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These 30 Christmas craft ideas inspired by Better Homes & Gardens holiday coverage span ornaments, wreaths, garlands, tree toppers, table decorations, gift wrap and handmade gifts. Choose a project by where it will go, the materials you already have and how much making time you want to take on. Items identified as variations are adaptations of documented project families, not claims that each appeared as a separate Better Homes & Gardens project.
Ornaments for the tree
1. Mason-jar-lid mini wreath
Wrap a Mason jar lid ring with greenery, ribbon or other small embellishments to make a wreath-shaped ornament. This recycled-material idea is suited to a tree or a small gift accent.
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2. Painted laser-cut wood ornaments
Decorate unfinished laser-cut wood ornaments with acrylic paint. Their cutout designs give you a ready-made shape to personalize.
3. Gold-foil wood ornaments
Use gold foil to highlight details on laser-cut wood blanks for a brighter, metallic finish.
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4. Glittered wood ornaments
Add glitter to laser-cut wood shapes for sparkle. These painted, gilded and glittered wood ornaments can also be used as gift toppers, stocking accents or wreath decorations.
5. Macrame ornament
Knot cord into a small macrame decoration to hang on the tree. It offers a textile alternative to painted or paper ornaments.
6. Watercolor ornament or gift tag
Paint a simple design on paper with watercolors, then use it as a tree ornament or attach it to a present as a handmade tag.
7. Clay ornament
Shape clay into a seasonal ornament and add a hanging hole before it hardens, following the directions for the clay you use.
8. Embroidered walnut ornament
Make a keepsake with a walnut shell, embroidery floss and a design worked through a precut-hole craft blank. The 2021 Better Homes & Gardens issue describes this as a family-friendly option; supervise children around small parts and tools.
9. Painted papier-mache star
Paint an unfinished papier-mache star form with acrylic craft paint. Hang it on the tree or use it as a small seasonal accent.
10. Recycled cracker-box ornaments
Cut shapes from a cracker box and decorate them as oversized ornaments. This is an adaptation of a documented recycled-box project family, rather than a separately confirmed Better Homes & Gardens project.
11. Handmade family keepsake
Make an ornament that records a family memory, such as a design tied to a shared holiday tradition. Interior designer and content creator Drew Michael Scott recalled, “Mom had a set of crochet and marbled glass ornaments from her grandmother, and every year I looked forward to putting those handmade ornaments on the tree as opposed to the store-bought ones.”
Wreaths for doors, mantels and walls
12. Paper pom-pom wreath
Gather paper scraps into pom-poms and attach them to a foam wreath form. This project turns leftover paper into a soft, colorful door or wall decoration.
13. Fringed-paper pom-pom wreath
Cut paper into fringe, shape it into pom-poms and cover a foam wreath form. This is a variation on the paper pom-pom wreath idea, not a separately confirmed project.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →14. Ornament wreath on a wire frame
Attach Christmas ornaments to a round wire wreath frame to make a bold display. An 18- to 22-inch frame is listed among the materials in Better Homes & Gardens’ 2024 holiday craft issue.
15. Tinsel-and-papier-mache wreath
Combine tinsel garland with unfinished papier-mache forms for a modern-vintage look. The 2024 materials list includes tinsel garland, papier-mache ornaments and a hot-glue gun with glue sticks.
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16. Christmas-bulb and pom-pom wreath
Arrange Christmas bulbs with DIY pom-poms on a wreath base for a mix of shine and texture.
17. Streamer or crepe-paper wreath
Wrap streamers or crepe paper around a wreath base, layering color as you go. This is a variation within the documented paper-wreath project family.
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Cover a wreath base with tinsel garland for a simple, reflective finish. This is a variation on the documented tinsel wreath approach.
Garlands and tree toppers
19. Crepe-paper garland
Cut and join crepe paper into a garland for the tree, mantel or doorway. The 2024 Better Homes & Gardens materials list includes streamers or crepe paper, craft glue and ribbon.
20. Cereal-box starburst tree topper
Cut a starburst shape from a cereal box and cover it with metallic crepe paper to make a lightweight tree topper.
21. Ribbon-hung ornament cluster
Group several ornaments and hang them together from ribbon. Use a secure hanging point and keep the cluster proportionate to the branch, hook or display supporting it.
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Table decorations and small displays
22. Tabletop wood-ornament display
Arrange decorated laser-cut wood ornaments together as a tabletop holiday display. A group of shapes can serve as a small focal point without taking up the space of a full-size tree.
23. Papier-mache star table accent
Paint a papier-mache star and place it as a table accent, or use it as part of a seasonal arrangement.
24. Mason-jar-lid mini wreath place accent
Make a second version of the jar-ring wreath and use it as a small table decoration. This is a placement variation of the documented mini-wreath idea.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Gift wrap and package decorations
25. Cupcake-wrapper Christmas tree gift wrap
Layer cupcake wrappers into a tree shape on a wrapped present for a dimensional, colorful package decoration.
26. Scrap-paper gift topper
Fold or layer paper scraps into a topper and attach it to a package. It is a useful way to coordinate a handmade embellishment with recycled wrapping materials.
27. Wood-ornament gift topper
Tie a painted, gilded or glittered wood ornament to a present. The recipient can move it from the package to the tree after unwrapping.
28. Watercolor gift tag
Turn a watercolor-drawn design into a tag by leaving space for the recipient’s name and attaching it to ribbon or string.
29. Wood-ornament stocking accent
Attach a decorated wood ornament to a stocking as a personalized accent. This is one of the documented uses for laser-cut wood ornaments.
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One more recycled-box decoration
30. Recycled-box holiday decoration variation
Use cereal- or cracker-box cardboard to cut a seasonal shape, then decorate it with paint, paper or glitter. This is an adaptation of the documented recycled-box ornament and tree-topper ideas, not a separately confirmed Better Homes & Gardens project.
Choose a project by materials, skill and display spot
Use this comparison to narrow the list before gathering supplies. Time and cost depend on the design and materials you have; the project listings do not establish standard budgets or completion times.
| Starting point | Ideas | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Household recycling | Cupcake-wrapper wrap, jar-lid wreaths, cereal- or cracker-box decorations, scrap-paper topper | Making use of materials already at home; packages, tree ornaments or lightweight decorations |
| Craft blanks | Laser-cut wood ornaments, papier-mache stars, clay ornaments, wire-frame wreaths | A defined shape or base to decorate; tree, door, stocking or table |
| Paper and textiles | Macrame, embroidery, watercolor tags, crepe-paper garland, paper pom-pom wreaths | Color, texture and hand-decorated details; tree, mantel, wall or package |
| Purchased wreath materials | Wire-frame ornament wreath, tinsel wreath, bulb-and-pom-pom wreath | A larger door or wall display that needs a sturdy base |
For younger makers, choose a project with manageable pieces and adult help where needed. The walnut embroidery idea uses a craft blank with precut holes and floss; the 2021 issue specifically describes it as family-friendly. Keep hot glue guns and small components under adult supervision.
Materials to gather
The Better Homes & Gardens 2024 holiday craft issue lists a hot-glue gun and glue sticks, an 18- to 22-inch round wire wreath frame, tinsel garland, optional tinsel pipe cleaners, unfinished papier-mache ornament and star forms, acrylic craft paint, streamers or crepe paper, craft glue and ribbon. The 2023 tool guide describes multipack laser-cut wood ornaments suitable for paint, gold foil or glitter and for reuse as tree trimmings, gift toppers, stocking accents or wreath adornments. Recycled materials featured across the documented ideas include cupcake wrappers, paper scraps, Mason jar lid rings, cereal boxes and cracker boxes.
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