Let’s be real for a second: walking into a home decor store and seeing a price tag of \$12 for a single bauble is enough to make any mom’s wallet weep. 🎄 We all want that designer tree look, but nobody wants to spend a fortune to get it. That’s why I created this guide to Budget Holiday Crafts. By using a hybrid mix of cheap household staples and a few smart Amazon finds, you can create a cohesive, stunning tree for under \$30 total. Whether you love DIY farmhouse ornaments or sleek modern vibes, these ideas will help you fill your tree with memories, not debt. Let’s get crafting! ✂️✨
🎄 My Top 3 Favorites
- Lowest Mess: Vintage Sheet Music Scrolls
- Most “High-End” Look: Luxe Velvet Wrapped Balls
- Best for Little Kids: Better-Than-Salt-Dough
12 Homemade Christmas Tree Decorations You’ll Love
1. 3D Brown Paper Bag Snowflakes ❄️
If you are looking for easy paper Christmas crafts that make a huge impact, this is the winner. By simply gluing lunch bags together, you create massive, stunning 3D stars that give your home that trendy Scandi-Minimalist vibe for pennies.
[Image-1: A cluster of 3 different sized paper stars hanging against a window or on a large tree.]
🐦 Why I love it: Glue sticks disappear fast with this craft; this kit keeps you stocked so you don’t run out mid-snowflake! #NancyApproved
2. Vintage Sheet Music Scrolls ❄️
For those who love vintage nostalgia, these scrolls look incredibly elegant tucked inside branches. It’s a simple way to preserve homemade Christmas ornaments that look like they came from an antique shop.
[Image-2: Close up of the paper curl showing the music notes, hanging with a red velvet ribbon.]
🐦 Why I love it: Don’t ruin a real book—this pre-printed vintage paper is the perfect thickness for curling without tearing. #NancyApproved
3. Wood Slice Chalkboard Art ❄️
These are the quintessential DIY farmhouse ornaments. They are rustic, charming, and totally customizable, making them perfect for personalized name tags or simple holiday messages like “Joy” or “Noel.”
[Image-3: Flat lay of three wood slices with “HO”, “HO”, “HO” written on them next to some pine sprigs.]
🐦 Why I love it: Cutting and drying your own branches takes months; these come pre-sanded and pre-drilled so you can start painting immediately. #NancyApproved
4. Boho Wooden Bead Snowflakes ❄️
If you have a toddler, you know the struggle of shattering glass balls. These wooden bead snowflakes are virtually unbreakable and add a beautiful, natural modern boho touch to the tree.
[Image-4: A snowflake hanging on a tree branch, showing the contrast between the light wood and dark green pine needles.]
🐦 Why I love it: You need varied sizes (10mm to 20mm) to make the snowflake design work, and this mix pack is a steal compared to craft stores. #NancyApproved
5. Dried Orange Slices & Cinnamon Bundles ❄️
Nothing beats the smell of dried orange slices baking in the oven. This is a Victorian-style classic that brings warmth, color, and a lovely organic texture to your holiday setup.
[Image-5: Backlit photo of the orange slice showing the glowing transparency, tied with a cinnamon stick.]
🐦 Why I love it: Grocery store spice jars are pricey; this bulk bag gives you enough sticks for the whole tree and some mulled wine too! #NancyApproved
🎅 Quick Question!
Real tree or Artificial tree? Tell me in the comments!
6. Better-Than-Salt-Dough (Baking Soda Clay) ❄️
Many moms ask, “What is the best clay for DIY ornaments?” While a traditional salt dough ornament recipe is classic, this cornstarch and baking soda version dries purely white and smooth like porcelain.
[Image-6: Pure white star and tree shapes with textured patterns pressed into them (like lace).]
🐦 Why I love it: To get that professional “embossed” texture on plain white clay, these specific rollers are absolute magic. #NancyApproved
7. Faux Terrazzo Polymer Clay ❄️
This is a fun twist on clay crafting that teenagers love. By mixing chopped bits of colored clay into a white base, you get a trendy “Terrazzo” stone look that feels very modern and chic.
[Image-7: Flat shapes with speckles of red, green, and gold clay, hanging with a leather cord.]
🐦 Why I love it: You need tiny amounts of many colors, so buying single blocks is wasteful—this kit gives you the full rainbow for cheap. #NancyApproved
8. “Floating” Glitter Ornaments (The Floor Wax Hack) ❄️
How do you make homemade ornaments look expensive? You use the “Floor Wax Hack.” By coating the inside of the bulb with finish, the glitter sticks to the walls, creating a smooth, mess-free glitter ball that looks like it came from a boutique.
[Image-8: A set of sparkling gold and red ornaments, showing how smooth the glitter looks from the outside.]
🐦 Why I love it: These are shatterproof but look just like glass, making them essential for homes with pets or energetic kids. #NancyApproved
9. Alcohol Ink “Galaxy” Bulbs ❄️
If you are looking for clear ball ornament ideas that are truly unique, this is it. The alcohol inks swirl together to create ethereal, marble-like effects that look like tiny galaxies or planets.
[Image-9: Blue and silver swirled ornament held up to the light to show translucency.]
🐦 Why I love it: Alcohol inks can be hard to find in stock at craft stores; Amazon carries these curated color sets that are perfect for beginners. #NancyApproved
10. Macrame Cinnamon Stick Trees ❄️
I absolutely love macrame holiday decor. These little trees are adorable, and because they are built on a cinnamon stick, they smell amazing. It’s a great way to use up scrap yarn or cord.
[Image-10: A green fringed tree with a cinnamon trunk hanging on a white wall.]
🐦 Why I love it: You need this specific single-strand twisted cotton cord; standard synthetic yarn won’t fringe or brush out properly! #NancyApproved
11. Luxe Velvet Wrapped Balls ❄️
This is the ultimate high-end dupe. By wrapping cheap styrofoam with rich velvet, you get textured ornaments that add depth and luxury to your tree without the designer price tag.
[Image-11: Deep emerald green and burgundy velvet balls piled in a bowl or hanging.]
🐦 Why I love it: Fabric stores charge a fortune for velvet by the yard; buying these bulk rolls on Amazon is the only way to do this affordably. #NancyApproved
12. Clothespin “Nutcracker” Soldiers ❄️
For a touch of nostalgia, these little soldiers are perfect. They are kid-friendly ornaments that aren’t messy (mostly paint!), and they look adorable standing in rows on a branch.
[Image-12: A row of 5 little soldiers standing up, painted in red and blue uniforms.]
🐦 Why I love it: Modern grocery stores only sell spring-loaded clips; you need these vintage-style round-head pins for the soldier body! #NancyApproved
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I hope this list inspires you to grab a glue gun and start making memories! 🎄 Whether you are making salt dough keepsakes or elegant velvet baubles, the best part is the time spent creating.
How do you preserve homemade Christmas ornaments? Make sure to wrap them in tissue paper and store them in a hard plastic bin to keep moisture (and pests) away from the natural materials like dough and oranges.
Happy Crafting! Don’t forget to tag me on Pinterest if you try these! xo Nancy
