10 Beautiful, Decorative Gifts to Make on the Cheap

Creating something yourself can cost less than buying new, but it doesn’t always work out that way. When you have to buy tons of specialty crafting tools and materials to complete a project, the cost (and the time it takes you to make it) can make the project seem not so worth it. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 simple project ideas that start with items you may already have lying around the house — such as surplus Christmas tree ornaments and photos of loved ones — so you can have a more rewarding experience than a trip to the mall and spend less, too. Give them as gifts or keep them for yourself.

You have: Extra globe ornaments
Make: A modern wreath

Gleaming silver globe ornaments with hooks removed make a simple yet stunning holiday display when affixed to a basic wire wreath form. Choose ornaments in a few different sizes and use thin wire threaded through the hanging loops to tie them onto the form. Pack in as many ornaments as you can for a nice, full look.


You have: Pretty candlesticks
Make: Luxe succulent planters

Repurpose chunky crystal or glass candleholders as pots for tiny succulents or air plants for a unique display. Just be careful transporting them if you’re giving them as gifts.


You have: Old trays
Make: Chalk-paint platters

A few light coats of chalkboard spray paint can transform any old thrift store tray into a centerpiece-worthy (and totally giftable) piece. It’s as easy to make multiples as it is to make just one, so line up the trays and get painting! If you do give one as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient it’s meant for display only, not for food.


You have: Pretty gift wrap
Make: Instant wall art

We all say it sometimes: “That paper is too pretty to throw out.” Well, you don’t have to toss it. Pick out your favorite gift wrap (one that looks way too fancy to actually wrap a gift with) and frame it instead. Change out the paper each season and you can give your decor an update for only a couple of bucks.


You have: Leftover wood
Make: A scrap-wood tree

This one was hand made by an artisan, but making your own is certainly within reach for anyone with basic skills with a hammer and nails. Don’t want to saw? Search the woods for fallen branches, sort them by length and nail them to a wider branch “trunk” for a different spin on this look.


You have: Burlap
Make: No-sew bunting

Put basic burlap or other fabric scraps to use by cutting them into triangles and stringing them together. The great part is, no sewing skills are required — a few minutes with a hot-glue gun are all you need to attach these fabric triangles to a length of jute twine. Leave them plain or embellish them with stenciled letters. Have extra materials? Personalized bunting would make a lovely gift for a friend or a decoration for a child’s room.


You have: A vintage suitcase
Make: A pop-up bar

This could be fun for your next party — or, when packed and closed up, it could also make a clever gift for your favorite cocktail connoisseur. Fill a vintage suitcase with a few top-shelf bottles of booze and fancy flavorings, pretty cocktail napkins or tea towels and some cool bar tools.


You have: An outdated atlas
Make: A rosette wreath

Looking for a quick, easy and free holiday decoration you can whip up this weekend? You’re in luck — this paper rosette can be made using any sort of paper you have lying around, from maps (an old atlas would be ideal) to letters, newspapers, book pages or scrapbooking paper. Just roll same-size pieces into cone shapes and attach them at the center using a dab of glue. For a festive touch, dip the edges of each cone in old-fashioned glass glitter.


You have: A wood stump
Make: A geometric-patterned side table

Getting a little bored with your plain stump side table? Give it an artsy DIY treatment by painting on bands of white and gray paint, then layering simple geometric designs on top.

Be sure your stump is clean, bug free and well dried. Practice your design on paper first.


You have: Photos of loved ones
Make: Silhouette artwork

You can create custom silhouettes using a program like Illustrator or Photoshop, or with a silhouette cutter. But if those methods don’t work for you, you can still do it the old-fashioned way: Print a photo of your subject (facing to the side against a contrasting background) and trace it onto black paper, then carefully cut it out using a craft knife. Framed and matted silhouettes make wonderful gifts for grandparents and doting aunties.

Tell us: Are you making any holiday gifts or decorations this year?

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