80+ Easy-to-Make Christmas Decorations That Won’t Cost Much

We all love and enjoy making Christmas decorations, not just because it is a budget-friendly way, but also because it gives us a chance to bring out our creativity. You can go out and buy all sorts of items from the market, yet the satisfaction of decorating the house with pieces made at home is beyond words. If you aren’t a good DIYer, don’t fret: We have compiled an exhaustive list of easy DIY Christmas decorations that are beautiful to look at and don’t require much effort to make. Pick one of your choice, and you will surely enjoy the personal touch it will lend to your home this Christmas.

Table of contents

• Paper
• Paper cups
• Wood
• Pine cones
• Mason jar
• Glass bottles
• Cork
• Yarn
• Macrame
• Popsicle sticks
• DIY Christmas tree toppers
• Unique

Paper Spirals

Christmas paper crafts look great and are easy to make. This is why they are considered last-minute decorations. One of the simplest ideas of the lot, fold scrapbook paper in the shape of a triangle, using a spiral marker cut in each groove. Now fasten the ends with tape, and you have a flowery accessory ready. For the full tutorial, head over to Happiness is Homemade.

Honeycomb Paper Tree

This quick-to-make honeycomb paper tree is a stunning DIY tabletop Christmas tree. You will need a Christmas tree template with five pointed sides and fold it in half, lengthwise. Next, cut the chart in half and fold it multiple times. Ensure that you get a length equal to your template. Now, keep the folded end inward and place the folded template on it, ensuring the spines are aligned. Trace the outline and cut. Follow the tutorial for complete instructions.

3D Paper Star

Looking for an easy DIY Christmas decoration that makes a cool star topper for your tree? A 3D paper star is just what you need. Once the star is ready, you can place it on the Christmas tree or have a string attached to it. Using the string, you can hang it down from the ceiling or the fireplace mantel. Learn the trick of folding paper into a 3D paper star on Gathering Beauty.

Glittery Reindeer Art

You can create delightfully appealing decorations using minimal supplies. Have a look at this sparkling reindeer that’s been made using white paper, sparkle, and glue. If you have basic drawing skills, you have got this one. Have your child draw a reindeer for you. Now you or the kid can fill the outlines with some glue and sprinkle color sparkle over it. Wait until it is dry, and blow off the extra glitter (not sticking with glue) using a dryer. See the full tutorial at Inspiration For Moms.

Paper Christmas Tree

Add a touch of rustic warmth to your décor by making this miniature paper Christmas tree. To create this, you’ll need some cardstock, scissors, a paper cone (which will be the base you’ll work on), a hot glue gun to fix things to the cone, faux berry branches, and some fake snow. Go through the tutorial at Place of My Taste.

Paper Snowflake Garland

You have to make snowflakes from paper for this project. After making a few snowflakes, you can easily string them up in the form of a garland. It can be used to decorate windows and doors. See our tutorial for help.

Multicolored Paper Flowers

If you wish to try something truly unique, these paper flowers are a must-try. You need very few supplies, and what makes these creations interesting is the use of multicolored paper. You can use these flowers with the Christmas tree, as a part of a centerpiece, or just anywhere in the house. If you want to make it more interesting, you can write down family members’ names on these. Full tutorial is available at The Links Site.

DIY Paper Angels

The festive season is all about magic and imagination. These paper angels stand as a testimony that you can bring the magical charm inside your house when you choose to DIY. You can upcycle the old newspaper or scrap paper to make these paper angels. Hang them around the Christmas tree or anywhere in the living room. Get the full tutorial from The Navage Patch.

Paper Cup Bells

Make Christmas-themed bells out of paper cups and decorate your home for the festive season. A few paper cups, ribbons, pipe cleaners, paint, and glitter are what you’ll require to make this DIY project. Begin by painting the cups in the desired color, then use pipe cleaners to connect beads and jingle bells, and tie up the ribbon. Full tutorial on First Palette.

Plastic Cup Twirlers

An easy-to-make Christmas decoration that will help you deck out walls and windows effortlessly. All you need is some plastic cups, scissors, and a ribbon. Cut the cups in the form of a spiral string from top to bottom, tie them up like a garland using the ribbon, and hang them on a wall. See the tutorial at I Can Teach My Child.

