fun and colorful twist on a nature-inspired holiday piece.

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Rustic Christmas frame

Class things up with this simple yet sophisticated rustic Christmas frame that looks like a window into your own personal winter wonderland. You'll need a large wooden picture frame, pine branches, bows, ornaments, and any other baubles you want to decorate with. The first step is to sand down the frame with sandpaper to create that rustic feel; if you want to paint your frame as well, go for it! Then, using a hot glue gun, securely attach your pine branches to the top of the frame. After that, it's time to decorate! When you're done, read these 18 true Christmas miracles that will restore your hope for the holidays.

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Crystal snowflakes

Talk about a waltz of the snowflakes! Bring a little glitz and glitter to your holiday decorations with these crystal-beaded snowflakes. Using tweezers, bend some durable wire into the shape of a snowflake. Then, start adding your beads. Use the tweezers to twist the ends to make sure none of the beads fall off. While these crystal beauties can be displayed in a multitude of ways, for some extra fun, attach a piece of string to one side of the snowflake and then loop the other around your chandelier to create a dazzling aerial centerpiece. Of course, crafting with the kids is a magical experience of its own.

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Jingle bell wreath

For this musical wreath, you'll need a package of silver and red jingle bells, a foam wreath form, and some hot glue. Glue your jingle bells to the wreath form, making sure to have the jingle side face-up. For a little something extra, tie some ribbon into a bow at the top. Now you'll be able to make festive music well into the night! This is the surprising history behind some of your favorite Christmas carols.

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Origami Christmas tree

A cheap and easy DIY Christmas decoration that requires only paper and scissors? Yes, please! These origami Christmas trees are easy to make yet impressive to look at. While there are a few ways to do this, Martha Stewart recommends starting off with a square sheet of green paper. Fold the paper square corner to corner, creating a triangle. Next, tuck the two sides together to produce a diamond shape. Fold the left and right sides to the center to create a kite shape. Taking one side at a time, fold the edge of the fold toward the center of the kite. Do this for all four sides. Finally, cut off the bottom and unfold to see your origami Christmas tree come to life before your very eyes. Speaking of Christmas trees, check out these 12 secrets your (real) Christmas tree wishes you knew.

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Jolly snowmen

What would Christmas be without Frosty? This easy craft is for anyone who enjoys crocheting and working with fabric. You'll need white twine, glue, mini balloons, and fabric for crocheting/knitting. First, soak your twine in glue. Meanwhile, blow up your mini balloons into the sizes you want for the heads and bodies of the snowmen. After that's done, wrap the twine around the balloons and allow them to sit out for 24 hours. The next morning, pop the balloons and your twine heads and bodies should be complete. Now comes the fun part—dressing the snowmen! Crochet little hats, scarves, eyes, and a carrot nose for your new creations. Attach it all together using fabric glue, and get ready to welcome some new snowy friends into your holiday decorations.

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Christmas cookie garland

Cookies aren't just for Santa to eat—they're also a perfectly good decorating device! For this super quick DIY garland, bake some gingerbread or sugar cookies in the shapes of Christmas trees and stars. Make sure to keep them in the oven for slightly longer than you would normally and keep them out overnight to harden. We also recommend adding more flour to your recipe so the cookies won't easily crumble. The next day, cut out a small circle to loop through some festively colored string. Attach them to a more sturdy piece of twine, and your Christmas cookie garland is complete! Getting hungry? These are the best Christmas cookies from every state.

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Felt Christmas trees

Your trees will certainly be evergreen with this DIY Christmas decoration. Get an assortment of colorful felt (make sure green is one of the colors in the mix) to make the tree and ornaments. Fold the green felt in half and sketch the vertical outline of half of a Christmas tree. Cut this out, unfold the edges, and you've got your tree! To make it sturdier, repeat this process and sew the two trees together with a simple stitch. Cut out small ornaments using the other assorted felt colors. Then, use a hot glue gun to secure them to the tree. You can use these felt decorations as ornaments, mantel pieces, or in any way your decorating heart desires. Ever wondered why we put up Christmas trees in the first place? We found out.

