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Once the garden is put to bed and the canning shelves are full, my kitchen table turns into a craft table until Christmas. A glue gun, a pile of pinecones, a few dried oranges and whatever I picked up at the thrift store keep my hands busy on those long dark evenings.
Here are 28 xmas crafts from 14 bloggers and makers that I would happily make for my own home. There are wreaths for the door, candles and lanterns, little tabletop trees, cozy fabric projects, gift touches and natural decor you can dry right in your oven. Every one links to the person who made it, with their supplies and steps.
These lean toward grown up crafts for the house. If you are crafting with little ones, see our easy Christmas crafts for kids. For the tree, we have DIY Christmas ornaments, and for the stairs and mantel our Christmas garland ideas.
Wreaths and things to hang on the door
1. Flock a plain wreath so it looks snow dusted
SaveCredit: A Pumpkin and a Princess
A Pumpkin and a Princess turned a plain green wreath into a snowy one with flocking powder and a spray bottle of water. You mist the wreath, shake the powder through a kitchen strainer while you keep spraying, then give it one more mist to seal it.
Do this outside or over a disposable tablecloth, because the powder gets everywhere. A big red velvet bow and a few greenery picks finish it off.
2. Make a Christmas kissing ball
SaveCredit: A Pumpkin and a Princess
This one starts with a foam or artificial greenery ball from the craft store. Hot glue evergreen picks into it, starting with the biggest picks and filling the gaps with smaller ones and longer sprays for shape.
Twist a little loop of floral wire into the top and run a red ribbon through it so it can hang from a doorway or the ceiling. Berries and frosted leaves make it look old fashioned.
3. Embroidery hoop wreath with a candle
SaveCredit: A Pumpkin and a Princess
A large wooden embroidery hoop makes a simple Scandinavian style wreath. Wire two big greenery picks together into a swag, hot glue it across the bottom of the hoop and secure it with floral wire.
Then glue a battery operated taper candle at the center of the base. Look for picks with pine, cotton stems, pinecones and berries all in one so it looks full without much work.
4. Dried orange and eucalyptus hoop wreath
SaveCredit: Kippi at Home
Kippi at Home wired eucalyptus and pine picks to the bottom of a gold metal hoop, then glued three dried orange slices in the center where the stems meet.
A wide velvet bow on top and a long ribbon tail for hanging keep it soft and simple. She glued scraps of ribbon on the back of the oranges to hide the holes, which is a nice tidy touch.
5. Thrifted pinecone wreath with a velvet bow
SaveCredit: The Merrythought
The Merrythought saw a pinecone wreath at Pottery Barn and made her own with a thrifted wreath form, a big bag of thrifted pinecones and hot glue. She says a grapevine form works best.
Use smaller pinecones unless your wreath form is very large, and tuck them in tight so no form shows. A long, loose velvet ribbon tied at the top keeps it from looking too heavy.
6. Bottle brush tree wreath
SaveCredit: Twelve On Main
Twelve On Main built a little snowy forest inside a grapevine wreath. She pulled the bases off a handful of bottle brush trees in mixed sizes, laid them out first, then glued them into the bottom of the wreath with plenty of hot glue.
If a tree is too tall, trim it with wire cutters. Hang it from a wide red ribbon and it looks good on a dark door all winter.
7. Dried apple slice wreath
SaveCredit: Twelve On Main
This one is pure farmhouse. Twelve On Main layered dried apple slices over a little greenery across the bottom of a grapevine wreath.
Lay everything out first, because once it is glued you are stuck with it. Glue the greenery, then overlap the apples in a loose, uneven row so it looks natural. We dry apples every fall anyway, so this is an easy one for us.
8. Felt pine mini wreaths
SaveCredit: Lia Griffith
Lia Griffith made tiny wreaths from strips of pine green wool felt, with little cranberry and pink felt bows. They are sweet on a tree, a cabinet knob or tied onto a gift.
The template and video are part of her membership, and a cutting machine helps, though you can cut by hand. A spray of fabric stiffener keeps the felt bows crisp.
9. Vintage thread spool mini wreath
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
Inspired by Charm glued seven old wooden thread spools into a little ring with E6000, wrapped it with red and white striped ribbon and tucked a sprig of greenery on top.
Look for spools with colorful thread and old paper labels at thrift and antique shops. A toothpick helps put the glue exactly where you want it. If you sew, this one will make you smile.
10. Simple olive branch wreath
SaveCredit: The Happy Housie
The Happy Housie made this one with three faux olive branches, a grapevine form, metal clippers and a few dabs of hot glue. She cut the branches into sections, bent them to follow the curve, and tucked the ends into the grapevine.
