Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. DIY Projects & Crafts
  3. Holiday Crafts
  4. Christmas Crafts
  5. 14 Affordable Christmas Crafts for You and Your Family

14 Affordable Christmas Crafts for You and Your Family

By Alexandra Churchill Updated November 22, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Pin
paper snowman, santa, reindeer, nutcracker, elf
Credit: Linda Pugliese
Every little bit counts this holiday season. These easy-to-make ornaments, decorations, and gifts will help you and your family have a magical Christmas without breaking the bank.
Start Slideshow

1 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
paper snowman, santa, reindeer, nutcracker, elf
Credit: Linda Pugliese

The moment you hear the contagious chorus—"fa la la la la"—you can be joyously certain that Christmas is here once again. This year, as you prepare to deck the halls, you can discover creative ways to make the holiday all the more jolly with handmade paper ornaments, a centerpiece glinting with snow, an igloo built from cake and ice cream, and other projects.

For a more affordable holiday of crafting, you can use tools and materials you already have in your home. Inexpensive notions like leftover trimmings, rickrack, and buttons can be made into cheerful cards. In lieu of expensive ribbons, try materials with more yardage, such as red-and-white bakers' twine, yarn, or raffia. There are plenty of alternatives to store-bought wrapping paper: Some coverings, including sewing patterns, sheet music, and maps, may be found around the house, while others—inexpensive fabric and floral paper, for example—are sold in large quantities. Keep this in mind in times of desperation (there's no such thing as "no wrapping left") as well as in times of inspiration. And a sheet of paper (plus out printable templates and clip-art) are all you need to craft beloved Christmas figurines like snowmen, reindeer, nutcrackers, elves, and Santa Claus himself.

Many of the crafts described here hit nostalgic notes, playing up techniques and motifs from seasons past. Some use decorating materials popular at the turn of the twentieth century, such as honeycomb paper and sheets of cotton batting. Others incorporate vintage designs and traditional good-luck symbols. So follow us in merry measure and you'll soon be crafting your own yuletide treasures.

1 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Paper Christmas Figures

paper snowman, santa, reindeer, nutcracker, elf
Credit: Linda Pugliese
Get the Christmas Figures Clip-Art

Send a Claus—or a snowman, a reindeer, an elf, or a nutcracker. Download the clip-art, and print it on card stock. You can send them off as holiday cards for the recipients to assemble. Thanks to our downloadable clip-art, these charming, ingenious holiday decorations are just some snips, folds, and glue dabs away.

Cut out the clip art with small scissors or a craft knife, and score folds with a bone folder. Wrap anything you want to have a curve or a curl (such as the nutcracker's arms and legs) around a pen. Assemble without glue to check the shape, then dab on glue with a small paintbrush.

Shop Now: Epson Premium Presentation paper, in Matte, $15, amazon.com. Martha Stewart Detail Scissors, $12.49, michaels.com. Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue, $3, michaels.com. 

2 of 15

3 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Paper Snowflakes

large-scale-snowflakes-d112433-561.jpg
Credit: Aaron Dyer
Get the Paper Snowflakes How-To

A single sheet of paper can become a blizzard of snowflakes. Learn how to fold, cut, and decorate your own paper snowflakes for decorating the house, adding gift toppers, and anything else your imagination can envision.

3 of 15

Advertisement

4 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Candy Cane Wreaths

candy-cane-wreath-0363-d11.jpg
Get the Candy Cane Wreath How-To

Too many candy canes? (Never.) This hanging decoration is hot-glued piece by piece then bound in red twine, leaving a sweet, lasting impression for the winter season.

4 of 15

5 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pipe-Cleaner Snowflake Ornaments

mld104350_1208_snowflakes.jpg
Get the Pipe-Cleaner Snowflake Ornaments How-To

Pipe cleaners can be snipped, twisted, and bent into snowflakes of all sizes. All you need are two household tools and a stack of white pipe cleaners to whip up a full-blown blizzard.

5 of 15

6 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Toy Ornaments

martha-tree-glossary-001x-md110644.jpg
Credit: Eric Piasecki Photography

Hanging old toys on the Christmas tree spreads joy: Mom will be pleased to have less clutter, and the toys will be happy to be rescued from their dusty corners. Ask the children to help pick which toys to transform: building blocks, flash cards, stuffed animals. To hang, use needle and embroidery thread to stitch through soft toys, insert screw eyes into wooden toys, or wind embroidery thread through an opening or around a narrow part of the toy.

Shop Now: Learning Resources Basic Geometric Solids, $14.29 for 6, amazon.com. Meri Meri Alphabet Cookie Cutters, $22 for 27, target.com.

6 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Gumdrop Jars

mld104220_1208_gumdrops.jpg

Stack gumdrops, dot them with sprinkles and other candies in creative ways, and watch the colorful confections come to life as snowmen, Santas, and other icons of the season. Wrap the candy pops in cellophane bags, and then attach them to gifts or slip them into stockings. Or create a holiday display: Partially fill a large glass jar with sanding sugar, and stand the figurines on flower frogs in the sparkling "snow."

Shop Now: NiceBottles Clear Glass Jars, 12 oz., $21 for 12, amazon.com. DOTS Assorted Fruit Gumdrops Candy, $5 for 6.5 oz., amazon.com.

