Christmas Crafts - Decorations, Gifts, Giftwrap and More

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Christmas Decorations, Cards and Unique Ornaments to Craft With Love

This Christmas crafts lens is filled with free holiday crafts projects, decorating tips and crafty freebies. You'll enjoy the Christmas crafts resources we've found for you to make unique gifts, ornaments, decorations, greeting cards, stickers and gift wrap on a budget. Crafty Christmas gifts and ornaments come straight from the heart.

Christmas craft gifts have more meaning, especially for family members and friends. You don't need to spend lots of cash for Christmas gifts and holiday cards, just invest a bit of time and use materials you have in the craft bin or the kitchen to craft unique gifts and ornaments made with the finest ingredient: love.

We make an extra effort to help others during the holidays - often it costs only our time. If you'd like to help a member of the armed forces this holiday season, there's a special section in this lens for you to donate as little as one dollar to Soldiers Angels. They send letters, care packages, and comfort items to deployed American service members, and support their families at home, too.

You can be a Soldiers Angel by making just a small contribution. Scroll down the page to locate the confidential donation box - or click here to jump right to the donation form. Bless You!


Christmas holly clip art border


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Vintage Christmas Graphics
Christmas Coloring Fun
Free Christmas Paper Crafts

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Happy Holiday Cards

Custom New Year Cards and New Year Photo Cards

new year custom greeting cardOur family likes to send New Year cards instead of Christmas cards, and these fabulous New Year card designs from Tiny Prints are a real bargain!

Tiny Prints Coupon Codes and Special Offers

How to Make German Paper Stars

Moravian Ornaments - Step by Step Instructions

Folded paper or ribbon star ornaments are a favorite in America's Christmas City - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Here's a video that shows how to make a Moravian star paper ornament that resembles the Star of Bethlehem the Wisemen followed..

Make A Cool 3D Paper Snowflake
by iespila | video info

364 ratings | 364,750 views
curated content from YouTube

Crafty Paper Christmas Decorations

More than paper chains for the Christmas tree or your holiday window decorations ... easy Christmas paper crafts for everyone to make for the holidays.

Advent Wreath Craft
Paste a leaf on the wreath every day to count down to Christmas in December. Finish off with a glowing candle and bow for Christmas Eve.
Gingerbread Kids Ornaments
Cute Christmas gingerbread boys and gingerbread girls, 6 decorations per page, ready to print in full color and cut out.
5 Point Star - Paper Relief
Free instructions for making a paper relief of a 5 point star.
Paper Snowflakes - Best 100 Designs
100 popular Paper Snowflakes
Woven Moravian Stars
Free instructions for making 3-D paper stars (Moravian Pennsylvanian German ornaments).
Art Projects for Kids: Tissue Paper Christmas Tree
Easy and fun Christmas ornaments and decorations kids can make from clear contact paper and tissue paper.
Origami Star Box
Learn how to fold an origami star box.
How to make 3-dimensional paper ornaments
3-D paper holiday craft ornaments
Paper Craft - Christmas Star - 1
Make a tree-top star from paper and a recycled cardboard paper towel core.
Jack-in-the-Box
Make a Jack-in-the-Box from paper to use as a tree ornament or gift package topper.
Free Christmas Printables - Christmas Activity Book to Print
Printable Christmas activity book for children prints on one page; includes Christmas maze, Christmas word search, Christmas spot the difference pictures and Christmas crossword.
3-D Christmas Tree
Free instructions and pattern for a paper craft tabletop Christmas tree.
Snowman Paper Chains
Cut out a whole chain of snow people, then dress them up with colourful clothes.
Paper Snowflakes - Free Instructions
Free instructions for making paper snowflakes.
Folded Paper Ornaments or Package Toppers
Iris Folding Free December patterns - Christmas Sleigh and Hanukkah Menorah
Origami Club Christmas Patterns
Christmas Origami patterns for all ages.
Advent Decoration
Use 24 matchboxes to create a darling chest of drawers, each one with a different treat to count the days until Christmas.
Splitcoaststampers - Tutorial
Table top trees made with paper.
Free Christmas Craft Patterns and Templates - Winter Patterns
Free craft patterns for Christmas and Winter.
Free christmas graphics to download from Crafty computer paper
Printable graphic sheets with Christmas motifs
Make a 20 Cent Christmas Swag
Make a holiday garland from dollar store findings - paper doily cutouts,paper and yarn. Frugal, festively crafty and easy enough for little kids, too.
Teabag Folding: Christmas Tree Demo
How to make a beautiful Christmas tree card using tea bag folding.
katie did journal - caroling lyrics garland
Make art from words - cut out letters from Christmas carols to make these festive holiday garlands.
Art Projects for Kids: Snowflake Resist Watercolor Grid
Simple crayon and water color technique makes beautiful winter snowflake designs.

