Save Halloween Candy for Christmas StockingsIf you are looking at your kids Halloween candy and thinking you really don't want them eating it all. You could consider "borrowing" some of their candy that is not Halloween themed and save it for their Christmas stockings.
A Little Holiday Entertainment Planning Goes Long WayWe have all heard this our entire lives: plan ahead. It's actually a good idea at any time of year, but in this run up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, this is a good time to look to the little things so they don't become big things. Here are some examples:
Personalized Spool OrnamentsTo celebrate my grandson's first Thanksgiving and first Christmas and to commemorate family who can't be here this year due to COVID, I created some cute but simple tree ornaments using just photos and empty thread spools for an old fashioned look!
Mini Gumball Machine Christmas OrnamentI saw this idea at a craft boutique and since I had the supplies to make one, I made my own version.
Craft Wire Christmas Tree & Star OrnamentsThis year, I donated all of my glass ornaments so our Christmas tree is looking a little bare. I decided to make some wire ornaments. I made 2 so far and looking forward to make more.
Needlepoint Canvas Wreath OrnamentI was given a lot of circular needlepoint canvas shapes and found this quick and simple ornament to make.
Christmas Dino DecorationHere is a cute dinosaur with a Christmas hat you can make with supplies from home. You can change the reptile/animal to your child's liking and add a Christmas hat. This dino would be a nice decorative piece to add in your home if you like your kid's artwork displayed.
Pine Needle Christmas TreeThis is a craft my son thought of on his own and had our family do individually; it was a lot of fun! We collected pine needles, drew our own Christmas trees then decorated it!
Christmas Rainbow Cheetah Gift TagHave your kids help partake in Christmas wrapping! They could design cute little gift tags or make as a flat homemade card. This is a cheetah my daughter designed.
Poured Paint Christmas BulbA friend gave me ten of these silver Christmas bulbs that someone had decorated with a writing paint, so I decided to upcycle them using the "paint pour" technique.
Reindeer CandleEver received a candle with no scent, but you hated to toss it? Here is an idea for making it into a holiday candle.
Propagating Plants Inside a Christmas Ornament BulbMake these cute and inexpensive ornament bulb propagation planters to give as gifts or simply to decorate your desk, bathroom, or home.
Gingerbread People Wall DecorationsHere is an inexpensive/free way you can decorate your home for the holidays. You can cut out gingerbread people from cardboard, shipping boxes or craft paper then decorate! Hang the gingerbread people individually with tape or as a garland.
Gingerbread Chex MixI wanted to use a gingerbread themed gift to give to friends and neighbors. I found some cute gingerbread containers to put the mix in. The gingerbread designed napkins, cookie cutters, and candy canes add to the gift presentation.
Name for Preschool Christmas Musical?Our church and preschool will be joining together to sing some Christmas carols for our Christmas service. What could a fun name be for Christmas?
Making Angel OrnamentsAngels are a popular decoration during the holidays, especially for the Christmas tree. Angel ornaments can be constructed from all sorts of inexpensive or recycled materials.
Felt Toilet Paper OrnamentWere you one of the lucky people that didn't have to visit a bunch of stores and stand in long lines just to get toilet paper? Most of us have the epic TP search seared into our brains. I know I will never under appreciate easy access to it again! Commemorate this wonderful necessity with a fun felt ornament. Add the year if you want too!
Face Mask Felt OrnamentMasks, masks, everywhere! If this isn't symbolic of 2020 I don't know what is. Celebrate the glorious mask with this fun ornament!
Felt Clorox Wipes OrnamentClorox Wipes have definitely been part of our daily lives during the Covid pandemic. Commemorate your fabulously sanitized surfaces with this silly wipes container ornament!
Felt Hand Sanitizer OrnamentIt seems like we have all been tackling germs this year with gallons of hand sanitizer! Another unforgettable staple this year that surely needs to be remembered for years to come.
Felt Killer Hornet OrnamentNothing says 2020 like an infestation of killer hornets! Do we even dare to ask "What's next?!"? You can make a single hornet or a whole swarm to adorn your tree.
North Pole OrnamentPaint the sticks as in photo (or however you want.) Let dry. Glue together as in picture. Glue on ribbon and hang and enjoy.
