8 Christmas DIY Ideas Under $15

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again when we start putting on our holiday playlists, decorating the Christmas tree and getting presents for your Secret Santees. But store-bought Christmas cards and gifts can get terribly overpriced, not to mention highly impersonal. But then again, how do you show your inner Santa without being an outer Scrooge?

UrbanWire presents 15 simple and inexpensive DIY ideas that will add a personal touch to your gifts and home – because that’s what a meaningful Christmas is all about.

DIY IDEA 1: CARDS

A Very Stringy Christmas Tree Card

For this simple yet unique card, rummage through your mother’s sewing kit for some loose thread and create your own Christmas tree on a card. It’s the best of both worlds a person can ask for – a tree and a card.

Time required
10 mins

Cost
$2.30

Materials needed
Plain card or paper
Green or red embroidery thread
Tape
A hole puncher
A ruler
Pencil
1 star cut-out/ star sticker (optional)

Steps

1. Fold the card in half, and on the inside of the front cover, mark the midpoint of the top of the card. Make sure that the marking is about 3 to 5 cm away from the edge
2. Along the bottom of the card, make 7 similar markings, all equally spaced apart
3. Using a hole puncher, punch a semi-circle hole at the first marking you made at the top of the card. Make sure the mark is positioned above the center of your hole puncher so that the positioning of the hole is accurate
4. Punch semi-circle holes for the other 7 markings along the bottom of the card
5. Paste a strip of double-sided tape directly below the hole you’ve made at the top of the card
6. Tape down one end of the embroidery thread onto the double-sided tape, with the end pointing downwards
7. Loop the thread over the hole at the top such that the thread is now on the front of the card
8. Loop the thread at the first hole from the left along the bottom of the card, then loop it back over the hole at the top.
9. Keep checking to see that the second loop of thread adheres to the tape you’ve stuck on the inside of the card
10. Repeat step 8 for the remaining holes along the bottom of the card
11. Finally, paste the star cut-out or sticker at the top of your thread Christmas tree

Tip: Place the card on a flat surface as you’re looping the thread around it to ensure the thread isn’t pulled too taut.

Christmas Tree Pop-Out Card

Forget any preconceived notions about pop-out cards being complicated. Follow the steps, and soon you will be a pro at making pop-out cards.

Time required
5 minutes

Cost
$2

Materials
2 pieces of paper (1 in green, 1 in a contrasting color)
Scissors
Pencil
Glue
Gold marker

Steps

1. Fold the green paper into half, and along the fold, draw half an outline of a Christmas tree, as shown in the image above
2. Cut along the solid lines
3. Fold down each segment of the tree you’ve cut along the dotted line. Press each segment firmly to make sure that the creases are defined. Flip the card over and repeat on the other side
4. Open up the card and lay it out on a flat surface. With your thumbs, push up the cut-out segments to make them stand out
5. Paste it onto the contrasting-colored paper
6. Add some finishing touches with your golden marker and erase your pencil markings to complete

Button Up Christmas Card

How cute is the little snowman? All you need for this little treasure are a few buttons, pieces of felt, and a little imagination.

Time required
5 minutes

Cost
$2

Materials
1 piece of brown paper
A strip of red felt
2 white buttons of different sizes
Glue
Golden marker for decoration (optional)

Steps

1. Fold the strip of felt at a slight angle so that the shorter, folded section sticks out slightly
2. Glue the longer section of the folded strip onto the card at an angle so that it forms a sideways ‘V’
3. Glue the smaller button on top of the longer strip of red felt, overlapping about one-third.

4. Glue the larger button glue right below the smaller button on the strip of felt.

5. Glue the shorter strip of red felt over the buttons.

6. Add some finishing touches with a silver or gold marker

DIY IDEA 2: DÉCOR

Sugar, Gumdrops, and Everything Nice Ornament

1. For all the candy lovers out there, this is for you. Feel free to go crazy on the number of gumdrops. No one will blame you if you sneak a bite now and then. It’s Christmas, after all!Time Required
   30 minutesCost
   $4Materials
   1 bottle of gumdrops / fruitdrops
   1 box of toothpicks
   1 Styrofoam ball
   1 Paperclip
   A piece of string/twineSteps
   1. Straighten out a paperclip until you get a curved ‘V’ shape, and poke the ends of the paperclip into the styrofoam ball, leaving about 1 to 2 cm exposed
   2. Tie a piece of twine or string to the paperclip
   3. Break the toothpicks into half
   4. Attach a gumdrop to the blunt end of the toothpick, and insert the sharp end into the styrofoam ball

Repeat step 4 until the entire styrofoam ball is adequately covered

Frosty the Snowman Ornament

Rather than using the same old ornaments on your Christmas tree, spice it up a little with this snowman ornament. And once Christmas is over, you can even reuse it as a bookmark. How’s that for versatility?

