Deck the Halls! Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

If you’re looking for an easy DIY project to create gorgeous holiday decorations, look no further!   The Motherhood and a number of creative craft bloggers hosted a live chat on November 15, 2011, to compile ideas for getting festive through DIY household décor.

 

Read on for more – and get ALL of the ideas from the chat by clicking the blue “View Talk” button!

 

 

Thanksgiving Decorations

 

“If you are a knitter or crocheter (I am both) and you have a couple balls of brown yarn lying around, you won’t find a Thanksgiving decoration much quicker than this!” said Erin O. “Cut out some construction paper feathers and get the kids to write down what they are thankful for, and voila! A cute DIY centerpiece.”

 

 

“I like the special touch of writing down what you are thankful for,” said Grace, Grace Hester Designs.

 

Cooper, The Motherhood, found a centerpiece on Pinterest that reuses your leftover Halloween pumpkin.

 

 

MomEndeavors suggested a kid-friendly felt board turkey: http://www.momendeavors.com/2010/11/make-a-felt-board-and.html

 

 

And Jen at Tatertots and Jello offered up printable Thanksgiving placecards to add a touch of glitter to your table: http://tatertotsandjello.com/2011/11/diy-rustic-branch-holiday-place-cards-and-faux-wood-printable-cards.html

 

 

DIY Wrapping Ideas

 

Grace at Grace Hester Designs suggested an easy method for making your own wrapping paper.  “I cut up sponges into triangles and enlisted my daughter to help stamp them all over kraft paper. Then we used the eraser end of a pencil to stamp ‘ornaments.’”  http://gracehester.typepad.com/weblog/2010/11/kid-friendly-handmade-holiday-gift-wrap.html

 

“If you’ve ever run out of gift boxes, never fear! Just rummage through your recycling box for an old cereal box and turn it wrong side out!” added Jess, Craftiness is Not Optional.

 

 

And for “super easy gift wrap,” Joy at Creative Mamma suggested, just use your kids’ drawings: http://creativemamma.com/easy-handmade-gift-wrap/

 

“I made up some printable gift tags to make wrapping presents this year easier! I made 5 different kinds to choose from!” added Ashley, Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night. http://mommybydaycrafterbynight.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-printable-christmas-gift-tags.html

 

 

Handling Holiday Cards

 

To wrangle all of the holiday cards that arrive in the mailbox this time of year, Jess at Craftiness is Not Optional created a “wreath” of green clothespins.

 

 

Jen at Tatertots and Jello had another idea.  “This is a holiday ladder that I made for an advent calendar or to display holiday cards. I was looking for an antique one … and then decided to make my own.”

 

 

Winter Décor

 

Decorating the house is a great way to get into the holiday spirit!

 

You can start with an easy project for the front door.  “Here is a link to a DIY holiday wreath that only took 20 minutes to make! Super easy!!” said Ashley, Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night.   http://mommybydaycrafterbynight.blogspot.com/2011/11/20-minute-diy-christmas-wreath.html

 

 

You can also paint your own candles for an “easy project that makes great decor or a great gift,” said MomEndeavors.  http://www.momendeavors.com/2011/11/christmas-candle-martha.html

 

And don’t forget Christmas dinner. “Sprucing up the holiday table is so fun and easy. I made these utensil stockings last year and I can’t wait to use them again!” said Jess, Craftiness is Not Optional.

 

 

 

Activities for the Kids

 

Joy at Creative Mamma made a free printable activity kit for kids.  You can find it here: http://creativemamma.com/free-printables-kawaii-christmas-activity-kit/

 

If your kids are writing to Santa, try using this letterform created by Ashley at Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night: http://mommybydaycrafterbynight.blogspot.com/2011/11/free-printable-dear-santa-letterform.html

 

 

Where to Find Inspiration?

 

So where do these talented ladies come up with their ideas for holiday décor and other projects?

 

“Blogs, Pinterest, Master Martha Stewart . . . . I also challenge myself to reuse techniques I see for something else and just change things up by rearranging the shapes, or medium, or colors,” said Grace at Grace Hester Designs.

 

Jen at Tatertots and Jello added, “I love looking at things and then seeing what I can make from them…”

 

 

Thank you!!

 

Thanks so much to our amazing blogger co-hosts for bring their creativity and talent to the live chat!

 

Ashley, Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night

Grace, Grace Hester Designs

Jen, Tatertots and Jello

Jess, Craftiness is Not Optional

Joy, Creative Mamma

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62301