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10 Fun and Frugal Christmas Decorating Ideas
Whether your Christmas decorating is sparse, completely over the top or somewhere in between, it's fun to mix it up from year to year. But of course, buying new decorations each year not only creates crazy storage problems, but it gets super expensive.
Decorating for Christmas (or any other holiday or special occasion) can be done, and it can be done the Cheapskates way, with a little creativity and thought.
So first things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn't cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal.
Some theme ideas for Christmas? The country Christmas, a Toyland Christmas, countries around the world, Victorian, Santa, snowmen, old fashioned, use your imagination - the list goes on and on!
Make garlands out of felt scraps Cut Christmas shapes out of felt in miniature: mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, snowmen etc and string together with needle and embroidery floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember, when you string each shape, to tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, then sewing the two together with a blanket stitch. Glue would work also if you aren't a sewer.
Re-cycled candle jars Drop a tealight candle into your cleaned out glass mayonnaise or jam jars, tie a Christmas ribbon around the neck ($2 a roll from discount shops), and you have a beautiful candle with Christmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even coloured sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.
Start a Christmas collection This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My daughter and I started collecting Christmas cups and saucers a few years ago, and it's something we look forward to, choosing our new Christmas cup and saucer together. I know it will be a treasured memory for her, as it has already become for me and I plan to let each of my children choose a set to take with them when they leave to start their own home. By the way, this doesn't have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try looking op shops and secondhad stores for your "new" decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your $2 stores…they have some really cute ceramic Christmas decorations for a dollar or two. Remember, its the memories you're interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.
Toyland If you are looking to do a to Toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local op shops. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy s seat by the front door.
Bowls of sparkle Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.
Christmas art. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry or maybe the dining room?
Suspended boughs Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for any candles on tables to set them alight.
Creative gift tags Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors (99 cents from Riot Art and Craft) to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names (pack of 3 for $1.98 from BG W). Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.
Budget window décor This is a great one for the kids and keeps them busy after school has finished in the lead up to Christmas Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I'm not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.
There they are, the 10 best budget ideas for Christmas decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting…our loved ones!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Decorating for Christmas (or any other holiday or special occasion) can be done, and it can be done the Cheapskates way, with a little creativity and thought.
So first things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn't cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal.
Some theme ideas for Christmas? The country Christmas, a Toyland Christmas, countries around the world, Victorian, Santa, snowmen, old fashioned, use your imagination - the list goes on and on!
Make garlands out of felt scraps Cut Christmas shapes out of felt in miniature: mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, snowmen etc and string together with needle and embroidery floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember, when you string each shape, to tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, then sewing the two together with a blanket stitch. Glue would work also if you aren't a sewer.
Re-cycled candle jars Drop a tealight candle into your cleaned out glass mayonnaise or jam jars, tie a Christmas ribbon around the neck ($2 a roll from discount shops), and you have a beautiful candle with Christmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even coloured sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.
Start a Christmas collection This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My daughter and I started collecting Christmas cups and saucers a few years ago, and it's something we look forward to, choosing our new Christmas cup and saucer together. I know it will be a treasured memory for her, as it has already become for me and I plan to let each of my children choose a set to take with them when they leave to start their own home. By the way, this doesn't have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try looking op shops and secondhad stores for your "new" decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your $2 stores…they have some really cute ceramic Christmas decorations for a dollar or two. Remember, its the memories you're interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.
Toyland If you are looking to do a to Toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local op shops. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy s seat by the front door.
Bowls of sparkle Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.
Christmas art. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry or maybe the dining room?
Suspended boughs Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for any candles on tables to set them alight.
Creative gift tags Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors (99 cents from Riot Art and Craft) to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names (pack of 3 for $1.98 from BG W). Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.
Budget window décor This is a great one for the kids and keeps them busy after school has finished in the lead up to Christmas Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I'm not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.
There they are, the 10 best budget ideas for Christmas decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting…our loved ones!
Have a wonderful Christmas!