Christmas Crafts Papers

Jolly collection of beautiful Christmas design craft papers awaits your projects!

American Crafts 12-Inch by 12-Inch Patterned Paper Pack, Jolly

Amazon Price: $17.37 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

60 sheets of one-sided quality Christmas craft papers (2 each of 30 different designs), 12 x 12 inches, in coordinated colors and patterns.

Christmas Crafts & Clip Art Blog

Free Christmas graphics and holiday paper crafts projects

Christmas clip art of holiday pies
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Kids Christmas Crafts

Children's Easy Crafts for Christmas - Ornaments, Advent Calendars, Tree Decorations

Easy and inexpensive Christmas crafts for kids to make at home, in the classroom or for club activity fun for the holidays.

Clothes Pin Toy Soldier Ornament
How to make a clothespin toy soldier tree ornament for Christmas.
Christmas Crafts - Advent Calendar Wreath Craft, free Christmas Printable Craft
Make an Advent holiday decoration with this printable holly wreath with candle and red bow. Stick on a leaf every day until Christmas Eve.
5 fabulous Christmas Craft Projects for the Whole Family
5 easy and traditional crafts to make a family memory during the holiday season.
Easy Advent Calendars
Simple DIY paper tree to make with the kids.
Ice Cream Spoon Ornaments for the Kids to Make
A snowman and a penguin to craft
Angel Decoration
Paper Angel Table Top Standup
Free Craft Patterns - Christmas Crafts
Free craft patterns and craft templates - over 80 free Christmas crafts, Thanksgiving crafts, Halloween crafts and more. Tole painting, wood crafts and primitive stitchery.
Self-Connecting Paper Chains
World Preschool Mom has a great project for younger kids with her self-connecting paper chains tutorial that require no staples or glue.
Kids' Christmas Crafts - Snow Man Ornament
Rolled Felt Snowman Ornament - Homemade Christmas Ornaments
Santa's List Writing Paper
Printable writing paper, My Santa List begins with Dear Santa and has guidelines for children to write a Christmas letter or wish list for Santa Claus. Adobe PDF printable Christmas letter paper.
Art Projects for Kids: Cut and Tear Candle Card
Cute home made candle cards made with tissue paper.
Make Cracking Christmas Crackers
How to make your own Christmas Crackers from loo paper rolls, crepe paper, ribbon and a few other bits.
Mess For Less: Kid Made Christmas Ornaments
Easy crafts for kids Christmas ornaments made with craft sticks, glitter, blue and pom poms.

Creative Christmas - Shrinky Dinks!

My kids loved these crafty baubles and they're just as much fun for grown up crafters. This kit will guide you through a bunch of decorated shrink art Christmas ornaments to decorate a tiny tree.

Shrinky Dinks Holiday Fun

Amazon Price: $10.64 (as of 02/13/2012)Buy Now

Kit includes colored pencils, Shrinky Dinks materal a punch and all you need to make and decorate a 9" tinsel tree.

Crafty Christmas Ideas

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Craft Project: Gingerbread Man Ornaments

Cut out and embellish gingerbread man cookie shapes to decorate wreaths, windows and Christmas trees

You can make cute Christmas ornaments for the tree, window or wreath using a simple pattern cut from gritty sandpaper or lightweight cork sheets and decorated with crafty trims.


Materials
- Sandpaper sheets, brown in your choice of grit/weights or thin sheets of cork.
- Card stock or cereal boxes flattened and cut into sheets of recycled lightweight cardboard. You can use corrugated brown cardboard for an interesting texture, but be advised it's harder to cut out smaller shapes.
- Craft Glue, in white or colors
- White or other chunky glitter to resemble sugar
- Sewing trim scraps such as rickrack, ribbon, buttons, brads, sequins, small applique trim patches

Directions
  1. Draw or trace a simple gingerbread man outline shape onto the back side of the sandpaper. Draw a matching outline shape onto a piece of card stock or recycled cardboard.
    Free Gingerbread Boy Pattern
  2. Cut out around the outlines of both shapes.

