Making Christmas gifts, especially when you are on a budget, is an ideal way to save money. Now, don’t think these craft gifts are going to be cheezy, because people pay good money for these simple crafts at craft fairs and at your local Christmas tree farms. The only requirements for these simple handmade Christmas gifts is that you have access to live greenery. Think about that for a minute – do you live near a farm? What about friends and family? Is there a local farm that will let you gather up some greenery for free? Use your imagination and let’s get started!
Greenery can be used to make all kinds of decor. Find it cheap or free at Christmas tree farms. (Photo Credit to Mike Licht on Flickr)
Handmade Christmas Gifts
Handmade Christmas gifts are often more festive than anything you could buy at a store. As you read through the ideas below, let your imagination run wild as you will more than likely have several great ideas that are not listed here to make your craft gifts spectacular!
Front Door Swag
The front door swag is the simplest Christmas gift you could make and it is probably the cheapest too. First, you’ll need to cut about 12 greenery branches approximately 2 to 3 feet long each. You can also add a few holly branches a bit shorter to add some depth to the holiday craft too.
Now, find a table or the ground to start your work as this craft gets a bit messy.
Start by laying out the longest branches in a pile on top of each other. Then, lay the shorter branches on top of that. Next, use some green craft wire (or other wire) to tie the branch ends together (about 5 inches up from the cut end). Last, tie a large bow(any color you like) around the same area that you put the wire.
This Christmas tree craft is ready to give, and if done thrifty enough, you may possibly only have a dollar or two in the entire arrangement! This is a great handmade Christmas gift on a budget!
Tabletop Centerpiece
When gathering supplies for this craft gift, you’ll need to start by cutting 12 pieces of greenery approximately 8 to 12 inches long. You will also need a small piece of grapevine approximately 2 feet in length. You can also add pinecones, if desired.
First, you will need make the grapevine into a circle. The center of the circle will need to fit around a pillar candle (any size you choose). Next, begin laying the greenery branches onto the grapevine circle and attaching them with craft wire which can often be purchased at your local dollar store. Be sure when adding the next piece of greenery, you overlap the previous piece so the arrangement will look full and fluffy. If you are not sure how to get started, watch the video below.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWu3K0HTBD8[/youtube]
Once you make a complete circle around the grapevine, you can glue any pinecones on that you wish with hot glue. Last, pick up a pillar candle at your local dollar store (possibly only a dollar or two) and place it in the center of the arrangement. Now, it is ready to give as a gift.
Final Craft Tip
If you have a little extra money, pick up a box of gold, silver, or red round plastic ornaments and glue them to the arrangements. This will give them a more elegant ‘expensive’ look!
