It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you’re looking for new ways to spice up your holiday or trying to find easy and cheap gifts for the ones you love, creating them is always a good option. All of these crafts are easy, and cost no more than $2 to make.
Personalized Plates:
These plates can be used for serving delicious christmas treats or a special (and easy) homemade gift. All you need for this project is a ceramic plate (white plates allow the markers to show up better) and permanent markers. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take the ceramic plate ($1 at the Dollar Tree), and draw or write whatever you wish with the permanent markers. Allow time for the markers to completely dry to avoid smearing. Next, place the plate in the oven for 10 minutes. “Baking” the plate allows the permanent markers to seal onto the plate, so the colors won’t fade after washing. Once the 10 minutes are up, leave the plate on a flat surface to cool. Once your new and beautifully designed plate is cooled off, you’re free to use it or give it away. This could be done on any ceramic surface, such as mugs or bowls as well.
Festive Clothespins:
For this easy project, all you need is felt of your choice ($0.90 per sheet at Michael’s), a clothespin, and glue (felt glue or hot glue work the best). Choose the holiday shape you want to put on the clothespin, and lightly sketch it out on the felt. Once you’ve successfully sketched the desired design, cut it out and glue it onto the clothespin. When the glue is dry, use the clothespin to hang pictures or to embellish anything you want.
Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes:
This craft is easy as well as fun for children of all ages, and puts a twist on cutting out paper snowflakes for the holidays. What you’ll need for this project is a package of white pipe cleaners ($0.99 per package at Michaels) and a hot glue gun. Take four pipe cleaners and cut them all in half. Use four of the halves and find the middle of each half. Glue all the halves at their center point together and let them dry. Get the other four halves and cut them in half again, these will be used for the fringe on the snowflake. Twist the little pieces around the snowflake however you wish, and trim if needed. To finish the project, glue all the intersected places together with the hot glue gun, and wait for it to dry before using the snowflake. Optional: If you wish to hang your snowflake, just take some clear string, tie it around the center, and hang where you wish.
Christmas Present Frames:
Many people have framed photographs hanging on their walls of their homes, but when Christmas time comes around, they don’t know how to make them look festive. A simple way to change up your decor to fit your holiday cheer is to wrap them.Take your choice of wrapping paper and measure out the front side of the picture frame (be sure to add an inch or so to your calculations so you have room to wrap the edges). Once you’ve measured the frame, cut the wrapping paper accordingly and place the frame in the center of the paper so that the back of the frame is facing up. Take the sides of the wrapping paper, fold them over, and tape them down, as if you were wrapping a gift. When the wrapping is all done, take a bow of any size and place it on the wrapped frame. Finally take the frame and hang back up on the wall where it was before.
These ideas came from several online sharing sites and crafting stores. They’re easy and fun to make for all ages. Enjoy!
~Laken Richer