Plastic Cup Christmas Wreath

You will need Red Solo disposable cups, a decorative ribbon, glittered floral pieces, scissors, and a hot glue gun to make this Christmas Wreath. Just glue cups together in the shape of a wreath and decorate with ribbon and floral decorations. A complete tutorial on Living Locurto.

Plastic Cup Snowman

How about making a cute snowman for Christmas decorations using disposable glasses? If you wish to try, you’ll need to create the snowman from a bunch of plastic cups (around 250 pieces) and a lot of staples to bind them together.

As you all know snowman is made of two sections, a rounded bottom, and a top. So, start attaching plastic cups using a stapler until you get a good full circle. After this, create another one, a bit smaller this time, to form your snowman’s head.

After fixing the head and the body, adorn your snowman with paper balls to make eyes, a nose, a mouth, and buttons. Also, wrap a lovely scarf around his neck, and give him a matching woolen or Christmas cap to wear. To make it look more charming at night, place a lamp inside the hollow structure. Tutorial on Colorcitos.

Paper Cups Santa Claus

Try this amazing DIY to create miniature Santa Claus figurines. Paper cups and a few more supplies are all you need. You can make one in less than five minutes and then repeat the process if you want more figurines. Once completed, you can place these in the kitchen, bedroom, living room, or anywhere you think they would look nice. Watch the full tutorial on YouTube.

Christmas Popcorn Treat Cups

You can keep it simple by opting for this easy DIY, where all you need to do is paint the paper or plastic cups in a fun way. Once created, simply put them on the dining table or kitchen countertop. They serve a dual purpose as they add a festive charm to your home while serving the crunchy popcorn for the family or guests. Find out the full tutorial at The Littles and Me.

Gingerbread Cup Cottage

Create an adorable gingerbread-style cottage using a simple paper cup for a festive decorative accent. This easy DIY project adds a sweet touch of gingerbread charm to your seasonal décor and makes a fun, creative activity for the holidays. Find out the full tutorial at Baker Ross.

Tabletop Christmas Tree From Twigs

You don’t need to use real Christmas trees in different corners of your home. You can simply make an alternative Christmas tree using tree branches, faux greenery, pinecones, baubles, and any other decorations you have. See the tutorial at Shabby Art Boutique.

Twig Tabletop Tree

Glue sticks on top of one another, starting from the longest to the smallest. You can simultaneously tie them together with a craft wire or twine to ensure they are in place. Once you achieve the tree shape, add ornaments of your choice and display. Here is the tutorial.

Also Read: 100+ Christmas Tree Alternatives You can DIY This Year

Christmas Tree From Broken Tree Branch

Make a rustic alternative Christmas tree from a long fallen tree branch and other decorations. Just put it in a planter and fill it with sandstone. Finally, decorate with blue-colored ornaments, burlap pieces, and lights. See full details at Little Red Bag Productions.

Green Tabletop Christmas Tree

Create a whimsical tabletop Christmas tree using a Styrofoam cone and an old faux pine garland. You need to wrap and hot glue the garland around the cone. A thin birch wood branch is used as the trunk of the tree, while a wide birch wood log is used as the base. See the DIY process at The Navage Patch.

Bottlebrush Christmas Tree

The sisal bottlebrush tree is a good way to create a small display at home. The brush can be painted in desired colors (preferably green), or you can even make one on your own. Check out the tutorial at Smile Mercantile.

Birchwood Christmas Wreath

If you want to bring natural elements into your Christmas home decor, decorate your home with this octagon-shaped birch wood wreath by Love Create Celebrate. It is made from birch wood pieces that are cut on both ends so that they attach seamlessly. You need to be careful while making cuts on the birch wood pieces. Maintain the classic red and green theme; this all-natural Christmas wreath is decorated with foliage, pinecones, berries, and ribbons.

Pallet Wood Christmas Tree

It is time to repurpose those wooden pallets that you have crammed up in your store or garage. Create a unique Christmas scene for your front porch by making a colorful Christmas tree with wood pallets. Attempt this if you have basic woodworking know-how and painting skills.

