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You are here: Home / Holidays & Seasonal / Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts

Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts

November 27, 2012 By Karen Cooper 12 Comments

The holidays can be an expensive time of year. Between presents for friends, family, and others; big meals; and decorations, the holidays can stretch anyone’s budget. So I thought, for this holiday season, I thought I’d share some of my favorite easy and inexpensive ideas for holiday decorations and gifts.

First, how about a jingle bell terrarium?

Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com
I had a terrarium I bought at Goodwill about six months ago for $2.00.  I found the blue and green jingle bells at Target for $1.00 for a package of four.

Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com

It took three packages of bells to fill up the terrarium…
Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com
…notwithstanding my little jingle bell thief.
Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com

Total cost: $5.00, and all you have to do is put bells in a jar.  You could do this with a vase or glassware or mason jars.  The possibilities are endless! (Oh, and the bells come in all different colors.)

NOTE: After I posted this, I read my holiday Pottery Barn catalog and found this picture:

Source: Pottery Barn

Wow!  Except the Pottery Barn version will set you back at least $24. Gulp.

Second, a gift anyone would love is a personalized coffee mug.

DIY Sharpie Mugs - Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com

Take a white coffee mug – you can get them at the Dollar Store – and a Sharpie pen and write whatever strikes your fancy.

DIY Sharpie Mugs - Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com
Then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Put them on a cookie sheet to make it easy to get them in and out of the oven.
DIY Sharpie Mugs - Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com
Wrap the mug in cellophane with some hot cocoa or a favorite coffee and you have a gift that can be enjoyed all winter long.
For more fun projects you can make with a Sharpie, click here!
Third, one of my favorite DIY holiday projects was done by my then-six-year-old son: a DIY menorah.
Easy and Inexpensive Holiday Decorations and Gifts - thediybungalow.com
It is made from a paint stir stick, some little bitty flower pots, and some bolts.  Oh, and plenty of craft paint.  Held together with glue.  Easy peasy.
For more DIY menorah ideas, click here!
Last, how about a wreath?
I made this wreath from old sweaters and scarves (yes, I washed them first).
Upcycled sweater wreath - easy and inexpensive holiday gifts and decor - thediybungalow.com
The tutorial for how to make it is here.  Obviously, you could use any color scarf or sweater you want.  You can use any fabric leftovers you might have, too.  Total cost: less than $10.
You could also make a wreath from all the holiday shopping catalogs, like my friend Cynthia at Flotsam of the Mind did.  See her post here – it’s super cool and cost nothing, other than the bottle of wine she had to drink to get the cork!
Those are just some ideas to get you started…after all, it’s still November!

You might also like:

  • Hanukkah and Christmas Together: Decorating for Two Holidays
    Hanukkah and Christmas Together: Decorating for Two Holidays
  • Holiday Decoration Organization
    Holiday Decoration Organization
  • Day 24 of Thirty Days of Gratitude: The Holidays
    Day 24 of Thirty Days of Gratitude: The Holidays

Filed Under: Decorating, Holidays & Seasonal, Repurposing and Upcycling 12 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

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Comments

  1. Danielle says

    November 27, 2012 at 2:47 am

    I love those mugs, especially the HO3

    Reply
  2. Cynthia at Flotsam of the Mind says

    November 27, 2012 at 2:49 am

    The mugs are very cute. Let me know how they withstand washing. If they can’t go in the dishwasher, they are pretty useless at my house.

    Thanks for the link to my wreath! The kids and I get a kick out of it every time we walk by it and had a great time making it.

    Reply
  3. Shannon Chastaine says

    November 28, 2012 at 3:15 am

    Such great projects! I didn’t know you could use a Sharpie for the mugs–cool! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      November 28, 2012 at 3:19 am

      Thanks, Shannon!

      Reply
  4. Debbiedoo's says

    November 28, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Very cute!~ Love all your decor, very fun, festive and economical. Glad you shared it with our Dollar tree party.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      December 7, 2012 at 3:23 am

      Thanks, Debbie!

      Reply
  5. Debi @ Adorned From Above says

    November 29, 2012 at 7:03 am

    Great ideas. They are all really cute. I would love to have you share this with this weeks Wednesday’s Adorned From Above Blog Hop. The link to the party is
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/11/washi-tape-idea-book-and-wednesdays.html#
    I hope to see you there.
    Have a great week.
    Debi @ Adorned From Above

    Reply
  6. sew sweet vintage says

    December 4, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Super cute!!!! Pinned. Following your blog now. Follow me too:) I posted http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2012/11/reversible-holiday-note-board.html to the Dollar Tree Contest!

    Reply
  7. Jocie@TheBetterHalf says

    December 7, 2012 at 12:49 am

    So cute Karen. I love the “ho3”! 🙂
    Thanks so much for linking up last week at The Humble Brag!!
    The Silhouette Cameo giveaway is still going strong and you can get MORE ENTRIES by signing up for link party email reminders, sharing the giveaway on FB with your readers, and linking up again. Hope to see you there tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      December 7, 2012 at 3:23 am

      Thanks, Jocie!

      Reply
  8. Julie redheadcandecorate.com says

    December 7, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    Love it! You and I think alike! I just found those bells @ Target after watching The Polar Express and had to get them. I got the silver and used them on a wreath. Love your idea! I just used that same picture for my Pottery Barn knock off lanterns. Love those lanterns! Merry Christmas, and thanks for linking up to our Christmas party Karen! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Julie redheadcandecorate.com says

    December 21, 2012 at 12:07 am

    Guess what!!! You won the cookie gift certificate Karen! Send me your e-mail and I will hook you up with Patti the baker from Buffalo Baking Co. You can let her know your favorite and she will be mailing them to you 🙂 Merry Christmas!!

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




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About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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