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Burlap-wrapped presents

Presents aren't just for giving—they can also be a great way to decorate your house in the days leading up to Christmas. If you want to keep with an upscale, rustic theme in your home, your wrapped presents should match. To do this, simply wrap your presents with burlap instead of wrapping paper, and use twine for the bow. Then, tuck sprigs of evergreen, pine cones, berries, or anything else from your backyard within the twine to create aesthetically pleasing presents to display all month long. Holiday hack: These wrapped gifts don't even need to be presents that you'll be giving away; they can even be empty boxes to create the perfect seasonal decor.

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Cardboard Christmas tree ornament

You know all those boxes you get around this time of the year when you're doing your Christmas shopping? Put them to good use with this incredibly easy craft. Just cut out a Christmas tree shape in the cardboard (use a stencil if you need it), and then decorate it as you see fit. Keeping it simple with some subtle white detailing can create an upscale feel, but if you're in a more playful mood, add colors. Make a small hole at the top to loop through some twine, and this ornament is all set for your tree! Don't miss these 8 clever ways to store your Christmas decorations, according to professional organizers.

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Rustic reindeer

Who says Rudolph can't be refined? This DIY Christmas decoration is surprisingly easy and cheap to make yet looks as though it should be front and center at your favorite boutique. For this nature-inspired craft, you'll need some evergreen tree parts. Use a small saw to cut two round pieces from a thicker branch for the body and head of the reindeer. Then, use trimmers to cut small branches for the arms and legs, and clip some pine branches to act as the antlers. Glue everything together using wood glue. And don't forget the most important part: a small red bauble for Rudolph's nose! For this family that raises reindeer, it's basically Christmas every day. How awesome is that?

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Twine ornaments

Creating a twine ball ornament for your mantel or your tree is an easy way to get a perfectly rustic yet festive holiday look. For this DIY ornament, you'll need a Styrofoam sphere, twine, and glue. Soak the twine in the glue, and then wrap it around the Styrofoam sphere until the sphere is completely covered. After allowing time to dry, add Christmas-y decorations, such as mini felt trees, ribbons, or bells.

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Upscale Advent wreath

Put a new twist on an old classic with this stylized Advent wreath. Instead of using a typical evergreen wreath, purchase a flat white wooden basket to use as the base of your creation. From there, it's all about decorating: Head into your backyard and gather berries, pine branches, and pine cones. Using a hot glue gun, attach these natural decorations to the basket. Stick four thick red candles in the middle to complete the piece.

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Wooden Santa Claus

This wooden Santa Claus figurine will have you ho, ho, ho-ing throughout the holiday season. To make this jolly little guy, you'll need wooden carving blocks and spheres, which you can get at your local craft store. Use wood glue to attach the round sphere for the head on top of the rectangular body. Add oblong spheres as arms and an oval shape as a cap. From there, it's all about the decorating: Add colorful paint and a beard made with a pipe cleaner. Your brand-new Santa just may work with one of these ideas for a gorgeous (but low effort) Christmas mantel.

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Light-up stick star

Add some pizzazz to your home with this wow piece. To create your own light-up stick star, you'll need five wooden sticks and wood glue. You can even gather the sticks from your backyard for a super-economical option; just make sure they're all approximately the same length and width. Lay the sticks out in a star shape, and secure them with wood glue. After you allow the star to dry for a couple of hours, it's time for the fun part: Take some fairy or holiday lights and wrap them around the star to make it glow. Set the star on a mantel or a table near an outlet, plug it in, and voilà! An instant holiday classic. Need some ideas for the dinner table? Here are 8 last-minute (and super easy!) Christmas centerpieces.

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Helena Schaeder Söderberg/Getty Images

Christmas calendar

This unique take on an Advent calendar will have you counting down the days until Christmas…as if you wouldn't be doing that already! For this inexpensive decoration, tie 25 jewelry pouches to a branch or other sturdy bar-shaped item. Decorate the outside of each pouch with the numbers 1 through 25 and drop a candy or toy inside each one. As the days unfold, so will the sweets and surprises. Ever wondered why Christmas is on December 25? We've got the answer.

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Christmas light Mason jar

Make the cold winter nights feel cozy and romantic with this craft. You'll need Mason jars in whatever size you prefer, votive candles, a hot glue gun, and ribbon in an assortment of Christmas colors and patterns. Use your hot glue gun to attach the ribbons to the outside of the Mason jar. Then, drop in your votive candle and light it for more of a grown-up Christmas evening.