  3. Glue the cardboard to the sandpaper, keeping the sandpaper side exposed and the printed box side covered. Allow "cookie" to dry.

  4. Decorate with pieces of trim, glue and glitter to make your "cookie" look real. Add a hole (and a brad if you have one) to the top of the gingerbread man's head and string with colorful ribbon or yarn.


Gingerbread Man Craft Project Tips



  • Make smaller versions of your sandpaper gingerbread men to hang on the Christmas tree. Use larger gingerbread men to decorate a wreath, door or windows.
  • Make 2-sided "cookies" by cutting 2 sandpaper shapes and gluing one on each side of the cardboard.
  • String together 6 to 8 2-sided gingerbread men on a length of jute twine to make a country cookie garland. Embellish with red and green ribbons.

Chocolate Reindeer Cookie

Cook Up Some Sweet Holiday Gifts!

Reindeer cookie photo by turtlemom4bacon at Flickr, used under Creative Commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/turtlemom_nancy/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen

Christmas Goodies for Everyone


Delicious home made mixes, baked treats for friends, family and pets, garden goodies, gourmet oils and vinegars from your kitchen plus special home-made candies and liquers.
Flavored Vinegars and Oils
If you grow your own herbs, this is a great way to share the harvest year round.
Delicious Dried Tomatoes - How to Make Your Own Gourmet Goodies
If you have a bumper crop of tomatoes in your garden, you can preserve them by drying and enjoy delicious gourmet eating all winter long or put them into a lovely container for a wonderful holiday gift at Christmas or Hanukkah.
Easy Bake Dog Treats
Treat the canine kiddies to a special doggie cookie.
Peppermint Twist Sugar Cookies
Yummy striped mint candy cane cookies.
Easy Does It Christmas Recipes - Christmas - Holiday Snack Table Christmas Treats
Home made Irish Cream, Peanut Butter Bon Bons, Toffee Treats

Christmas Cards to Craft with Love

Gift tags, greeting cards, ornament cards!

Christmas Cards you can print and embellish, home spun holiday cards to color, cards to cut and decorate, and cards to make with recycled bits, snippets and leftovers from the craft bin.



Folded Paper Cards and Ornaments
Tea bag folding and iris folding crafts are a perfect match when you want to make unique ornaments and cards.

christmas card to colorColoring Cards
Ready-to-color cards are great for the kids, or you can use them as a foundation for making pieced paper cards and gift tags.

Bookmark Cards
Craft your own embellished bookmarks to make unique greeting cards and gift tags you can also use as tree ornaments.

Print and embellish free Christmas bookmarks, or design your own from bits of card stock, pretty papers, ribbon, lace and stickers from your sewing or craft bin.

Recycled Paper Bag Christmas Cards Transform humble brown or white kraft paper bags into homey holiday cards and envelopes.

Printable Greeting Cards on Squidoo

Bookmarks and Bookplates on Squidoo


Snow Loving Penguin card

No time to start from scratch? Customize a design with your own words and special greeting.
Snow Loving Penguin Card - customize yours at Zazzle today!

It's All in the Presentation - Gift Labels, Gift Tags and Holiday Stickers

Make homemade gifts extra special with creative packaging.

Creative Gift Wrap Ideas Tips for making tags, bags, boxes and creative packaging of gifts for any occasion.

Gift Coupons, Certificates and Checks

Design your own gift - print out coupons or gift checks, make into a booklet and tie up with colorful ribbon or enclose in a special envelope.

Christmas goodies label - design your own with this free template.

Printable Gift Tags for Christmas and Hanukkah

Stickers and Labels for Crafters

Fresh, Modern Holiday Photo Cards!

Don't Miss this Lens: Free Printable Cards

Are Home Made Christmas Gifts Better Than Store-Bought?

Cheapskate or Thoughtful?

Express your opinion on home made Christmas gifts. Do you like to get a home made present, or do you prefer a small but carefully chosen gift from a store?

