Top Christmas How-to Tips from "Home & Family"

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DIY Christmas Care Package

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Gifts

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Large box
• Giftwraps of your choice
• Scissors
• Double stick tape or regular tape
• Marker for writing notes on box
• Ruler
• Family photo prints

• Stocking (use glitter glue to add name to stocking!)
• Stocking stuffers- candy, snacks, socks, silly toys, fun masks or anything recipient would like
• Wish marble – big shooter marble – can find online or in toy store
• Mini tree, tree skirt, tree topper, garland, battery operated light string – include batteries, mini ornaments of your choice

• Select a box large enough for all your goodies!
• Measure box and cut giftwrap to cover the inside flaps and into the box
• Adhere with tape
• Decide placement of family pics and adhere with tape
• Write messages on box – have each family member write a message
• Now box is ready to fill!
• First put wish marble in the toe of the stocking with note (download Tammy’s wish marble template here)
• Then fill stocking with goodies
• Now put the mini tree and all the accessories in the box
• Close up the box and address it!
• Ready to take to post office

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DIY Pine Cone Trees

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Pinecones
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Faux berries, small jingle bells or pom poms
• Wooden rounds
• Mason jars
• Mod podge and fake snow or snow-tex
• Small wooden stars

1. If you want to use pinecones from outside, look for ones with a flat bottom so they are easier to attach. Bake them in the oven at 200 degrees on a lined baking sheet for about an hour or so to get rid of any pests. Watch them so they don’t burn.
2. Adhere chosen adornments to the pinecones with hot glue. If using faux berries, clip off the berries from the stems using wire cutters.
3. Attach the pinecone to the base, either the wooden round or jar lid with hot glue. To create a snowy scene, glue multiple pinecones onto the base.
4. Add snow to the trees and base if desired. Use a paintbrush to apply mod podge to the edges of the pinecone and anywhere around the base that you want to be “snowy” then pour the fake snow over the pinecone and base wherever there is mod podge. Allow the mod podge to dry completely and shake off any additional snow that didn’t stick. PRO TIP: You can also use snow-tex, just paint it on directly with an artist brush. Allow to dry according to directions.
5. Top the tree with a small wooden star using hot glue, place in décor and enjoy!

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DIY Life-Size Nutcracker

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Christmas Decor, Home Decor, Outdoor Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• 1 4ft concrete tube (12 inches around)
• 12 inch plywood round
• 14 inch plywood round
• 4 inch PVC pipe - 8 ft.
• Styrofoam balls
• Large round Christmas ornaments
• Brush-on paint
• Masking tape
• Expanding foam glue
• White craft fur
• Embellishments of your choice for eyes, clothing, accessories

1. Create your base by gluing PVC pipe legs to base (14 inch plywood round).
2. Create the body by gluing 12 inch round to bottom of tube, reinforce with screws.
3. Glue the body onto the legs.
4. Take PVC pipe for arms, glue on and reinforce with screws. Place half-way down from top of tube.
5. Paint the legs white, the body red, the top black. Let dry.
6. Add embellishments of your choosing. Craft fur for the beard, and hair. Stick-on facial features from print out on transfer/adhesive paper. A template can be downloaded at homeandfamilytv.com
7. Use rope or fabric to decorate epilates for the jacket. Form epilates with an ornament ball glued to a deli cup, spray-paint gold.

Download Nutcracker PDF

Upcycle your fall decor and make snowmen or add some elves!

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Christmas Tree Gallery Wall

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Home Decor, Storage

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• 1” x 4” reclaimed wood cut at 37-degree angles to:
  • 36” length for the bottom tier
  • 30” length for the bottom tier
  • 29 ½” length for the second tier
  • 23 ½” length for the second tier
  • 22 ½” length for the third tier
  • 16 ¾” length for the third tier
  • 16” length for the fourth tier
  • 10” length for the fourth tier
  • 9 ½” length for the top tier
  • 5 ¼” length for the top tier
• 1” x 4” straight cut to:
  • 46” length for the vertical support
  • 6” length for the trunk
  • Desired length for shelves
• Circular saw
• Nail gun with ¾” brad nails or drill with ¾” screws
• Wooden star or jigsaw and star template to cut your own
• Angle finder
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Desired hanging hardware
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Optional:
  • Sanding block

1. Cut the wood to size. The vertical support, shelves and trunk are straight cuts. For the tiers, use an angle finder to create a line from the length measurement inward on each side that is angled at 37-degrees, mark and cut. Cut some straight pieces to desired size for the shelves.
2. If you are cutting your own star, do so now. Trace a star template onto the wood and use a jigsaw to cut out.
3. Sand any rough edges lightly.
4. Place the trunk then the two pieces of each tier together in order from the bottom tier upward face down on your workspace then place the vertical support on top.
5. Space the tiers using the shelves, wedge them in between each tier to make sure they will fit snugly.
6. Attach the tiers and trunk to the vertical support by screwing or nailing through the back of it in multiple places on each piece.
7. Flip the tree over and hot glue the star to the top. PRO TIP: you can screw or nail in place if desired as well.
8. Hang as desired, insert the shelves, decorate and enjoy!