Snoopy Tree OrnamentThis little yarn Snoopy is dressed up with a Santa Hat, and ready to hang on your tree. Or you could add him as trim to a package, or make a lapel pin.
Stocking Cap OrnamentThis is a recycled kids craft. The little ones can really get into this craft, and make something pretty to hang on the tree. Supplies are few.
Decorative Styrofoam Holiday CandleRecycle white styrofoam egg cartons to make a large candle centerpiece. Cut off the lid and closure flap from each egg carton. Only the cup portions are used to make the candle.
Christmas Tree Treat CupsA quick and super cute decoration for your Christmas Tree. Especially great for any home with young children.
Christmas PoemsThe Christmas season brings out all sorts of creativity, including gifts of poetry. Special poems like "The Night Before Christmas" are treasured year after year. Other poems may have a more personal connection to your family but these lesser known poems can be forgotten over time.
Homemade Printed Tissue PaperWith just a few supplies, a computer, and a printer it is super easy to make small pieces of custom tissue paper for the holidays!
Christmas Tree VeggiesWith a little arranging on toothpicks, your veggie platter can be an adorable standing Christmas tree. You can use any veggies and cheeses you desire. Happy holidays!
Christmas Salad RecipesAt Christmastime, even the salads are festive. Red and green ingredients are very popular. They can be made with fruits, veggies or a combination of both.
Wall Tree Activity AdventThis advent is simple to throw together using Ikea's wall tree, and cardstock. Our family likes to do activity-based advents like this one and when I saw IKEA was selling this decoration, I knew I had to make it into an advent calendar.
Giving Money in a Pez DispenserPez is a classic holiday candy and kids love using the dispenser. If you are looking for a way to give cash that is not simply putting it into a card, you can try this trick.
Giving Cash in a Candy StorybookHere is a simple way to make giving cash a little extra special this holiday season. During Christmastime, there are always a few different candy companies that make a storybook style candy box. When I was a kid, I always got the Lifesavers book in my stocking.
Gift Money in a Candy BoxThis is a simple way to give cash as a gift. You fill the spaces in a candy box with cash and give it as if it was just a normal box of chocolates.
Starburst Pipe Cleaner Tree TopperThis is an easy and inexpensive way to create a retro tree topper that's also fun to make. All you need is a package of silver pipe cleaners and that's all there is to it. If you want to change up your colors from year to year, this is also a great way to coordinate your topper to match your tree.
Christmas Eve Low Carb Crust PizzaWith all the rich food during Christmas, this is a nice change of pace. It's also an easy and quick Christmas Eve meal when you're rushed during the holidays. You can decorate it with tiny stars cut from red and green bell peppers to make it more festive. :-)
Nebraska Christmas CharitiesEvery year ThriftyFun gets numerous requests from people looking for help for their families for Christmas. Since we do not have the resources to offer direct help, we have set up this page to help people find charities in each state. This is a page about finding Christmas charities in Nebraska.
Shipping Christmas PresentsDue to the current state of things, more people will be staying put this holiday season rather than traveling to see family. If you do not usually ship gifts, you may want to consider it this year. The post office offers priority flat rate boxes that only cost $8-20 depending on the size of the box.
Chicken-Rice Gift BowlsI am always looking for ways to make Christmas gifts that are actually useful and will be appreciated. I found these darling little bowls at the Dollar General, and decided to make some little gifts out of them and my favorite Knorr Rice Mix packages.
Making a 3D Christmas Wreath and Tree Holiday CardThis is a very cute holiday card to make for someone special. I like the 3D appearance of this card from the wreath to the Christmas tree. This card was made with items I already had at home.
Making a Christmas Egg Carton WreathStart saving your paper egg cartons. You can use them to make a pretty Christmas wreath. We can show you how.
Jingle Bell Craft IdeasJingle bells are a great craft supply to have on hand for Christmas crafts. You can do a simple ornament with kids using a large jingle bell and ribbon.
Making Wrapping Paper OrnamentsMake collage wrapping paper or toy catalog page ornaments. They can be hung on the tree or used to embellish plain wrapping paper on gift packages.
