Ideas for Homemade Christmas Decorations

If you're like me, you've probably already collected a box or two of store-bought Christmas decorations. However, sometimes, it's a touch of homemade that can make the holidays more special. What, then, can you make at home, that's indicative of the Christmas season? Here are a few ideas to help you out.

1. Popcorn and cranberry garland: You only need five things for this decoration: A durable sewing needle, thread, a pair of scissors, no-butter microwavable popcorn, and cranberries. First, pop your popcorn and put it into a bowl, and in another bowl, put your cranberries. Now, thread your needle. Make the thread as long or as short as you like, depending on where this is to be hung. Stick the needle through the popcorn and cranberries, piece by piece, in whatever pattern that you want, until you reach near the end of the thread. Cut the thread and make sure it's tied tight at the end, so you don't have to clean up a potential mess. Hang these edible and festive beauties wherever you please.

2. Pincecone garland: All you need for this is a pair of scissors, some ribbon, and pincecones. Collect a bunch of pinecones outside (or purchase some from the store) and make sure they're clean. Tie each pinecone to the ribbon, creating a lovely garland. If you're afraid the pinecones will come off, use a hot glue gun to secure them. If you want to make this garland even prettier, use a light layer of spray glitter, to make it sparkle.

3. Wreaths: Sure, you can purchase these pre-made, but you can have more fun, and be creative, by making your own. Just purchase a plain wreath, and whatever decorations your heart desires, to make it reflect your personality. My ideal wreath would feature holly leaves and berries, with small plastic silver and gold bells and small plastic doves. Be creative!

4. Paper snowflakes: These simple decorations only require paper and scissors. Take a square piece of paper, and fold it over, so it makes one big triangle. Then, fold it in half again, making it into a smaller triangle. Now, at the fold, cut whatever small shapes you want, into it. Be careful that the holes don't run into each other, and make huge holes. When you're done, unfold and unveil you beautiful creation. Make several and tie them together with blue or white thread, and hang them from the ceiling, to make a snowfall.

5. Felt Christmas tree refrigerator magnets: For this, you'll need different colored pieces of felt, posterboard, magnet pieces, scissors, a Sharpie, glitter glue, Elmer's glue, pom poms, and a Christmas tree pattern. Glue a piece of posterboard to the back of a piece of green felt. Use the Sharpie to trace the tree pattern onto the piece of green felt. Cut out the tree. Use other colored felts, glitter glue, and pom poms to decorate your tree. be creative and make your tree pretty. After the front of your tree dries, glue magnet pieces to the back. Let that dry, and put it up on your fridge.

There you have it... five simple decorations you can make right at home, for Christmas.