Christmas Decorations: Deck the Halls, Don't Break the Bank With These DIY Tips
Make your own Christmas ornaments and save big.
Dec. 10, 2010 — -- We all want to make our homes festive for Christmas, but in this economy, what's the best way to dress up a house for less?
Jourdan Crouch, senior associate editor for Country Living Magazine, appeared on "Good Morning America" to tell you how you can decorate your house – with DIY stockings and ornaments – in a family-friendly, budget-conscious way.
She shared ideas that the entire family could get involved in and many of the supplies could come from items you already have at home.
Crouch encouraged people to be creative. These days people are looking for things that seem personal, so putting your own stamp on decorations can mean a lot to someone, she said.
Budget-Friendly DIY Decorations
Fireplace, wreath: Make a wreath using yarn wrapped around Styrofoam balls. The Styrofoam balls are about $3 per dozen at a craft store. Use a little glue to keep the yarn in place. It's festive, lasts year to year and you can match it to your décor, Crouch said.
Apothecary jar filled with bulbs: Take your unused – or burned out – bulbs and put them in an apothecary jar. You can get three jars for $25 at Kmart.
Scrabble tiles: This can be fun for your children. They can create a special holiday message using Scrabble tiles. The tiles also work well as place cards at a holiday dinner.
One-of-a-kind stockings: Make a memorable stocking in a unique retro style. You'll need laminate paper, paper and fabric.
First, iron the laminate on the front and back of the fabric or paper, then cut out a stocking shape pattern (you can find patterns on the Country Living website). Sew both sides of the pattern together (the side you want to be seen should be facing out). If children are involved, you could punch holes around the perimeter and let them sew the edges with yarn.
You can find supplies at www.joann.com
Glass ornaments: You can give your glass ornaments some flair by taking the top off and filling them with peacock feathers, a branch, coffee beans, or any other colorful items that you have around the house. Use a little glue to keep it in place and you'll have a unique ornament. This is also a great activity for the kids.
You can get materials at www.michaels.com
Flowers: Put a poinsettia stem in a floral tube. You can get them from the florist or online for about 25 cents each. Use little ribbons to tie the tubes to your Christmas tree. Don't forget to fill the tubes with water.
You can find floral tubes at www.lcmlab.com
Chandelier crystals: Chandelier crystals can make fun ornaments. Just thread some ribbon through the hole on each crystal and hang them on your tree. The kids can do this, too. When the light hits them, they'll sparkle on the tree.
You can find chandelier crystals at www.ebay.com
Stamped tags: Your children can use a rubber stamp on old-fashioned gift or price tags to create a masterpiece that they'll love seeing on the tree. You can also use them as gift tags.
Tree lights: Lights made of mercury glass are great. They almost double as ornaments and give your tree a retro look. They cost a bit more – about $45 for a 15-foot strand – but they're perfect if you want something special.
You can get mercury glass lights at www.carmelbaycompany.com
Galvanized tub to dress up tree stand: A galvanized tub adds a rustic kind of charm, but it's practical, too.