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Quilling paper snowflake

Are you already a whiz at the paper snowflakes? Kick your paper decoration game up a notch with quilling paper snowflakes. Quilling, or paper filigree, is an art practice that uses strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to make creative designs. You can get paper that's best for quilling from any local craft store (or online). And in case you're a first-time quiller, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that can turn you into a pro in no time.

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Fabric Christmas trees

Do we have any seamstresses in Santa's workshop? If so, this is the craft for you. You're just a cut, stuff, and stitch away from making these plushy trees. All you'll need is some fabric (in the pattern of your choice), stuffing, and a needle and thread. These pillow-like decorations are sure to make you have visions of sugarplums dancing in your head. Not into traditional Christmas trees? These 12 cool traditional Christmas tree alternatives will be perfect for you.

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Burlap stockings

Why buy a cookie-cutter stocking when you can make your own special one? First, create your stocking pattern by tracing the shape onto a piece of burlap. Cut the shape out, and glue the two pieces together. Once it's dry, turn it right side out to see your masterpiece. Then, add some candy-cane-colored stripes to spruce it up for the season. Here are the best Christmas stockings for your decorating style.

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Popsicle stick snowman

This DIY Christmas decoration is as easy as 1, 2, 3. No, really—you'll only need three main materials: Popsicle sticks, paint, and glue. To make your very own festive snowman, glue six or seven Popsicle sticks together. Then, glue one Popsicle stick across the top to create the brim of his hat. Paint the horizontal stick and everything above it black; paint the portion of the sticks below it white. Then paint on a set of eyes, a smile, and an orange carrot nose—and you're done! Frosty has never looked so good. (Alternatively, you can glue on black and orange felt to create your snowman's features.) Bonus points: Glue a piece of twine to the top of your adorable craft to turn this snowman into an ornament or doorknob decor.

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Wrapping paper tree topper

Why buy a tree topper when you can create your own? For this craft, you'll need a sheet of printer paper, card stock, wrapping paper, tape, and creativity. First, cut your sheet of printer paper into a square and fold it origami-style into a two-dimensional star. (If you're not a pro at origami, no worries! There are plenty of YouTube videos that will show you how to fold the paper in under two minutes.) After that, use the two-dimensional star as a template and cut out another star using the card stock. Using a ruler and a pencil, draw lines on the star to create a three-dimensional look. Pinch along the lines until the card stock stands up on its own—and now you've got your three-dimensional star! Finally, cover the entire shape in the festive wrapping paper of your choosing. Not only is this cheap Christmas decoration incredibly easy, but its uniqueness will be a definite conversation starter. And what more could you want out of a holiday craft? Check out the history behind 10 favorite Christmas traditions.

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Christmas rocks

Nothing gets us more in the spirit than a simple "Merry Christmas!" Write this saying (and others) on painted rocks to create a playful DIY decoration. Line your mantel with these painted rocks spouting all sorts of holiday greetings for a special and festive touch.

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Cupcake wrapper garland

Holiday cupcake wrappers are adorable and inexpensive. Pick out a sleeve of mixed-pattern liners to create this easy garland. First, flatten the cupcake liners, and fold them in half. Then, stack three folded liners to form a "tree," and secure with hot glue. Add a paper star at the top, and secure the cupcake liner trees to a length of twine or yarn with staples or hot glue. These 18 photos show what Christmas looked like 100 years ago.

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Christmas ribbon bauble

Use large styrofoam floral balls to create these easy DIY Christmas decorations. Simply stick mini Christmas ribbons onto the surface of the ball and glue a loop of string at the top for the hanger. Mix and match the ribbon to coordinate with your existing holiday decor.

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Pasta noodle Christmas trees

This pretty little pasta tree looks a lot more difficult to make than it actually is. Roll a piece of cardboard into a cone, then hot-glue it together. Put a dot of hot glue at the base and stick on a noodle. Glue one noodle at a time concentrically until you reach the top. Once you're done, spray paint it whatever color you like. Don't forget to add a bow-tie noodle for the star!