Making a Toilet Paper Roll OrnamentGlitter covered toilet paper roll sections can be glued together to make pretty holiday ornaments. You can add additional embellishments too. Use the instructions below to create your own.
Making Shabby Chic Shell OrnamentsThese shabby chic shell ornaments are easy to make and don't require too many supplies. Hang them on your tree or display year round. Learn how to make them from the project posted below.
Making Mini Wreath OrnamentsMake a wreath shape from sturdy cardboard or chipboard. Decorate by wrapping with baker's twine, ribbon, or whatever you have. Add additional embellishments as desired and it is ready to hang.
Making a Felt Elephant OrnamentFelt ornaments are fun and easy to make. Plus you can make them in so many patterns, using freehand drawings, cookie cutters, and more. Learn how to make a felt elephant ornament below.
How to Made a Recycled CD OrnamentLearn how to make a lovely recycled CD ornament by following the instructions on this page. A detailed list of supplies is also included.
Making a Christmas Tea TreeThis tea bag tree is the perfect gift for the tea lover in the family or a friend. Follow the steps provided to make this Christmas gift. With a bit of alteration it could also be tailored to other occasions.
DIY Hot Cocoa OrnamentsCreate a cute hot cocoa ornament that is also a gift. The kids will love helping to make these for friends, family, and teachers. The project containing supplies and steps follows.
Industrial Strength Gift CanGive large food cans new life by decorating them and using them for "wrapping" gifts. Their durability is perfect for protecting fragile gifts and they can easily be used for many years.
Making a Rudolph Gift BagTransform a plain brown paper lunch bag into a cute Rudolf gift bag. This is a great project for your kids to work on.
Making a Poinsettia PinThis pretty felt poinsettia pin is fun and easy to make. The necessary supplies and instructions follow.
Making a Duct Tape PoinsettiaIf you like crafting with duct tape, try this pretty holiday poinsettia project. You will need duct tape, paper, and a stick. They are perfect for decorating or to use on packages. The instructions for this craft follow.
Poinsettia Craft IdeasPoinsettias are the ubiquitous holiday flower. This page contains craft projects for making poinsettia magnets, wreaths, window decorations, pillows, and more.
Grandma's Lil' SnowballsThis exciting craft will show you how to make a cardboard tube snow lady that holds bottle caps with photos of your grandchildren, grandma's lil' snowballs. Display it around the holidays or year round. The detailed supplies list and directions follow.
Making an English Christmas Pudding OrnamentThis cute Christmas ornament begins with a plain Styrofoam ball. The instructions for transforming it into an English pudding can be found on this page.
Making Personalized Felt OrnamentsFelt is an easy craft material to work with. Use various colors to make personalized felt ornaments for your Christmas tree or to make into a garland.
Making a Paper Plate Framed Christmas DecorationFrame a piece of your child's artwork with a cut out paper plate rim. Add paper cutouts, snowflakes, whatever you like to create a great kid inspired Christmas decoration. Make several unique ones.
Making Hershey Kiss-mas TreesColorfully wrapped Christmas Hershey Kisses become the stands for cardstock trees. Use them to decorate for the holidays and enjoy a chocolate treat later.
Burlap Bag Advent CalendarMake your own custom Advent calendar for your Christmas countdown. Using homemade burlap bags, fill the daily bags with candy or a special message.
Making A Lantern Part Of Your Holiday DecorLight is an important part of celebrating Christmas and the holiday season. Use a lantern as a festive decoration in your home.
DIY Stick and Yarn Snowflake DecorationThis stick and yarn snowflake decoration is fun to make and can be displayed indoors or out. It uses any kind of sticks you have available; the original project was made using the handles from plastic spoons, but craft sticks or twigs would also work. Instructions follow.
Making a Wooden Ball Gift Tag OrnamentWooden beads strung together with a handmade gift tag below and a pretty ribbon on the top do double duty as a gift tag and ornament. Instructions and a supplies list follow.
Making Mason Jar Lid Christmas OrnamentsThe lids from Mason style jars can be reused in lots of crafts. This page offers a Christmas ornament project.
Making Coastal Beach OrnamentsFill glass or plastic ornaments with beach sand and small shells. They can be used as Christmas ornaments or displays. Alternatively you can use embellishments that make them fun to display year round.