Time Required
10 minutes

Cost
$2

Materials
1 ice-cream stick
1 piece of red felt
1 piece of black paper
1 piece of orange paper
3 assorted buttons
Black pen/marker
Twine/string
Glue
White paint

Steps

1. Paint the icecream stick white and let it dry completely

2. Cut the red felt into a rectangular shape of 2.5 cm width and 7.5 cm length

3. Glue the felt onto the craft stick in the shape of a scarf (see Snowman Scarf)

4. Cut a hat shape out of the black paper

5. Cut a small triangle out of the orange paper for the nose

6. Glue the hat, nose, and the assorted buttons onto the craft stick

7. Draw on the eyes and smile of the snowman

8. Glue a looped piece of twine/string onto the back to complete

Pom Pom Santa Ornament

It’s hard to believe that Santa Claus can ever resemble a dwarf, but at least in UrbanWire’s interpretation, he truly does. With only 3 core materials needed, anyone can make mini Santas at home.

Time Required
10 minutes

Cost
$2

Materials
1 piece of red felt
1 piece of orange paper
White yarn
Glue
Fork

Steps

1. Cut out a semicircle of 6 cm length out of the red felt for the hat
2. Roll it into a cone shape and glue down the edge
3. Cut a small rectangular shape out of the orange paper for the nose
4. Using about 2 m of white yarn, wrap it around the fork and secure it tightly by tying it lengthwise and widthwise
5. Remove the yarn from the fork and fluff the yarn, pulling it with your fingers
6. Stuff the ball of white yarn into the cone hat and secure it with glue
7. Dab a little glue onto the orange nose and secure it into the base of the cone hat
8. Glue a piece of looped yarn onto the back of the tip of the cone to complete

Flowers for my Missus Wreath

Wreaths have a long history dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. UrbanWire’s modern version of the traditional wreath has artificial flowers and ping-pong balls. Hang it on your door for the arrival of Christmas, and after the year’s over, you can reuse it for a garden wedding.

Time Required
30 minutes

Cost
$14.78

Materials
Bunches of artificial flowers
1 wire ring (275mm would suffice)
White ping pong balls
Glue
Ribbon (optional)

Steps

1. Wash all parts and sides of the ornament thoroughly
2. Using a paper cone as a funnel, pour the Milo powder into the ornament
3. Using the same funnel, pour the sprinkles into the ornament. Keep adding the sprinkles until they are visible inside the ornament
4. If the marshmallows are too large to fit through the mouth of the ornament, cut them into smaller pieces. Use a satay stick to push the marshmallows into the ornament
5. You can include a mug for your friend to enjoy the contents of their Milo ornament in. You can decorate your own plain white mug, as seen in the photo above. Add a candy cane or chocolate spoon to complete.

FESTIVE TOUCHES

For those looking for some added pizzazz, you can also add some red and green ribbons on the handle to make your mug look even more impressive.

Pin up Christmas tree

If you fancy having a tree in your room, but simply can’t find the space for it, here’s UrbanWire’s solution: a ribbon tree on a cork board. Spruce up your room with this simple ‘tree’ and pin your favorite cards and photos on it.

Time Required
30 minutes

Cost
$12

Materials
Assorted ribbons
Corkboard
Thumbtacks
Christmas cards
Yarn/string/twine/thread (optional)

Steps

1. Pin the ribbon onto the board with a thumbtack
2. Fold the ribbon to form a straight line, then fold it again to form a diagonal line, as shown
3. Pin in place
4. Repeat steps b and c, increasing the length of the ribbons and width of the tree
5. When you’ve reached the size of the tree you want, pin the end of the ribbon in place
6. Pin the Christmas cards and other decorative items on parts of the treeTip: If your board looks too empty, pin some ornaments or tags around the tree.
7. Tip: To add a personal touch, tie a piece of twine around the mouth of the jar and paste a decorative label on it.
8. Hopefully this list has given you some inspiration to get started on your own DIY projects and now, go spread some handmade holiday cheer this Christmas season.