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Cinnamon stick candle

There's nothing like the spicy smell of cinnamon to put you in the holiday spirit. For this easy craft, you'll need a large pillar candle (at least 9 inches tall), a bundle of large cinnamon sticks (about 8 inches long), ribbon, and a hot-glue gun. To start, put a small dab of hot glue on a cinnamon stick, and place it on the candle. Once you've placed the cinnamon sticks all the way around, tie some ribbon around it to help hold everything in place. Tuck in some faux berries, sprigs of evergreen, or mini pine cones to complete the look.

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Citrus pomander candles

Citrus pomanders are classic DIY Christmas decorations. Take this popular craft one step further and transform it into a tea-light holder. To make one, slice a thin piece of skin from the stem end of the orange to create a base. On the opposite end, use a sharp paring knife to cut out a hole that's just large enough to fit the tea light into. The tea light should fit down in the orange, with the top of the tea light even with the skin of the orange. Decorate the outside with cloves, then insert the tea light.

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Citrus ornaments

Instead of tossing citrus skins into the compost pile, transform them into ornaments. Use cookie cutters to trace shapes onto the skin, and cut them out with a sharp knife. Let them dry on a tray for a few days, then thread them onto a piece of string for a garland or pierce them with a metal ornament hook to hang on a tree.

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courtesy Debbie Wolfe

Cardboard gingerbread house

Skip the messy candy-and-graham-cracker gingerbread kit and make a gingerbread house out of cardboard boxes instead. It's easiest to use a square box for this craft. To make the front and back of the roof, cut off the corners of two opposing flaps to form a triangle. Then glue the two remaining uncut sides to the triangles and then to each other. Use chalk markers or paint to decorate your cardboard gingerbread house.

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courtesy Debbie Wolfe

Candy cane reindeer

Nothing's better than a Christmas decoration you can eat. Cut a 3-inch-long piece of brown ribbon. Then, glue two candy canes together, back to back. These are the antlers for your reindeer. Use wiggly eyes and a red mini pom-pom for the face. To hang on a tree, loop a piece of ribbon through the antlers.

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Wood-burn ornament

Wood burning is a versatile craft that looks amazing and is surprisingly easy to do. Either purchase wood slices or forage in your yard for a branch to slice down. Lightly sketch your design on the wood slices before you apply the heat with a wood-burner tool. Stick with simple geometric patterns, like snowflakes. The slices can be hung as ornaments or used as holiday coasters if they are large enough. By the way, this is the origin of the 12 days of Christmas.

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Reindeer pot

Terra-cotta pots are an inexpensive crafting medium that you can do so much with. Create this adorable little reindeer with pipe cleaners, craft paper, wiggly eyes, and a pom-pom. Cut out ears from the craft paper, and adhere them to the pot with hot glue. Twist the pipe cleaners into antlers, and glue them onto the pot, along with the eyes and nose. For a finishing touch, embellish the top with paper twine and some beads.

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OnlyZoia/Shutterstock

Cardboard and yarn Christmas tree

Sometimes, the simplest DIY Christmas decorations are the best. This little Christmas tree is a cinch to create using yarn, cardboard, and glue. Cut out a simple triangle tree, then paint a layer of glue onto the cardboard. Wrap yarn around the tree, and let it dry. Glue a paper star at the top with a loop of yarn for the hanger.

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Bottle cap snowmen

Make these mini snowmen by gluing bottle caps onto a length of ribbon. Use premade mini craft snowflakes, or cut small, white circular pieces of paper that will fit into the caps. Decorate the pieces of paper, then glue them into the caps. Another option: Paint inside the caps to create your snowmen.

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Christmas ornament candle holder

Mini Christmas ball ornaments are inexpensive and come in a variety of colors. Make this festive candle holder by gluing the tiny balls onto a foam wreath form. These pretty little candle holders make perfect hostess gifts as well as a lovely tabletop centerpiece for a party. If you're planning your own holiday bash, check out these 12 fun Christmas party themes you never thought of until now.

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Ornament vase centerpiece

Another way to create an easy centerpiece is to fill a glass vase with ornaments. You can swap out colors to match your decor. This sophisticated-looking centerpiece is inexpensive, versatile, and super simple—genius!