Once done with woodwork, you’ll need bulbs, LED strips, Christmas balls, and ribbons for the decoration. The pallet Christmas tree will certainly look stunning on your porch with the appropriate Christmas lighting. See the tutorial on Redhead Can Decorate.

Wall Christmas Tree From Twigs

Collect a few broken tree branches from your neighborhood and start binding them to look like a conical tree. You can use sisal or some fabric. All you need is to decorate the wall Christmas tree with colorful ornaments and other festive decorations. Here is the tutorial.

Scrap Wood Chip Christmas Tree

Winter is a time when you can find scrap wood chips in abundance from chopping off logs for the fireplace. Collect these scraps and glue them to form a tree shape. You can spray paint it or leave it as it is. Adorn with lights, beads, pearls, and what have you, and your tabletop tree is ready. Here is the tutorial.

Easy DIY Wooden Christmas Trees

Make easy, budget-friendly DIY wooden Christmas trees using simple framing lumber and basic power tools, suitable for both indoor and outdoor décor. The project is quick to complete, customizable in size, and can be made from inexpensive materials or even scrap wood for a rustic look. With clear measurements and tool requirements, it’s an accessible holiday DIY for adding charming, handmade Christmas accents to your space. Follow the tutorial from Angela Marie Made.

Reclaimed Wood Reindeer

Here is a festive DIY project for creating an outdoor Christmas reindeer using reclaimed and salvaged wood, inspired by a classic holiday favorite. The decoration is simple to make with basic tools like a jigsaw and drill, making it an accessible and meaningful way to reuse old wood. Finished with stain or wax and dressed with greenery, the rustic reindeer adds warm, nostalgic charm to a front door or outdoor space. Find out more at Finding Home Farms.

Pinecone Christmas Tree

The naturally available pinecones can be used to make cute tabletop Christmas decorations. You can even turn them into alternative Christmas trees. While making one, you can use wine corks as the base and paint them. Now add a mini wooden tree topper to enhance the final look.

Ombre Pinecone

If you have an obsession with colorful things, the ombre pinecones by Whimzeecal are a perfect Christmas craft for you. You can paint pinecones in three or four different shades of the same color or different colors, and your decoration is ready.

Pinecone Elves

If you have a creative bent, you can transform pinecones into cute Christmas decorations. Mini wood beads serve as the head, while tubular caps, mufflers, and shoes are made from felt. You can choose colors according to your taste. See the tutorial at Lia Griffith.

Snowy Christmas Village Wreath

Begin by adding a snowy touch to pine cones with a coat of white paint. Transform them into a charming wreath, and enhance the festive vibe by attaching miniature houses and berries. For a step-by-step guide, explore the complete tutorial on Homecrux.

Pinecone Christmas Wreath

Stroll down to a nearby pine forest and collect some pinecones to make an elegant Christmas wreath for your living room. Just glue up the pinecones on a wire wreath frame and decorate them with light strings, artificial foliage, and berries. See the full tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.

Pinecone Christmas Tree

If you live near a wooded area or have access to natural pinecones, you should really try this easy and inexpensive Christmas tabletop tree idea. All you need are tiny pinecones, a paper or foam cone, and hot glue, and that is it. Start by gluing pinecones onto the cone, filling it up with pinecone chips wherever you see a gap. Follow the tutorial here.

Pinecone Ornament

You just need hot glue, a ribbon, and a pinecone for this Christmas craft. Dump a generous amount of hot glue at the base of the pinecone, making sure the ribbon loop stays in place and can hold the weight of the pinecone when it is hung on the tree.

Pinecone Angels

Pinecone Angel Ornaments make a delightful, nature-inspired Christmas craft for kids and adults alike. This project is easy, adorable, and enjoyable for all skill levels, using just a few simple materials, many of which can be gathered right from the forest floor. Find the tutorial at Fireflies and Mud Pies.

Vintage Christmas Pinecone Pixies

This craft shows you how to transform small pinecones into charming vintage-style Christmas pixies using felt, pipe cleaners, a spun cotton doll head, and simple supplies. You assemble and dress the pixies with tiny felt hats, mittens, and shoes, then attach arms and legs to the pinecone body for a whimsical holiday decoration perfect for mantels, windowsills, or under the tree. Find out the complete tutorial at Smile Mercantile.

