Holiday backdrop. With a little paint, a board (or even a large piece of paper) can be transformed into a backdrop perfect for holiday photographs. If using a board, paint it white and allow it to dry. Then use a stamp with a wintry motif to print a repeating pattern in black. A small board can work as wall art or as an accent behind interior vignettes, as seen here, while a larger board, paper or canvas can be used as a smile-booth background during a holiday party or for family photos.
Felt ornaments. Wool felt is a lovely material to work with, and these ornaments couldn’t be easier. Use a simple template (a tree or star cookie cutter would work well) to trace and cut out shapes from a piece of felt. Thread a loop through the top using embroidery floss or twine, and slide a wooden bead onto the loop as a finishing touch.
Paper advent garland. You can whip up this advent calendar in a matter of minutes: Simply tie small paper gift bags with ribbon of varying lengths to a branch, and label each bag with a numbered tag. Embellish the branch with colorful string or paint if you wish, and hang it from the mantle or on the wall.
Hanging Hanukkah calendar. Celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah with a small gift to open after lighting the menorah. This wall hanging uses boxes wrapped in paper stamped with an olive branch motif (symbolizing peace) using an easy potato-print stamping technique.Get the project instructions here
Personal ObjectsThink outside the box and try to include objects with meaning or personal items that will charm your recipient. These Christmas tree–shaped tags are made from old road maps and show places that both the giver and receiver have visited together. Use a Christmas tree template, a tag or a cookie cutter to outline the shape onto the paper and simply cut it out. It is an affordable and easy method for reusing old paper as personalized tags.
Candy trees. If your taste for holiday table settings runs toward the fun and over-the-top, consider this easy candy DIY for your next party. Pick up a few foam cones of varying heights from the crafts store and use dabs of royal icing to completely cover them with rows of hard candies and peppermints. Position the cones down the center of the table and fill in with swags of greenery.
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