In a recession, decking your halls can be a tough task to tackle. The National Retail Federation predicts that the average American will spend $40.75 less this year on decorations for the home than last year.
Finding unique ways to meet your decorating needs is no longer just for the crafty at heart. This year, instead of opening your wallet, open your cabinets, and create a stylish holiday creation for a fraction of the cost.
Here are three projects to get you started.
Christmas Stocking
Create a holiday stocking for your front door. Traditionally, the front door is reserved for a wreath. Thinking outside the box is the first step to getting your creative juices flowing. Start by buying a large stocking from your local craft store. The average price is $10/$15 dollars. Instead of selecting the traditional red, and green, try a spring green. Stuff the stocking with old newspaper to give it that stuffed look. Fill the top of the stocking with pine cones. Select some twigs from your yard, and wrap them in burgundy ribbon like a candy cane, and place them in the stocking. Finish your holiday stocking off by hot gluing a couple ornaments to the project.
Holiday Basket
This is another great idea that is not traditionally used for the front door. Purchase a shallow bottomed wicker basket at your local secondhand store; they usually have a large amount of wicker baskets to choose from. They can be purchased for as little as $1.00. Stop by a fresh cut Christmas tree lot and ask if they have any tree limbs from damaged trees that you can have. Most tree lots not only have broken pine tree branches, but they may be willing to give them away for free. Hot glue the branches to the bottom of the basket. Purchase a can of frosting snow at your local store. Spray the pine branches lightly, giving them that wintry appearance. Purchase a bag of pre-wrapped miniature gifts, candy canes, or any other items that you can hot glue to your project that you like. This project is easy to complete and it’s easy on the budget.
Candy Canes
Blank Styrofoam candy canes can be found at most hobby crafting stores this time of the year; they come in a variety of sizes. Purchase two that best fit the front door of your Colorado Springs new home. Select a narrow ribbon of green for one, and red for the other. Wrap each candy cane with the ribbon. Use hot glue to secure the ribbon. Purchase one red bow, and one green bow. Blue them just below the bend of each candy cane. Purchase a bag of individually wrapped Christmas themed candy, and hot glue them to your project. Glue your finished candy canes together in an X. Affix the completed project to your front door.
As you can see, these three projects cost next to nothing and can be fun. Get the whole family to help in the creative process of these and other holiday decorating ideas and you’ll end up saving money and having a great time with the ones you love. Saving money, while spending quality time with the ones that you care for the most, is a gift in itself.
Also check out 10 holiday decorating ideas on a budget for more idea.