Mason Jar Christmas Tree

Create a Mason jar base for a small flocked Christmas tree that can be placed on a table or shelf. Paint the jar with white chalk paint. Finally, decorate with a wide-wired buffalo check ribbon; a few fake berries can also be added. See full details on Weekend Craft.

Mason Jar Snow Globe

Decorate your living room for Christmas with a fun, personalized jar snow globe that anyone would love. It is super easy to create using a Mason jar, glitter, glue, mini trees, a snowman, Santa, and fake snow. You can also create one with water inside, but for that, you’ll have to replace simple glue with waterproof craft glue. Jar snow globes are perfect for making DIY toys. See the full tutorial on Tidy Mom.

DIY Snowy Mason Jar Luminaries

Mason jars can easily be turned into snowy Christmas tea light holders. The exterior of the jar, covered in salt, gives a snowy look. Next, decorate it with foliage and twine. See the tutorial on Instrupix.

Handmade Christmas Mason Jars

If you are fond of painting, you can try, and make these festive sweater mason jars. You’ll need to paint the jars with white acrylic craft paint and then make two strips using Washi tape so that you can make elegant patterns on the jars. Further, use a white paint pen to make snowflakes. See the tutorial at It All Started with Paint.

Also Read: Christmas Tree Ornaments You can DIY This Year

Painted Mason Jar Snowman 

Snowman and Santa are two popular Christmas figures that you can make with the help of Mason jars. Before you start painting the jar, don’t forget to tape the areas where you will be drawing the eyes and mouth, etc. Check out the full tutorial at Sustain My Craft Habit.

Painted Wine Bottle Tabletop Christmas Tree

Christmas is a great opportunity to reuse wine bottles for creating hand-painted decorative accents. Have a look at this embellished wine bottle that you can make for your space. A hand-painted wine bottle can be a fun addition to your home, a gift for a loved one, or a centerpiece for your living room table. See the tutorial at Ann’s Entitled Life.

Chalkboard Paint Wine Bottle  

Make use of empty wine bottles by creating an array of chalkboard paint Christmas-themed wine bottles. It is a fun project that you can do in under a day. You will need to paint the bottles with chalkboard paint and write the desired messages with chalk. The messages can be erased and rewritten, just in case you want to.

DIY Wine Cork Christmas Tree

If you can’t part with old wine corks, then turn them into a whimsical cork tree that will surely win the hearts of your guests. We love this idea since it can add spice to a dinner table or mantel. To create a tree, you will need a lot of corks, one small or large Styrofoam cone (depending on how tall you want the tree), a red ribbon, a battery-powered string of lights, and a hot glue gun.

Start gluing corks in an upright position around a Styrofoam cone, leaving a small space between each cork for the battery-powered light string to fit in. When done, glue up another layer of corks randomly. Once you reach the top, glue a bow, star, or small ornament of your choice to give the tree a festive appeal. You can even wrap a red ribbon around the cork tree. Check out the tutorial at Kendall Jackson.

Wine Cork Reindeer

Wine corks can be used to create a tiny reindeer to bring a lot of cuteness to your coffee table. Creating the reindeer is easy; even kids can try it. In addition to a few corks, you will need screw pins, springs, and a few embellishments to shape up the reindeer’s face.

Miniature Yarn Christmas Tree

Have you ever come across a mini Christmas tree made of yarn or thread? If not, have a look at this super easy-to-DIY and lovely Christmas tree by A Beautiful Mess. It is made using a paper cone and colorful yarn wrapped around it evenly. A star topper is added for a finished look. These little trees will surely spruce up your Christmas decor. You can use different tabletop Christmas tree ideas from Homecrux as well.

DIY Snowman Using Balloons and String

You can reduce the costs of Christmas decorations with your DIY skills. It is not too difficult to DIY a stunning snowman Christmas decoration using balloons and string. Making balls from strings will take some time, but it is an easy project.

DIY Yarn Gnome Ornament

You can easily make this yarn gnome ornament by using a toilet paper roll and knitting yarn. Follow the tutorial for detailed instructions.

