Christmas Decorations You Make for About a Buck

You want your house to look beautiful for Christmas but how can you make that happen when youre, well, broke? Dont worry! There are so many Christmas decorations you can make for about a buck each that you can quit fretting and start decorating! Use a few things you have around the house, plus a buck or so investment, and youll have decorations and accessories galore! Make ornaments for next to nothing by using bottle caps. Cut a piece of Christmas-theme fabric, or glue on a circle of gift wrap, and add a hanger and bow. You can wrap a piece of velvet ribbon around the outer part of the lid or even glitter the concave side of the cap.

Make other ornaments from bathroom tissue rolls. Start at one edge of the roll and cut, following the line that winds around the roll, so that you separate it into two pieces. Cover with glue and glitter, add a bow and hanger, and you have two gorgeous ornaments that no one will suspect as being toilet paper rolls! Purchase a red, white, green or other color of flat sheet at a thrift store. Use the sheet to make a table runner with matching place mats. Just cut one long, triangular shape for the runner, hem it, then cut four rectangles as place mats. Hem them as well. Embellish these, if you want, with roping, felt shapes, glued-on ribbon from a dollar-theme store or by writing or drawing on them with a permanent marker.

Make other rectangles from the sheet to create arm covers for chairs, a wrap to place across the back of the couch, or even a Christmas pillow. Sew or glue two rectangles together, stuff with anything from cotton to plastic bags, and sew or glue it shut. Write on the pillow with a permanent marker to create a Christmas wish or greeting. Take the candles you have now and make Christmas candles that are unique and gorgeous. Fill a clear vase or glass with foil balls, small balls of yarn, twigs from a pine tree, pine cones, sand, painted shells, beads or similar things. Set a votive candle - in its holder - on top of the objects. Wrap small boxes in Christmas gift wrap and use them as d?cor pieces. Write a letter on each box and spell out "Joy", "Noel" or another word, with a permanent marker. Or, use stickers to create the word. These can sit in a window, on a table or on a shelf. Surround them with pine cones or pine branches to make a table centerpiece. If you want, set votive candles, a small stuffed animal or other accents on top of the boxes. Use a square picture frame to make a door wreath. Hang the frame so that it has a diamond shape and add a Christmas bow. Although the unusual wreath needs no embellishments you can attach small trinkets, if you want. A different wreath can be made by tying sandwich bags to a coat hanger. Shape the hanger into a circle. Cut the bags so that the flap will go up. Tie many of the bags on the hanger and fluff. Add a bow and hang. This wreath must be seen to be appreciated; its absolutely elegant! Dollar-theme stores generally carry a nice variety of Christmas ribbon that can help you decorate all over the house. Tie bows and use them as curtain tie-backs, attach them to mirror corners, place them on the ends of a mantle, tie the ribbon around kitchen chair backs, hampers, pole lamps and more. Decorating on a budget doesnt have to be a sad and depressing part of the holiday season. This Christmas, youll have plenty to be proud of, and the most pride will be that you spent very little money to create elegant d?cor throughout your home!