A few weeks ago, I was walking through Costco looking for Halloween candy when the Holidays suddenly stood up and smacked me in the face. There were Christmas trees beside skeletons and mini chocolate bars displayed by the Christmas poppers.
As I stood there, I finally understood how Tim Burton was inspired to do the Nightmare before Christmas.
Fast forward to a few weeks later, and although I feel like I’m on the late train where all things Holiday are concerned, I am getting into the Christmas crafting thing. Who could resist Michaels, with all the Christmas trees and Santa stickers? The ornaments and the ‘Make your own wreath’ kits?
But before you break out the paint brush, you need some inspiration. If you’re like me, you don’t want to do a craft just to toss it in the box after you’re finished and maybe pull it out during the Holidays. No, you want a craft that becomes part of your Holiday extravaganza, something you’re proud to display year after year.
If that’s what you’re looking for, I HAVE YOUR CRAFT PROJECTS:
Excuse me. I’m just excited to show you 3 practical Christmas crafts you’ll use every year.
Snowy Christmas Window
Brought to you from the crafters at Michaels, this pretty snowy Christmas window would look great above your fireplace mantle. And if you have some chalkboard paint left over from creating your chalkboard wall, it’s a really inexpensive Christmas craft to put together.
Materials
Instructions
NOTE: Use image as a guide throughout project.
Step 1
Paint canvas with two coats of black craft paint. Let dry.
Step 2
Paint canvas with chalkboard paint. Let dry.
Step 3
Frame the edges of the canvas with painter’s tape. Measure out and tape a “tic-tac-toe” pattern with painter’s tape.
Step 4
Use paint marker to trace along the outside edge of the canvas as well as along the inside of each taped off rectangle to create window panes. Let dry.
Step 5
Paint snow in the bottom left corners of each window pane. Let dry.
Step 6
Carefully remove painter’s tape.
Step 7
Optional: Hang a pinecone garland around the top for an added cozy feeling.
Ho Ho Ho Door Wreath
A wreath is a must have during the Holidays, but why stop at just one? I have wreaths all over the place in my house, and save the live evergreen wreaths for outdoors where the pine needles can feel free to drop where they’d like.
I saw this Door Wreath Tutorial on Pinterest, but it’s actually an even easier craft if you pick up a sparkly red wreath from Target. I bought mine for $8.
Step one: Cut two black strips of felt to fit ‘around’ the wreath.
Step two: Cut a ‘buckle’ out of sparkly foam.
Step three: Hot glue the buckle to the felt and the felt to the wreath.
Step four: Cut out your ‘Ho” letters from foam.
Step five: Hot glue your Ho Ho Ho to the foam.
Mason Jar Christmas Centerpiece 
Holy cow, do I ever love mason jars. I can’t believe I ever took them for granted growing up. They’re great for drinking, soap dispensers, and now Christmas centerpieces!
Step One: Find a wooden box you love. Any wooden box will do.
Step Two: Head to your local tree and pick up some smallish pine branches and holly berries. You can just take a few chunks out of your Christmas tree. No one will notice.
Step Three: Place a few mason jars in your wooden box.
Step Four: Artfully arrange pine branches and holly around the jars.
Step Five: Place tea lights or LED candles in the jars and light.
The Holidays are supposed to be fun, and so are Holiday crafts! So break out your glue gun and get busy creating cute and easy family crafts that will be part of your Holiday traditions for years to come.
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