As the holiday season winds closer to the big day, it’s easy to run out of time for all the crafts and projects you had hoped to make. But maybe some of these easy Christmas crafts will be just the ticket to fulfilling your creative dreams before the holidays come to a close. From ornaments to display ideas and everything in between, these festive craft projects are the perfect way to scratch that crafty itch in a thrifty way.
Clothespin Ornaments
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Vintage brooches with broken clasps are an ideal focal point on DIY Christmas ornaments that are made from clothespins. Even if they’re missing stones or are still in good condition, they add sparkle to your tree instead of sleeping in a jewelry box.
Easy Christmas Crafts for the Porch
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An old sled isn’t the preferred way to glide down a snowy hill anymore. But it sure is cute when propped up on your front porch during the holiday season! You can decorate it with all sorts of things: a wreath, a pair of skates, or even mittens like these (which were made from a thrift store sweater!).
Brass Candlestick Ornament Display
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Ok, ok, this isn’t exactly a Christmas craft, per se. But hear me out: Display your favorite vintage ornaments (or new!) in mismatched brass candlesticks. Don’t they look festive and fabulous this way? And if you’re a fan of vintage ornaments, especially Shiny Brites, then you’ll want to give this post a read, as well…
Mason Jar Lid Ornaments
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There are any number of easy Christmas crafts that involve mason jars, but this one focuses solely on the lids. Specifically, the band or ring portion of a mason jar lid. They are super easy to upcycle into darling wreath ornaments using craft supplies you probably already have in your stash.
Unique Luminaries
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Admittedly, the hardest part of this craft idea is finding the old lightbulb cages. But once you do, this turns into one of the easiest Christmas crafts ever because all that’s left is rolling some paper into the cage and adding an LED candle! I used vintage sheet music for this project but you could use other pretty Christmas paper ephemera, as well.
Easy Christmas Crafts for the Mantel
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Habitat ReStores are usually well-stocked with cabinet doors in various sizes, which makes them perfect for easy Christmas crafts like this. They are ideal for transforming into faux “gifts” that look fabulous atop your mantel, leaning against the wall. So, if you’re in need of a festive mantelscape that doesn’t take long to make, then this is DEFINITELY the craft project for you.
Paper Trees
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
These recycled paper trees are a fun and easy Christmas craft to make with all sorts of paper. Book pages, sheet music, old Christmas cards- you name it. These secret to their cuteness is the torn edges and the vintage receipt spikes that you use to make them.
Christmas Decor with Ornament Boxes
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Once your vintage ornaments are hung on the tree, the empty boxes might be festive enough to use as Christmas decor, as well. Stacked like a Christmas tree so you can appreciate the graphics printed on the sides, it’s a fun and unexpected way to decorate for the holidays. Sometimes, easy Christmas crafts aren’t really crafts at all, eh?
Christmas Card Box
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If you’re anything like me, you keep a few Christmas cards each year- cherished memories from loved ones or just really adorable cards you can’t bear to toss. So, a storage box like this (upcycled from a thrift store find) is the perfect thing for storing them year after year.
Switchplate Cover Ornaments
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Here’s an unusual ornament craft idea, but hear me out: inexpensive switch plate covers from hardware stores or thrift shops like Habitat ReStore! They are super cheap and easy to work with, which is perfect if you’re planning an ornament-making party for kids or adults, alike.
Displaying Antique Postcards
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Vintage Christmas postcards are a favorite collectible, and there are lots of ways to display them. This one utilizes vintage scrub brushes as display stands, but old flower frogs (the sharp kind) are another favorite method. I’ve also framed vintage Christmas postcards, as well- which is an alternative display idea, too.
Embroidery Hoop Wreath
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Extra large embroidery hoops are a wonderful craft supply to create door wreaths with. There are lots of ways to do this, but showcasing some fabulous seasonal fabric is one of the most simple and straightforward ways to do this.
Easy Christmas Crafts with Toy Trucks
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Vintage toy trucks are one of the best pieces to tinker with when it comes to easy Christmas crafts and decoration ideas. You can always fill the beds with bottlebrush trees for a more traditional look (like this one here), but I’m also partial to the “hauling logs from the peppermint tree forest” like this one here. And you can snack on the peppermint sticks all season long, too- bonus!
Thread Cone Trees
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Old thread cones in the right colors (hello, green and red) are the perfect thing to upcycle into darling little tabletop tress this Christmas season. And they’re SO easy to make- all you need is pretty sequins and glue!
Canning Jar Lid Ornaments
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Canning jar lids and vintage wrapping paper might not be a pairing you’ve ever put together before. But look how cute they are together as DIY Christmas ornaments. And the truth is, you could use any number of items in place of wrapping paper: old Christmas cards, photos, etc.
Cola Crate Ornament Display
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A vintage soda crate with large enough openings is the perfect thing for displaying some of your most prized ornaments. Not only is this incredibly easy to do, there’s a bonus: you can use the crate to store the ornaments throughout the rest of the year, too!
Vintage Snow Shoe Wreath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A vintage snow shoe– or even a newer one- is definitely not the typical Christmas wreath. But, not only is it fun to decorate with greenery and ribbon, but the shoe itself is a fun way to show off a few of your favorite Christmas cards, as well.
Easy Christmas Crafts to Make and Upcycle
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December is often a blur of parties, deadlines, and shopping chaos. But it’s also a great time of year to stretch your creative muscles, as well- if you can find the time! So, instead of taking on big DIY projects this holiday season, a few easy Christmas crafts may be the ticket to a creative holiday season instead. And hopefully, some of these ideas were just what you’ve been looking for.
Happy Holidays and Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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