Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

From LoveToKnow Crafts

Decorating for the holidays can be a creative experience when you make your own Christmas decorations. Guests will be inspired by your home's unique holiday beauty, and you'll be proud to show off your space.

Advantages of Making Your Own Holiday Decorations

For many crafters, Christmas is a particularly creative time of year. You're making gifts for friends and family, baking cookies, cooking a big meal, and coming up with exciting ways to wrap gifts. There are several reasons you might want to throw in some additional creativity with homemade Christmas decorations.

Making your own holiday decorations immediately makes your home feel more personal and interesting. You won't see the exact same decorations in your neighbor's living room.
You'll save money when you create Christmas decorations yourself, rather than buying them in the store. With a few inexpensive supplies, you'll have lots of beautiful decorations.
When you create your own decorations, you can have the exact holiday look you want. You don't have to settle for a color or style that isn't quite right, since you can choose materials to complement your theme.

Regardless of why you're making your own festive creations this Christmas, you can show off your creativity with a few of these fun projects!

No Sew Holiday Table Runner

Making a table runner is a fast and easy way to add some holiday style to your dinner table. With a few simple supplies and a little time, you'll have a holiday table you'll be proud to show off. This project is so easy, you'll be creating table decorations for every holiday!

Things You'll Need

Pretty Christmas fabric in yardage to fit your table
Matching ribbon and trim
Iron-on hemming tape
Iron
Pinking shears

What to Do

Measure your table to determine the length of the fabric. The table runner should hang off the table just slightly on either end. Add two inches to the desired length and width, and cut the fabric with your pinking shears.
Use the iron to fold one inch of fabric under on all sides of the table runner.
Apply the hemming tape to the edges, and use the iron to set the tape.
Use additional hemming tape to decorate the table runner with ribbon, fringe, or other attractive trims.

Fun Beaded Icicle Christmas Ornaments

If you love beading and love the holidays, you probably already know that there are tons of great Christmas crafts using beads. You can easily make beaded icicle Christmas ornaments to trim your tree or attach to gifts. You'll be able to create endless variations using some basic supplies.

Things You'll Need

Medium-gauge wire
Wire cutters
Small beading pliers or needle-nose pliers
Selection of glass beads in fun holiday colors
Small jingle bells

What to Do

Use the wire cutters to cut a piece of wire that is approximately eight inches long.
With your pliers, form one end of the wire into a decorative hook or loop.
Select beads and string them onto the wire from the other end. Allow about an inch and a half of wire to remain unbeaded.
String a jingle bell onto the wire. Using the pliers, bring the wire up and wrap it around itself just above the jingle bell. Be sure to leave enough room for the bell to swing freely.

Holiday Wreath for the Front Door

When guests arrive at your home for the holidays, the first thing they'll notice is this festive holiday wreath. All the materials for this project are available at your local craft store, and the steps can easily be performed in an hour or two. Soon, you'll be welcoming guests with the sound of jingle bells.

Things You'll Need

Sturdy wire
Several packages of jingle bells in your desired color
Pretty holiday ribbon
Pliers and wire cutters

What to Do

Using the wire cutters and pliers, form the wire into an open circle. This circle will be roughly the size of your wreath.
Starting at one end, string the jingle bells onto the wire. Make sure you fit as many bells as possible onto the wreath by turning the bells in different directions.
Use the pliers to connect the two ends to form a circle.
With the ribbon, make a large bow to cover the area where the wire is joined. Next, use the ribbon to make a hanging loop.

It's Easy to Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

Whether you're decorating you holiday table or trimming the tree, it's easy to deck the halls in style with homemade decorations. The holidays are a busy time, especially for crafters. However, even if you're short on time, you can make your own Christmas decorations to bring a little extra holiday cheer to your home.

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