It’s that time of year again! Deck the halls, trim the tree, and hang that holly. It get’s expensive when you really start to think about all the money we put into making our homes look festive. That is why I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday decorating tips for those working on a budget.
The first one you may be familiar with and that is Popcorn and Cranberry Garland. This traditional favorite is a fun activity to do with the kids and adds some interest and color to your tree. The four items needed are cranberries, popcorn (natural kind), a needle, and sturdy thread.
Step 1- Pick through the cranberries and make sure you disregard any soft or brown ones.
Step 2- Pop the popcorn. Make sure you pop extra because if you’re like me you will eat 1/3 of it while making the garland!
Step 3- Thread a needle and create an anchor with a knot and a cranberry.
Step 4- Carefully thread popcorn and cranberries in whatever pattern you choose.
Total amount spent under $10 = Time Spent with Children, Priceless!
The next idea is slightly more difficult. My VERY crafty Aunt taught it to my mom who then in turn taught me. They are quilted decoration balls to hang on your Christmas tree. Sounds way more confusing than it is! Picture a small ball wrapped in a quilt and that is what we are making here. You will need a 2 1/2″ diameter Styrofoam ball, an assortment of small pieces of fabric, several straight pins (2 of them should have a pearl end), craft glue, a foam paint brush, and 1 piece of ribbon long enough to hang the ball from the tree. The small pieces of fabric can be purchased for next to nothing at any craft store keeping your overhead low.
Step 1- Trim your fabric scraps down to odd-shaped pieces. You should use different shapes that are different sizes to give it a true quilted look. I recommend choosing bright festive colors!
Step 2- Use a butter knife to slightly indent a space that is the shape of your fabric square on your Styrofoam ball. This indented shape should be slightly smaller than your actual fabric shape.
Step 3- Use your foam paint brush and spread a very thin layer of craft glue inside the indented shape. Place your fabric shape on top of the glue and use the edge of your screw driver or butter knife to push the fabric edges into the indent and push hard to squeeze the edge of the fabric down into the ball.
You will want to repeat that step the entire way around your ball until it is completely covered.
Step 4- Once you are satisfied with the quilted ball you take a piece of ribbon and attach it to the top of the ball using the two pearl straight pins. You can use more than two if it doesn’t fee secure enough. Voila! Let this dry for 30 minutes before hanging it onto your holiday tree.
Total amount spent under $15 = Bragging rights to all your friends, Priceless! *Side note these are great gifts for holiday parties.
The last decorating idea is one that I got from my mother years ago (when I was in College). I call it the Dorm Room Christmas tree but it can be used for anyone with limited space. When I was in college she made one for me and brought it down to school during finals week. It was definitely nice to have something in our room to remind us that it WAS the holiday season and there was life outside of finals. The items needed are 6 wire coat hangers, 2 pipe cleaners, 1 string of miniature lights, 2 strands of any type of garland, and a hot glue gun. You may also need an extension cord because often when the tree is done there isn’t much slack to plug the lights in.
Step 1- You will use 2 of the 6 coat hangers and cut 3 pieces of the pipe cleaners into 2 1/2 inch pieces. Place the hangers in position as seen in the picture below and attach at 3 locations. You will make 2 more of these in the same manner.
Step 2- After assembling the 3 main pieces you will insert the leg of the 2nd and 3rd through the middle to form the tree frame. You can make minor adjustments to align the frame by bending either the outer leg or the center area where the 3 pieces meet.
Step 3- Warm up the glue gun and stretch out the lights. Attach lights from the base of the tree working your way up to the top. The first course is attached about 3/4 of an inch from the bottom. This allows room to run the garland around below the first course of lights. Depending on how much slack is left in the wire as the lights are attached you will most likely have a short length of lights left that, feed that down into the middle of the frame.
Step 4- Attach the garland around the tree starting at the base and working your way up. You may find it is helpful to periodically secure the garland to the coat hanger frame using the hot glue. The lights do help hold it in place though. This tree below made by my mother is what you should end up with.
Total amount spent under $20 = Keeping your college student sane, Priceless!
