For as long as I can remember, DIY has been at the heart of my family’s Christmas celebration. Leave it to my parents to turn a holiday that is supposed to be all about relaxing and quality time, into a competition of who could cut out the most shapes when baking cookies. You always knew Christmas was coming up in my house because all of us would start hoarding the most ridiculous things, convinced we could turn them into something festive.
Despite its hectic and chaotic elements, Christmas at my house was always my favorite time of year. Part of this, of course, had to do with the receiving of presents and general spoiling, but I also loved to see how creative my parents became with the luxury of free time.
The joy of spending time with those you love and laughing over a fun project is a feeling I hope that everyone can experience this holiday season, so I wanted to share with you some of my favorite little DIY crafts that my family and I have been doing for years. The best part (for the less DIY-inclined) is that most of these don’t require real artistic ability, just your imagination!
The Garland Guide
1. Trader Joe’s Twinkle
Not only are these garlands super popular all over social media right now, they are the perfect zen and anti-waste craft to do in front of your favorite Christmas movie (mine has to be Harry Potter). All they require are a few old paper Trader Joe’s (or any) bags, paint or markers, and some string. On the bags, draw out some fun star shapes—I like to vary them up, do some five pointed or even eight pointed ones, and get creative with it by coloring them in. I am a firm believer in colorful Christmas, so I always just have fun with my color palette, but you can do whatever speaks to you! Finally, cut them out and string them up EVERYWHERE! Here is some extra help (for the visual learners out there).
2. Dried Citrus Christmas
Another one of my favorite ways to use up excess foods in my home is making dried citrus garlands. Often, my family buys more limes and lemons than we can eat. On top of that, we have citrus trees out in the backyard that produce more than we can use, so I try to reduce waste by making garlands out of them. I use everything from key limes to meyer lemons, though traditionally these garlands are made with oranges. For my less creatively inclined people, this is the craft for you! All you do is slice the citrus and bake it in the oven for one hour at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip them and leave them in there for another two to three hours, and then string them on some fun twine and say hello to your new classic decoration that doubles as an air freshener.
3. Chains of Cheer
Another popular one, paper chains can sometimes be some of the most wasteful pieces of Christmas decor possible, but I believe that there is a way to achieve the same adorable look while still being mindful of our planet. Firstly, it’s important that these don’t just get thrown away after one year. I have a few that I made with my mom when I was eight, and every year we make a few more, so our house gets more and more decked out over time. One method to ensure that I’m not wasting paper is to use recycling paper (paper shopping bags, old typed up things, mail) and painting it to be fun colors, or, using our old stack of sun-bleached cardstock. Here is a tutorial on how to make them.
Lights, Lights, Lights!
4. Houses for Elves
One of my all time favorite Christmas DIY crafts is centered around an unassuming item: the milk carton. In anticipation of the holiday, my family will save all of our cartons, and we end up with villages of little fairy houses by New Years. For this craft, all you need is empty, clean cartons, paint, and some tea lights. Cut out some holes in the cartons for windows, and then paint them white (or whatever colors you like). One year we painted some to look like Victorian houses! I also like to cut some to be shorter and leave some taller like little townhomes. Then, at night, pop little tea lights in them and watch your mini city come to life!
To Hang On The Tree
5. Fuzzy Friends
As my final favorite, my mom and I have been making fabric ornaments for as long as I could hold a needle, and these make such a cute addition to any tree. Every year, we love to hang up a little felt pegasus whose wings are made of either my sister or my handprints as little kids. This is the perfect craft for the seamstresses out there who are dealing with an excess of scraps, or even those of you who want to try an easy sewing project and have an old shirt. All you do is just cut out a shape of what you want on fabric, making sure to have two identical ones, and sew stuffing in it! I always add fun beads and patterns to the front and it makes for the perfect craft to do with your loved ones or in front of a good movie. Every time you pull them out of storage, it is impossible not to think about how much fun you had sewing them!
From one eco-conscious gal to another I wish you a happy holiday and the most fun DIYing! Enjoy the extra excuse to spend time with your loved ones, exercise your creativity, and be kind to the Earth! Happy crafting!