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Check out a variety of tree decor you can craft for your home! Vintage ornament wall decor, tulle trees, book page trees, or drip Christmas tree art.

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DIY Front Yard Gingerbread Man

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Outdoor Decor, Christmas Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• 12 x 8 2 inch thick insulation foam
• X-acto knife/jig saw
• Brown paint
• Paintbrush
• White rope
• Hot glue
• Decorations for eyes and buttons: Lids, containers, etc.
• Colored paint

1. Draw gingerbread man shape on the 12 x 8 2 inch thick insulation foam
2. Cut out gingerbread man shape from insulation foam
3. Paint gingerbread cut out with brown paint
4. Let dry
5. Glue white rope around the edges of gingerbread man
6. Use old lids, containers, and other things lying around the house for face and buttons
7. Attach PVC pipe to bottom of gingerbread man and slide over stake to display in yard

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DIY PRESENT PILLOWS

Level:

Beginner

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Fabric
• Ribbon
• Fabric marker or chalk
• Fabric scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine and thread
• Pillow stuffing
• Needle and thread

1. Cut six identical square pieces of fabric. To create a perfect square, fold the corner of the fabric into a triangle to create your first perfect square piece. The length of one edge of the fold is the measurement you need to recreate the squares.
2. Sew two sets of squares together along one edge. Place the fabric right side together, pin one side and sew. Repeat with the other set of squares.
3. Unfold the two sets of sewn squares, pin the un-sewn ends together with the fabric face to face and sew each of the un-sewn edges together to create the body of the present pillow.
4. Sew the bottom square onto the side of the cube. Pin one side of the top square together, sew together. Pin the next side of the bottom square, sew together. Repeat with the final two sides.
5. Attach the top square to the top other end of the cube with the same process as step 4 but leave a few inches open for stuffing.
6. Turn the pillow right side out and push your fingers into the corners to make sure they are crisp.
7. Stuff the pillow with pillow stuffing.
8. Hand sew the opening closed with a needle and thread using a ladder stitch also known as an invisible stitch.
9. Tie the ribbon in a bow around to finish the present pillow and enjoy!

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DIY Metallic Lace Votives

Level:

Begiinner

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas

• Lace trim
• Metallic spray paint
• Glass cylinder vases
• Spray adhesive
• Scissors
• Led candles

• Soft tape measure

1. Decide how much of the vase you want to cover so that you know roughly how much lace trim you will need to paint. You can wrap the entire vase, just the top or bottom edge or both, it is an aesthetic choice. PRO TIP: Overestimate the amount of lace because it will shrink when painted.
2. Paint the lace trim. Do this before cutting to size for the votive because again, the lace will shrink a bit as it dries. Apply a few coats. Allow to dry.
3. Wrap the lace trim around the vase and cut the trim to size so that it wraps around the circumference of the vase. Cut as many pieces of trim as needed to cover the desired parts vase to this length. PRO TIP: You can use a soft tape measure to find the circumference of the vase to get your length if you want.
4. Coat the back of the lace with spray adhesive. The fabric will absorb the glue a bit, so allow it to dry then spray a generous second coat so that it becomes tacky enough to stick to the vase.
5. Attach the pieces of lace trim to the vase as desired.
6. Repeat steps 1-4 to create as many votives as you’d like.
7. Drop your candle in, light and enjoy!

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DIY Gingerbreading Your House

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Home Decor, Christmas Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Insulation Foam Board
• Spray Foam
• Paint
• Deli Cups
• Mounting Tape
• Mounting Tape
• PVC Pipe
• Sparkles
• X-Acto knife
• Ruler
• Measuring Tape
• Paint Brush

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The first thing you want to do is measure the space you plan on putting these gingerbread finishing’s on. Measure your doors/windows/arches or wherever you’re putting these
2. Take your insulation foam board & mark your measurements.
3. Score the board where your marks are & then just break it off
4. It’s time to pipe on your frosting. Take spray foam & slowly pipe it on like frosting. A zigzag design looks good
5. Once your spray foam is dry you can spray paint the “frosting” white
6. To make the peppermints -you need to take your insulation foam board & cut it into a round.
7. Paint your round white. Once dry you can draw out outlines of where you want your red stripes to go
8. Then paint in your red strips. You could also use red craft foam as an alternative
9. To make the gumdrops -take deli cups & spray paint them all kinds of fun colors of your choice
10. While the deli cups are still sticky from the spray paint you can sprinkle glitter on top for a sugary finish
11. Once everything is dry all you need to do it hot glue the candies onto the piping boards
12. Then to hang use mounting tape & place the piping pieces where needed
13. Ta-da!