Making Clothespin ReindeerYou too can make cute clothespin reindeer from both peg style and spring clip pins. Use them as decorations or hang on the tree. This craft is offered with a supplies list, instructions, and photos.
DIY Moss Trim Picture Frame WreathCover a picture frame with sheet moss from your local craft store, then add ornaments, and a large bow to make a moss trimmed picture frame wreath. We can show you how.
Making a Noel Q-Tip PaintingWork with your kids to make this noel painting. The background is painted using a Q-tip in place of a brush. Then the letters are cut from scrapbook paper. These artworks can be given as gifts to grandparents and friends, or hung in your home.
Making a Santa Vase And LampSpray paint long neck wine bottles. Use black tape and glitter or gem tape to make Santa's characteristic belt buckle. Complete the look with feather boa strands. Add foliage or a solar light for either a vase or a lamp.
Making a Christmas Flower CrownThis Tahitian craft uses banana leaves, fresh flowers, and plant leaves to make a beautiful crown traditionally worn there for Christmas. If you don't have the fresh plants used here, substitute ribbon for the base and use faux flowers. The steps to complete this project can be found below.
Making a Coconut Fiber Christmas TreeFiber from the inside of a coconut husk was used to create this rejuvenated faux Christmas tree. The greenery was cut back and the fiber used to replace it to make an island Christmas tree.
DIY Pine Cone VaseBuy or gather some small pine cones. Then glue them to the outside of a recycled can; spray paint and fill with flowers and foliage for a lovely pine cone vase to display in your home for the holidays.
Rainbow Christmas CountdownUse rainbow colored construction paper to make a cute Christmas countdown chain. Hang it in a central spot in your home using a pipe cleaner and have the kids tear off a link everyday until Christmas.
DIY Animated Christmas Hearth ShirtGo all out for an ugly sweater party and make your own uniquely designed shirt. The instructions needed to create this DIY animated Christmas hearth shirt are found below.
DIY Wire Star Christmas Tree TopperFashion a wire star shaped Christmas tree topper using 16g craft wire. See how to make one below.
Making Rainbow Pinecone OrnamentsPaint pinecones in rainbow colors. Add a twine loop for hanging, a bow, and a bell if you like. These are easy and fun to make holiday ornaments.
Making a Rainbow Unicorn OrnamentA foam plate, colorful scraps of tulle, and a glitter paper horn transform into a rainbow unicorn ornament to adorn your tree or a child's room.
Making a Paper Ballerina Gingerbread OrnamentDraw or trace a gingerbread cookie shape and then embellish with crafts supplies you probably already have. The instructions and supply list for making a ballerina gingerbread ornament can be found below.
Making a Paper Snow Globe OrnamentConstruction paper, acrylic paint, glue, and a pipe cleaner for the hanger are the only supplies that you need to make this cute paper snow globe ornament. This is a good project to make with your children.
Recycled Bottle Gold Leaf Candlestick HoldersGold painted burlap leaves are arrayed around these painted beer bottles. Add a coat of glitter gel before and after attaching the leaves and a final coat of varnish. They are ready for your candles to add light to your holiday decor.
Painted Drinking Glass Candle HoldersStemmed glasses from a thrift store, such as Habitat for Humanity, can be inverted and painted to look like snowmen. Place a tea light on the base and enjoy your drinking glass candle holders.
Making Coconut Fiber Christmas AngelsUsing the fiber that comes from coconut trees you can create these Christmas angels. Follow the steps found below to make a choir of angles for the holidays.
Making a Faux Christmas Stained Glass CandleholderThis recycled jar project results in a beautiful faux Christmas stained glass candleholder. Draw you pattern on the jar with a permanent marker and paint using paint mixed with Elmer's glue. Add your candle and you are done.
Making a Christmas Wreath ChandelierMake a wreath from faux greenery; then add ribbons, poinsettias, lights, and ornaments. Suspend from the ceiling as a wreath chandelier for the holidays.
Making Christmas Silhouette Candle HoldersFreehand or use printed out silhouette images to create these pretty Christmas candle holders. Once a candle is lit the image will show. The list of supplies and step by step instructions follow. Make several in different colors.