It looks right for Christmas and can stay up through January and February when the red comes down.
11. Outdoor Christmas planter with fresh greens
SaveCredit: Clean and Scentsible
Clean and Scentsible filled a porch planter with soil and layered in Douglas fir, silver fir, pine and cedar. The sturdiest branches go in first at the back, then birch logs, then softer boughs draped over the sides.
Finish with pinecones, a decorative pick and twinkle lights. Pack the soil firmly so everything stays put in the wind. If your planter is big, put empty bottles in the bottom so you need less soil.
Candles, lanterns and centerpieces
12. Thrifted vintage glass candles
SaveCredit: The Merrythought
The Merrythought poured her own candles into little thrifted vintage glasses, which make a great gift and a pretty table. You need the glasses, wax, wicks and a heat safe pouring glass with a spout, plus essential oils if you like a scent.
They are simple to pour but need about a day to set fully, so start a few days before you plan to give them. Small glasses make good stocking stuffers.
13. Snowman candles from the dollar store
SaveCredit: A Girl and a Glue Gun
A Girl and a Glue Gun turned tall white dollar store candles into snowmen. Black vinyl dots make the eyes and smile, an orange vinyl strip makes the carrot nose, and a scrap of plaid ribbon becomes the scarf.
She used E6000 for the scarf and buttons, because hot glued buttons popped right off. Line a few up for neighbors or teachers and you are done with those gifts.
14. Snowy mason jar centerpiece
SaveCredit: A Pumpkin and a Princess
A Pumpkin and a Princess brushed mason jars with a thin layer of glue and sprinkled on Epsom salt mixed with a little glitter, so they look frosted. Keep the glue thin or the salt slides down.
Give them 12 to 24 hours to dry and seal them with a clear spray. Fill them with frosted greenery and red berries, tie on a red ribbon and set them on a tray with twinkle lights.
15. Winter paper lanterns
SaveCredit: Lia Griffith
Lia Griffith designed four sided paper lanterns with a different woodland scene on each side and tiny cut circles that look like falling snow. You cut them, score and fold, and glue the four points together with a ribbon loop at the top.
The pattern is for a cutting machine, but a detail knife works if you are patient. Use flameless tea lights and a sheet of frosted vellum inside. They fold flat to store.
16. Foam snowflake candle holder
SaveCredit: Little Red Window
Little Red Window made this from a pack of foam snowflakes from the dollar store. Turn a bowl upside down, arrange the snowflakes over it, and glue them to each other where they overlap.
Once it dries, lift it off, flip it and reinforce any weak spots with glue. Set a pillar candle inside. Use a flameless candle if the flakes come close to the flame.
17. Brass himmeli wreath centerpiece
SaveCredit: Lia Griffith
A himmeli is a Finnish geometric ornament, and Lia Griffith made a 17 inch wreath version from 98 pieces of thin brass tubing strung on craft wire. Needle nose pliers are the only tool you need.
Hang it on the wall with two hanging points so it stays straight, or lay it flat on the table around taper candles like she did. It looks fancy and costs less than you would think.
18. Nut covered tabletop trees
SaveCredit: A Pumpkin and a Princess
A Pumpkin and a Princess covered paper mache cones with mixed nuts in the shell. Walnut halves go on flat side down, hazelnuts fill the gaps, and a few rows of greenery and red berries wrap around the cone.
Set them on a wood slice with a little fake snow. This is a good use for the bag of mixed nuts that sits in the pantry every December.
Little trees and mantel decor
19. Denim Christmas trees from old jeans
SaveCredit: Kippi at Home
Kippi at Home saved the seams, hems and waistbands from old jeans and wrapped them in rows around foam cones, starting at the bottom and hot gluing as she went.
Buttons dot the trees, white ball fringe trims the bottom, and a paper snowflake sits on top. A dowel in a wood slice makes the trunk. Mixing light and dark denim is what makes them look good.
20. Gold tabletop tree from a foil baking sheet
SaveCredit: Craftberry Bush
Craftberry Bush spray painted a foil baking sheet gold, cut it into leaf shapes and pressed a line down the back of each with a pen so the vein shows on the front.
Then she hot glued the leaves around a cone from the bottom up. She says it looks even prettier in person, catching the light from the tree.
21. Wooden peg doll nativity
SaveCredit: Lia Griffith
Lia Griffith painted wooden peg dolls and added little wood balls for hands, felt for head coverings and a tiny wooden bowl for the manger. A wood arch and a star make the stable.