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DIY Oversized Ornaments

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Wooden round 24” diameter or other desired size
• Painter’s tape
• Paint in christmas colors
• Paintbrushes
• Paint pens
• Deli cup
• Silver spray paint
• Wire hanger
• Wire snips
• Pliers
• Ribbon or pre-made bow
• French cleat
• Drill
• Screws

• Vinyl lettering

1. Paint the round a solid base color. Allow to dry.
2. Lay out the stripe pattern with painter’s tape and paint in desired colors. Allow to dry. PRO TIP: Remember that wherever the painter’s tape is, it will be the base color.
3. Add glitter if desired by painting mod podge on and sprinkling the glitter in. Allow to dry.
4. Use paint pens to add small decorative pattering and details. Allow to dry.
5. Add a phrase using paint an artist brush or vinyl letters.
6. Create the ornament cap. Cut the deli cup in half with an x-acto knife then a notch in the bottom back side for the top of the wood to set in.
7. Spray paint silver. Allow to dry.
8. Create the ornament hook by cutting a wire hanger and bending it into shape.
9. Attach the hook to the ornament cap by cutting two holes next to each other in the top, weaving the wire through and bending closed to secure in place.
10. Attach the ornament cap, use hot glue in place to secure.
11. Hang as desired using a French cleat. Enjoy!

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DIY Lawn Elves

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Outdoor Decor, Christmas Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• 16” planter pot 
• 8” planter pot
• 6 pieces of 12”x1” pvc pipe
• Deli container
• Christmas ornaments
• Buttons
• Plywood round
• Hot glue
• Paint

1. Glue & screw 2 PVC pieces on side of 16” planter pot.
2. Glue plywood round on the inside of planter pot with 2 PVC pieces.
3. Attach the 2 PVC pipes for legs.
4. Fit into wood blocks for feet.
5. Attach 2 PVC pipes for arms/elbows.
6. Fit wood blocks on for hands.
7. Glue the 8” pot on the ornament head to make the elf’s hat.
8. Glue ornament for nose.
9. Glue buttons for eyes.
10. Glue buttons down midsection for shirt.

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DIY Upcycled Drawer Display Box

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Unfinished box or old drawer
• Spray paint
• Drawer knob
• Hot glue
• Screw hooks
• Faux Christmas tree branches
• Picture hanging wire

1. If you have a drawer already, skip to step 4. Otherwise, start with a plain unfinished box from the craft store. You can bring your ornament to the store to get the correct sizing.
2. Hot glue the drawer knob to the top center of your box to give it the ‘drawer’ look.
3. Spray paint, whitewash, paint, or stain your box to match your décor.
4. Screw your hooks into the top of the inside of the box, underneath where the knob was placed.
5. Cut and glue pieces of faux Christmas tree branches inside of the box. When placed around the top of the inside, the ornament will look like it was taken right from your Christmas tree!
6. For wall hanging, add picture hanging wire to the back of your box. If you’d rather place it on the mantle or on your table, you can skip this step!

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DIY Christmas Tree Gnomes

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Outdoor Decor, Kids

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Tomato Cage
• Wire Cutters
• Garden Shears
• Christmas Tree Trimmings
• Bailing Wire
• Old White Sweater
• Stapler
• Potato or Ornament for Nose

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Turn Tomato Cage Upside Down.
2. Collect Trimmings.
3. Use Bailing Wire To Wrap Trimmings To Tomato Cage.
4. Cut out Triangle in Sweater (or cut Faux Fur into triangle) for hat.
5. Staple sides together, then fold inside out
6. Attach Potato (or Ornament) Using Bailing Wire for Nose

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• Pool noodles (11)
• Concrete form tube at 8” in diameter
• Contact cement
• White semi-gloss interior house paint
• Red semi-gloss interior house paint
• Gold acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Utility knife
• Tape (can use blue painters tape, duct tape or gaff tape – small amount)
• Sharpie
• 1x3 wood (4’) You can use 2x2 as well – this is just for the interior of the tube so even scrap wood would work. I will not be seen.
• Screws

