How to Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Make frosted pine cones.

   These pretty ornaments are surprisingly easy to make at home with some plain, natural pine cones.
   
   Pick out nice, even pine cones with a pleasing shape and lay them out on newspaper.
   
   Next, take white spray paint (such as Frost White) and spray one side of the pine cones.
   
   Let the paint dry for a few minutes, then turn the cones over and spray the other side.
   
   Finish the ornaments by hot gluing short loops of white satin ribbon to the base of each cone, so that they hang point-down.
   
   You can spray more thoroughly for a bright white look, or at an angle from the bottom to give the appearance of snow on the edges of the pine cone eaves.
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   Step 2: Make vintage ornaments from old metal pieces.

   You can make old-fashioned looking ornaments to add a bit of Victorian class to your Christmas tree by hot gluing ribbon loops to old baking molds, commonly found at antique malls and retro shops.
   
   Make several using different, ornate shapes, and hang them at different points all around the tree.
   
   For even more variety, tie ribbon loops to old iron and bronze skeleton keys and hang them, too.
   
   Skeleton keys can be spray painted white or finished with cheap clip-on holiday brooches to make them stand out more, if you wish. , Cheap, small nickel frames are a great choice, since the metal has a nice, lustrous finish.
   
   Buy a few frames suitable for wallet-size pictures, and collect scraps of festive cloth.
   
   Open the back of each frame and stretch a piece of fabric across the backing board.
   
   Pin, stitch, or hot glue it in place on the back, and then hot glue a ribbon to one corner of the frame and hang it diagonally.
   
   If you have plain white fabric and markers, you and your children can make a fun project out of stretching the cloth and then decorating each ornament with drawings and words, before closing and hanging them. , Clear, thin glass globe ornaments are cheap to buy, and though they look pretty on their own, they're also ideal for customizing at home.
   
   Throw a pretty object, like a peacock feather or a piece of petrified wood, inside each one, and then hot glue the top shut.
   
   Adding a single object is only the beginning for these versatile ornaments.
   
   You can add craft snow and a miniature model tree or snowman to make a tiny winter scene, or paint glitter onto the walls of the ornament to make it sparkle.
   
   Be creative! For a truly dramatic effect, use a small rubber band and a round or oval-shaped piece of paper or other blocking material.
   
   Strap the oval smoothly to one side of the ornament, using the rubber band to hold it in place across the “equator” of the ornament.
   
   Suspend it from a hook, and apply a coat or two of glass frosting spray paint.
   
   Once the paint is dry, remove the band and oval for a picture window effect with a thin clear band bisecting the rest of the frosted orb. , Festive little drums are a classic holiday motif.
   
   Make your own cheaply and quickly by buying small, round wooden (or cardboard) boxes from your local craft store and decorating them with a band of thick ribbon around the body, or thin ribbon around the outer edge of the lid.
   
   Hang them by gluing a thin piece of ribbon underneath the lip of the lid at either end.
   
   Vary drum sizes and ribbon colors and patterns to make a festive little set of unique drums. , Seashells are great as ornaments on their own – just hot glue some gold or silver cord to them to make a hanging loop – but they're easy to dress up, as well.
   
   Try painting one or both sides of a shell with thin glue, and then thoroughly coating it in colored glitter to make an iridescent shell.
   
   Paint glue on in separate stages to create different areas of colored glitter for a two-tone effect, or paint a thin line of glue to make a glittery edging effect that's great for spiral-shaped shells.
   
   If you have a sea urchin shell, try gluing a bundle of tinsel underneath it once it's been dressed in glitter, to make a “jellyfish.” Hang it from the top and center so the “tentacles” hang down.
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   Step 3: Hang metal frame fabric ornaments.

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   Step 4: Fill clear globe ornaments.

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   Step 5: Make custom drum ornaments.

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   Step 6: Turn seashells into fanciful ornaments.

Detailed Guide

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