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Natural garland

This natural garland is not only easy to assemble—it's also a great way to keep the kids busy and feel included. Have them gather sprigs of evergreen branches and pine cones from the yard. Add in slices of dried citrus, if you desire. Then clip them to a length of twine with clothespins. As the pieces dry out and become brittle, simply swap them out with fresh pieces. These adorable pets have amazing Christmas spirit.

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Snow globe

Snow globes are the perfect seasonal crafts to make with an upcycled glass jar. Place faux snow at the base, and then add a mini tree inside. Finish off the snow globe with battery-operated LED mini string lights to add a warm glow to any room. This could also serve as a great gift for your mom or wife.

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Pine cone centerpiece

If you have a yard full of pine cones, use them to create this simple centerpiece. Just place various sizes of pine cones into a wide glass bowl. Then add cinnamon sticks and sprigs of pine for natural fragrance. If you don't have access to pine cones, you can pick up an inexpensive bag at a craft store. This is the real reason why Christmas colors are red and green.

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courtesy Crayons & Cravings

Ribbon tree

Crayons and Cravings has the perfect project to make on a rainy (or snowy) day before Christmas: a ribbon tree. Use up all your bits of leftover ribbon to create this darling rustic decoration that matches your holiday decor.

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courtesy Crayons & Cravings

Mason jar ring wreath

Do you have mason jar rings piling up in your drawers? Use them to make mini wreaths, which look adorable tied to gifts or hanging on your tree. Head over to Crayons and Cravings to see how to make this easy DIY mason jar wreath.

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Courtesy Angela Hine/Projects with Kids

Gingerbread pots

If you're looking for a way to create a gingerbread village without having to bake or purchase a kit, check out Projects with Kids' terra-cotta gingerbread houses. Using terra-cotta mini pots and chalk markers, you can create these sweet little houses that look good enough to eat. If you also want to make the real deal, follow these 5 steps for creating the perfect homemade gingerbread house.

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courtesy Angela Hine/Projects with Kids

Magical lanterns

There's nothing like candlelight during the holidays. Projects with Kids has an easy DIY that transforms glass jars into magical lanterns. The lanterns look stunning lit up with a candle inside and make the perfect handcrafted addition to any holiday decor. If you want to take your DIY efforts up a notch, try making one (or more!) of these 26 handmade gifts for everyone on your list.

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Salt dough ornaments

You can't talk about DIY Christmas decorations without discussing salt dough ornaments. They're a classic for a reason, after all! Make the salt dough by bringing together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 cup water. Mix the ingredients until they form a dough with a Play-Doh-like consistency. Form the dough into a ball, and knead for approximately 5 minutes. Then roll out the dough to a 1/4 thickness, and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until the dough is completely dry and hard. Once the shapes have cooled, decorate them with paint.

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Evergreen wreath

If you adore the look and smell of a fresh evergreen wreath but hate the price, you're in luck. Creating a wreath is easy with the help of a straw wreath form and u-pins. Simply gather evergreen greenery, and cut the branches into smaller pieces. Gather a handful of sprigs, and form a small bundle. Pin the bundles to the wreath. As you go around the form, be sure to overlap the bundles slightly to hide the pins. This can also be a great seasonal housewarming gift. For other times of the year, check out these 22 homemade housewarming gifts any new homeowner will love.

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Pine cone Santas

These darling little Santas are easy to put together with premade mini hats that you can pick up at the craft store. Paint the tips of pine cones white, and let them dry. Pop on the mini Santa hats and they're ready to go!

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izzzy71/Shutterstock

Evergreen branch arrangement

Use those leftover branches that were trimmed off your fresh Christmas tree to make a simple tabletop arrangement. Line a decorative pot with a plastic insert, then add soaked floral foam. Insert the branches into the form at varying heights. The branches will stay fresh and not dry out as long as the floral foam stays moist. If you really want to get into the holiday spirit, here are 11 DIY ways to make your home smell like Christmas.

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Helena Schaeder Söderberg/Getty Images

Christmas paper town

Create your very own miniature winter wonderland with this cheap Christmas decoration. Construct houses out of card stock by cutting and gluing pieces together. You can either keep it simple and white, or spruce it up by coloring and decorating the facades.

Originally Published: November 06, 2020

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Simple Cheap Party Decorating Ideas

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Posted by: smithsuand1943.blogspot.com

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