1. Cut your pool noodles in half using a utility knife. You will need about 20 halves to make each pillar, so 10 noodles will give you that. The extra pool noodle will serve as the top and bottom of the pillar.
2. Brush on white paint to 10 noodles. Set aside to dry.
3. Brush on red paint to 10 noodles. Set aside to dry.
4. Brush on gold paint to 2 noodles. Set aside to dry.
5. We bought 4’ lengths of the cement forms, so in order to make these pillars taller than 4’, we must put two forms together. Cut one of them to get the desired height you would like. Ours will be 6’.
6. Inside the tube, create the brace with your scrap wood and screws.
7. Take one pool noodle half and tape it to the cement form in a spiral form. This will give you a template to start gluing on the noodles.
8. Take a sharpie and draw the outline of this noodle.
9. Remove the tape and noodle.
10. Brush on contact cement to the pillar and your pool noodle.
11. Place the noodle on the form in the spiral that you created.
12. Alternate red and white until the entire tube is covered. You may need to add bits and pieces here and there where the pool noodles don’t match up completely.
13. Take your gold piece and add them to the top and bottom of the pillars, over the other pool noodles.
14. Enjoy your Christmas pillars!

TIPS:

1. Keep extra paint handy for when the pillars are complete for touch ups. Also, keep some paint aside in a small deli cup if you plan to store these year after year. That way you can touch them up out of storage to enjoy them for years to come.
2. Some of your noodles will not match up completely. That’s ok. You can turn those parts to the back and add slices of pool noodles where needed.
3. You can make these any height that you would like. Just add or subtract cement forms to fit your needs.

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DIY Oversized Christmas Ornaments

Level:

Intermediate

How-To:

Christmas Decor, Outdoor Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• Floral foam balls in a variety of sizes. (12”, 10”, and 8”)
• Acrylic paint in fun colors
• Large paint brush
• 18 gauge crafting wire in gold
• PVC end caps 3”
• 2” deli cups (2” diameter at the opening)
• Gold spray paint
• Drill with drill bit
• Foam glue
• Wire cutter
• Hot glue/glue gun
• Glitter (optional)

1. Paint your foam balls with your paintbrush and acrylic paint. Set aside to dry. TIP: Spray paint would be a whole lot easier but beware – spray paint actually eats into Styrofoam with will make your ball look like the surface of the moon! So even though it might take longer, the good old-fashioned paint brush and acrylic paint in the way to go! If you want to add glitter to your ornaments, now is the time to do it when the paint is still wet.
2. For your tops, we are going to be using the PVC end caps and the deli cups.
3. Take your drill and drill bit and drill two holes into each end cap and deli cup.
4. Here’s where you get to spray paint! Take your PVC end caps and your deli cups outside and give them a coat of gold spray paint. Make sure you even get the holes that you just drilled. Set aside to dry.
5. Once everything has dried, add your wire to the holes of your caps to resemble a hook at the top of an ornament. Bend the ends underneath the cap and use hot glue to secure into place.
6. Take your cap and push it slightly into the Styrofoam ball to create an indent.
7. You can use hot glue on a low setting or Styrofoam glue to secure the cap to the ornament.
8. Enjoy your cute oversized ornaments!

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Wooden Christmas Lights

Level:

Advanced

How-To:

Home Decor

Seasonal Event:

Christmas

• ¼” Thick wooden ovals
• Balsa wood
• Narrow popsicle sticks or wooden stir sticks
• Spray paint in gold and Christmas bulb colors like green, red, orange, yellow and blue
• White craft foam
• X-acto knife
• Cutting mat
• Clothespins
• Existing plain garland
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Optional to use as lawn décor:
  • Wooden lawn stakes

1. If you can’t find the right size of rectangular balsa, cut the balsa wood into a rectangle that is a good size to look like the cap of the “Christmas bulb” wooden oval with an x-acto knife. Cut as many caps as needed.
2. Create the grooves of the bulb cap. Glue three narrow popsicle sticks horizontally and evenly spaced across the balsa wood cap.
3. Spray paint the caps gold and the wooden ovals in alternating Christmas bulb colors. Allow to dry.
4. Glue the cap to a narrow end of a painted oval to create each bulb.
5. Add a highlight to the bulbs to give them dimension. Cut rounded, obtuse triangles or crescent shapes out of white craft foam and glue to each bulb wherever you want it to look like the light is hitting it.
6. Glue a clothespin vertically to the back of the bulb with the side that opens and clamps facing the bottom point of the bulb, so that when you attach it, the cap is on top. Repeat on each lightbulb. PRO TIP: you can also glue yard stakes to the back of the bulbs and just stick them in the lawn!
7. Attach the bulbs to the garland using the clothespins and enjoy!

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