7 of 15

8 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Straw Garlands and Gift-Toppers

paper straw gift-topper and garland
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Gift toppers and garlands are crafted of colorful striped straws and string. They're inexpensive and easy enough even for kids to make. Start by marking two-inch intervals on drinking straws, and cut with scissors. Thread mason's twine through three tubes, then thread back through first tube to form a triangle. Repeat this until your garland reaches the desired length.

Shop Now: Just Artifacts Chevron Orange Paper Straws, $4.50 for 25, walmart.com. Everbilt Pink Twisted Polypropylene Mason Twine, $5.85, homedepot.com.

8 of 15

9 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pinecone Mice

pinecone mice
Credit: Johnny Miller

Atop a gift-wrapped wedge (will it be cheddar this year?), one mouse shows how even a pinecone with a quirky shape can be transformed. Large scales—used here to make wings, tails, and ears—are common in eastern white, western white, and sugar pinecones.

Cut large scales into rounded ear shapes. Paint the inner ears white; let dry. Paint twine brown for the tail; while it's still wet, twist twine around your finger to curl; let dry. Brush the top of the pinecone body with glue; attach the acorn head. Brush the wide end of the body with glue; attach tail; let dry. Brush the acorn head with glue; attach ears. Let dry. Paint on brown eyes and a nose.

Shop Now: Whaline Natural Pinecones, $15 for 25, amazon.com. Tin Roof Treasure's Natural Acorns, $14 for 75, amazon.com. Ashland Metallic Natural Twine, $1.50, michaels.com.

9 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Nature Ornaments

treeornaments-390-lighter2-mld109268.jpg

It has the charm of a ship in a bottle but is far more festive: winter greenery contained in a delicate glass ornament. Fill glass-ball ornaments with sprigs of holly, bayberry, and evergreens. Remove the cap from an ornament, and carefully place a small piece of trimmed greenery inside. To prevent condensation from forming, leave the cap off for 24 hours before replacing it. Thread ribbon through the top loop, knot, and hang from the tree.

Shop Now: Darice Clear Glass Balls, 80 mm, $8 for 4, amazon.com.

10 of 15

11 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Festive Envelopes

festive craft envelopes
Credit: Seth Smoot

Paper treat bags are just the right size to serve as festive envelopes for 5-by-7-inch holiday photo cards printed on heavyweight photo paper. Use mailing labels to make addressing easy, and then add postage. They're cheaper than envelopes and come in a range of colors and patterns.

Shop Now: The Sugar Diva Party Favor Bag, in Mod Circle Red, $5 for 24, thesugardiva.com.  Epson Premium Presentation paper, in Matte, $15, amazon.com.

11 of 15

12 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Paper Plate Angels

a98516_1200_angels.jpg
Credit: Lisa Hubbard
Get the Paper Plate Angels How-To

Perfect for a holiday table to entertain younger guests, each one of these demure angels hold a written place card. They're made with 6-inch plain white paper plates. Choose a variety with a fluted edge and use our printable templates to shape them into life.

12 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Living Fern Wreath

fern holiday wreath
Credit: Seth Smoot

For a really fresh take on evergreen wreaths, we made one from indoor ferns. To make your own, wet a sphagnum moss–covered wreath form, divide fern plants into plantlets with roots attached, and tuck the stems into the moss, which anchors them as they grow. Hang it indoors, and mist occasionally.

Shop Now: Topiary Artworks Sphagnum Moss–Covered Wreath Form, 9", $9, topiaryartworks.com.

13 of 15

14 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cinnamon Bird Ornaments

ml1203_hol08_birdstree.jpg
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
Get the Cinnamon Bird Ornaments How-To

Although these whimsical birds look and smell like gingerbread cookies, their sparkling plumage hints at their true nature as sweet works of art.

14 of 15

15 of 15

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tree-Shaped Napkin Rings

Christmas tree napkin rings
Credit: Sang An
Get the Tree Template

Tree-shaped napkin rings cut from pretty patterned paper set a seasonal tone that's fitting for both formal and casual tables. Print the template, photocopy at 200 percent, and cut out. Trace it onto patterned paper; draw as many outlines as will fit on a sheet (you'll get two rings per 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet). Cut shapes from patterned paper with a craft knife or scissors; cut along the dotted lines. Bring the ends together, and slide slits into each other to form a ring. Roll up a fabric napkin, and slide inside holder.

15 of 15

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alexandra Churchill

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 15
    2 of 15 Paper Christmas Figures
    3 of 15 Paper Snowflakes
    4 of 15 Candy Cane Wreaths
    5 of 15 Pipe-Cleaner Snowflake Ornaments
    6 of 15 Toy Ornaments
    7 of 15 Gumdrop Jars
    8 of 15 Straw Garlands and Gift-Toppers
    9 of 15 Pinecone Mice
    10 of 15 Nature Ornaments
    11 of 15 Festive Envelopes
    12 of 15 Paper Plate Angels
    13 of 15 Living Fern Wreath
    14 of 15 Cinnamon Bird Ornaments
    15 of 15 Tree-Shaped Napkin Rings

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    14 Affordable Christmas Crafts for You and Your Family
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.