Yarn Foam Ball Ornament

Wrap a foam ball with sparkly yarn and turn it into an ornament. It is as easy as it sounds. Here is the tutorial.

DIY Yarn Garland

This super cute DIY banner garland will make your home ready for the most wonderful time of the year. It is made out of layered tassels. See the tutorial at The Beetique Blog.

Macrame Christmas Stars

This Bohemian-inspired wall decoration will add a beautiful essence to your home. You can also add fairy lights to make it more festive. Check out the full tutorial at Gathered.

Macrame Christmas Trees

These cute little tabletop trees add a perfect touch to any Christmas scene. You need to weave macramé around a wooden frame. The project is difficult. But you can get help at Hometalk.

Popsicle Stick Snowflakes Wall Decor

You can create wall decoration pieces for Christmas using only ice cream sticks and glue. Wondering how? Have a look at these beautiful snowflake wall decor by Unsophisticook. Anybody can make them in no time using popsicles and draped walls in the Christmas spirit.

Popsicle Christmas Decoration

You can make a festive Popsicle stick craft window easily with just a few simple materials. The main task is to glue the Popsicle stick in a good-looking way. You can also use fabric and other decorations for elegance. See the full tutorial at Little Bins for Little Hands.

Gilded Popsicle Stick Garland

Popsicles are great for crafting Christmas decorations. You can even turn them into festive garlands. If you are interested in making one, this is a perfect option. Just glue up the popsicles, write some wording, and hang them wherever you want. See the full tutorial at Pars Caeli.

Glitter Paper Star Tree Topper

How different your Christmas tree looks depends mainly on how well you decorate it. When it comes to decorating, a tree topper is what makes or breaks the charm. If you haven’t found a unique star topper you wanted for your tree, try making one using paper and glitter. Catch the full tutorial on Lia Griffith.

Wire Star Tree Topper

It can be fun to try making a star topper for your Christmas tree using a wire hanger. To make one, you need to bend the wire hanger into the shape of a star and attach pom-poms to it using thread.

Tiny House Garland

This is a substantial project that requires crafting miniature houses from white foam paper as the initial step. Once done, string them into a charming garland, adding lights for a grand finishing touch. For step-by-step guidance, visit the tutorial.

Burlap Wreath

Transform a basic wreath using burlap ribbon! Simply glue one end to the wreath, twist, and secure until the base is fully covered. Embellish with berry bunches and red ribbon bows, then finish off with a festive touch, a plaid ribbon at the top. Check out the tutorial for step-by-step guidance.

Mini Christmas Tree Wreath

First of all, take a grapevine wreath and then bend it into the shape of a tree. Next, you have to wrap faux garland around it, ensuring full coverage. You can also glue ornaments for a festive touch. Here is the tutorial for the mini tree wreath.

Christmas Ornaments Wreath

Create a festive wreath in minutes! Grab a grapevine wreath base, add faux green garland, and top it off with ornaments. Check out the tutorial for easy steps.

Pom Pom Wreath

Grab red, white, and green pom-poms for this fun DIY project. Stick them randomly on the base, and then top it off with a twisted burlap ribbon. Find all the details on Homecrux.

Wooden Beads Garland

This is a simple and easy project; the only requirement is wooden beads. If you have some, you just need to string them to a twine. Finally, add some jute twine tassels for a boho touch. Read the tutorial for help.

Christmas Star Garland

Red, Green, and White foam sheets are used to cut stars, and then you simply string them up in a garland. Hang this garland on your window, door, fireplace mantel, or an empty wall. You can check out the tutorial.

Snowman Christmas Wreath

Here is an adorable Christmas wreath idea to make your front door inviting at Christmas. You will love crafting this lovely grapevine snowman wreath this year to adorn your door. To craft it, you require three different-sized grapevine wreaths, a hat, a scarf, and little adornments to give it a Christmas appeal. You can also glue pine tree shrubs on grapevine wreaths to give them a natural appeal. See the tutorial on Sweet Little Bluebird.