It is a lovely heirloom project for the mantel, and she plans to make extra sets as gifts for family.
22. MERRY letters on a wood plaque
SaveCredit: Mod Podge Rocks
Mod Podge Rocks covered six inch paper mache letters with Christmas scrapbook paper, painted a long wood plaque and glued the word MERRY across it.
Tiny bottle brush trees, a little snowman and some fake snow along the base finish it. It is a beginner project, so it is a good one to do with older kids too.
Cozy fabric crafts, gift touches and natural decor
23. Gingerbread house pillows
SaveCredit: Little Red Window
Little Red Window cut two matching house shapes from brown cotton fabric, drew the frosting details on with a white fabric marker and sewed them into pillows. She stitched them by hand, so you do not even need a machine.
Put scrap paper under the fabric while you draw in case the marker bleeds. They are cute on a bench or a kids bed all December.
24. Jute rope bells from paper cups
SaveCredit: Kippi at Home
Kippi at Home glued jute rope in a spiral around trimmed paper cups to make rustic bells. A twine loop through the bottom of the cup is the hanger, and a jingle bell on a short piece of twine hangs inside as the clapper.
Each one takes a few minutes and costs very little. Tuck a sprig of greenery and a bit of plaid ribbon at the top and hang them in a cluster.
25. Cozy yarn wrapped stars
SaveCredit: The Merrythought
The Merrythought glued craft sticks into star shapes and wrapped them in chunky cream and brown yarn. You need yarn, craft sticks and a glue gun, and two sizes of sticks give you two sizes of stars.
Even the wonky ones look cute. Lean them on the mantel with pine branches or hang one on the wall in place of a wreath.
26. Beaded name gift tags
SaveCredit: Craftberry Bush
Craftberry Bush strung gold letter beads on a piece of wire to spell each person’s name, added a lobster clasp on one end and a little charm on the other, and closed it with pliers.
It goes on the bow of the gift, and afterward it becomes a key chain or purse charm. Most of the supplies are at the craft store or dollar store.
27. Greenery napkin rings
SaveCredit: Pretty Handy Girl
Pretty Handy Girl cut short pieces of faux pine garland with wire cutters, bent each one into a ring and twisted the wire ends together. Garland with bendable wire inside makes it easy.
Pinch any sharp wire ends flat with pliers. Slide them over red buffalo check napkins and the table is done for the price of one garland.
28. Dried oranges, cranberries and preserved leaves
SaveCredit: Bless’er House
Bless’er House dried orange slices, cranberries and pomegranates and preserved magnolia leaves for natural Christmas decor. The oranges are sliced about a quarter inch thick and go in the oven at 200 degrees.
Use them in garlands, wreaths, on the mantel or in a bowl. This is the kind of craft I love most, because it smells like Christmas while it dries.
How to plan a season of Christmas crafts
Start with what you already have. Pinecones from the yard, old jeans, thread spools, mason jars and that bag of nuts in the pantry cover a lot of this list.
Make the door and the table first. A wreath and a centerpiece change how the whole house feels, and they are what guests see.
Keep one hot glue gun and one tray of supplies out all of December. Ten minutes after supper adds up to a lot of finished crafts.
Pick two or three colors and stay with them. Red, green and natural wood always works, and cream with brass or gold feels a little more modern.
Make doubles of anything that would make a nice gift. Candles, beaded name tags, felt wreaths and rope bells are easy to make in a batch.
Xmas crafts FAQ
What are the easiest xmas crafts for adults? Greenery napkin rings, a flocked wreath, snowman candles and beaded name tags each take under an hour with simple supplies. Most of them only need hot glue or E6000.
What xmas crafts can I make to sell or give? Hand poured candles in vintage glass, felt mini wreaths, rope bells, thread spool wreaths and beaded name tags are small, pretty and easy to make in batches.
What supplies should I keep on hand for Christmas crafting? A hot glue gun and sticks, E6000, floral wire, wire cutters, ribbon, faux greenery picks, a grapevine or metal wreath form and a few paper mache cones will get you through most of this list.
How do I dry orange slices for crafts? Slice the oranges about a quarter inch thick, pat them dry and bake them low, around 200 degrees, turning them now and then until they are completely dry. Thinner slices dry faster and stay brighter.
Are flameless candles safe with paper and foam crafts? Yes, and they are the better choice. Use battery tea lights or tapers in paper lanterns, foam snowflake holders and hoop wreaths so nothing near a flame can catch.