Berry Wreath

Christmas without wreaths has no charm. Instead of buying an expensive one from the market, consider creating this low-priced, lovely berry wreath. The wreath is created using only a few artificial berries, a wreath form, and a hot glue gun. You will instantly fall in love with its charming appeal and two colors (red and white) that justify Christmas festivities in the best way. For more clarification on how you can also make one, jump over to the full tutorial at That’s What Che Said.

Vintage Christmas Ornaments Wreath

Full of colors, this vintage-inspired DIY Christmas wreath is made from glass ornaments and tinsel garland. Just glue them over a wreath form and finally decorate with tinsel. It can be prepared in a few hours. See full details at Inspired by Charm.

No-Sew Sock Snowman

How about creating a cute snowman using a single sock? We are in love with this adorable little craft that anyone can create at home. To make it, you have to fill a sock with some rice. Once you are happy with its size, tie the top using a rubber band or thread. Also, tie it from the middle to differentiate the snowman’s head and body. Once you achieve a definite shape, affix a button, eyes, and wrap a scarf to complete its look. See more details on Handimania.

Christmas Gnomes

These cute little tomte gnomes are quirky decorations for Christmas. If you have a creative hand, you can make one using an old sock. They can be used to decorate the mantel, bookshelves, and console tables. See the tutorial at Love Our Real Life.

Plastic Straw Tabletop Christmas Tree

You can beautifully embellish your Christmas tree or ceiling with adorable decorative accents made using plastic straws and metallic spray paint. Watch the video below, and learn how you can use plastic straws for Christmas decorations. A full DIY tutorial is available on Make Film Play.

Also Read: DIY Christmas Garland Ideas – The Ultimate Roundup

DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

Learn how to make a simple wall-hanging Advent calendar out of a copper pipe at Growing Spaces. Place an optimally sized branch horizontally and attach different-sized strings to it on which the dates will hang. The dates here are made of copper pipe pieces.

DIY Light Balls

If you want a unique lighting effect in your backyard, make these DIY light balls. These lighted ornamental balls around the lawn will make a merry effect. They are relatively easy to make. You’ll require chicken wire, small wire cutters, a measuring tape, gloves, and LED mini lights to create them. Start with wrapping wire in the shape of a ball and covering it with a colorful LED light strip. Find the tutorial on Christmas Lights Etc.

Sequin Sparkle Balls

Want to add colorful, unique, and handmade ornaments to your Christmas tree? Then this DIY is definitely for you. Have a look at this beautiful sequin sparkle ball that your kids can create easily. They will love decorating the Christmas tree using their own crafty skills. To create the sequin sparkle balls, kids would need to add sequins to a foam ball using T pins. It can be embellished with different types of decoration items since there is so much space to showcase creativity.

DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Decorations 

Want to involve kids in decorating your home? You can engage them in creating cute little Christmas-themed decorations from toilet paper rolls. From snowmen to elves, there are different things to try. You will need basic craft supplies like paper, cardboard, colors, pom poms, buttons, googly eyes, etc. See full details at The Best Ideas for Kids.

Faux Mercury Glass Vases

If you have a desire to decorate your home or dining table with mercury glass vases for Christmas, The Paper Mama has a cool idea for you. Clean the glassware thoroughly and spray a layer of mirrored paint on the outside. Repeat until you are satisfied with the appearance.

Christmas Tree Made of Books

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to make a Christmas tree from books? You are in luck if you have a collection of books stashed somewhere, collecting dust. To create a Christmas tree, form a pile of books in the shape of a Christmas tree, with bigger books forming a firm base and the shape getting narrower as you progress to the top. When it finally takes a pyramid-like shape, light up your book Christmas tree with colorful LED strips to give it a festive appeal. And when the festivity is over, you can store your books on a bookshelf (not leave them to bite the dust again).

Christmas Card Display

A Christmas cardholder can provide a beautiful way to showcase your memories. There are many different ways: you can hang them on a wall or just create a wooden holder. You can get the full tutorial for the latter at Jenna Burger.

Cypress Evergreen Wreath

Try this beautiful cypress evergreen wreath with nothing but a ring wreath base, burlap ribbon, and lots of cypress branches. It is easy to make and looks great. Here is the tutorial.