Is home made better, or just a cheap alternative?

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I Love Home Made Gifts

squidoopets says:

My hubby made a trophy for his step Dad out of foam, a Canucks hockey jersey with all of his grandchildren's names and years of birth under "#1 Grandpa". I had the pleasure of seeing a grown man cry tears of joy, and say it was the best gift he'd ever received.

mauros34 says:

i prefer the homemade gifts because they are somewhat tailormade to the person getting the gift

KathyT says:

I've always loved home made! Definitely more "from the heart" - I still bake cookies for gifts! :)

andradar says:

Both are excellent from closest people!

JackieSonia says:

Good ideas, especially now in our financial crunch. There's so much you can do that won't put a financial strain on your budget. Loved the gingerbread ornaments.

backdropexpress says:

Cool ideas! I needed this stuff for my personalized decors and cards for christmas. Happy Holidays!

baby-strollers says:

Another awesome lens by Pastiche!

bluewren56 says:

I much prefer useful home made crafts, than stuff bought "off the shelf". A lot more character, and you impart something of yourself in the project. My Christmas tree is full of decorations that the kids have made over the years. I love it.

cdcraftee says:

Having made countless gifts myself, I know that home made is best - involving as it does, so much loving patience and care - from inspiration, through perspiration, to creation. If that's not a Gift of Love, I don't know what is! Perfect for this most special and treasured celebration.
Christine

cdcraftee says:

I've made enough myself to know how much love and perspiration and inspiration goes into the handmade gift. This is sincerely 'giving' in the truest spirit of Christmas.
Christine
Christine

scarlettohairy says:

Homemade crafts and ornaments and gifts are such fun to make at Christmas. Love your choices!

sandyspider says:

I like to think so and have made many gifts in the past. But from my own experience with all the time and hard work to make these special gifts, it seems like the people who I have gave to loved the store brought better. Because of this, I rarely make gifts anymore.

KM9999999 says:

I like homemade stuff. Shows some thought went into it.

SuzyShopping says:

Homemade are great and show love indeed, but if you're not good at making things, then a carefully chosen gift is just as good.

KonaGirl says:

I love receiving something that someone took the time to make from the heart. They are gifts that are cherished forever, unless they are food of course.

creativeinc says:

Homemade is better!!

katiecolette says:

I like both, Home Made and Department Store gifts. Last year I was given a pair of hand-knit gloves, and they are ten times better then the ones you could by at a store :)

TamaraKajari says:

Sure. Even if the final look isn't as the one from some fancy store it's something that's made with love and that's priceless.

mumsgather says:

Definitely home made. They're more thoughtful and makes me feel warm and happy to receive.

acekyle says:

Home made shows the love and time invested even though there is not a large price tag behind it.

Give Me a Special Department Store Present

juliavm says:

I like practical gifts. If someone gives me a homemade practical gift, then that will be awesome. It'll be easier to get a store bought present, though.

hayleylou says:

Depends really, but I thing I would prefer a shop bought one :)

CR2000 says:

I prefer to buy a gift but very carefully : )

lindarandall says:

definitely people appreciate home made gifts more..

 
view all 84 comments

Crafty Christmas Gift Wrap and Gift Boxes

Decorate your own custom gift bags, boxes, tins and containers.
Easy Holiday Gift Bags
Use craft papers and these free patterns to decorate plain paper gift bags for the holidays with reindeer or snowman motifs.
Petal Gift Box Pattern
Print, cut and fold this beautiful box to hold a special gift or gift card.
Folded Paper Ornaments or Package Toppers
Simplicity of Iris Folding; Free December pattern - Christmas Sleigh
Printable Lunch Bag Crafts - Gift Wrap and Party Treat Bags to Make At Home
Party loot treat bags - How to design and print your own gift bags or party treat sacks on paper lunch bags.
Santa and Mrs. Claus Paper gift tags
Easy cut and glue gift tags with faces: Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Trace onto card stock and stick together.
Christmas or New Year’s Eve Poppers
The kids are getting excited for New Year’s Eve, mostly to bang pots and pans! To add another fun activity to the mix, we’re making some homemade poppers, inspired from Christmas crackers. We’re placing in paper confetti and leftover holiday

Crafty Christmas Lenses

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Time Out - Take A Break, Play a Holiday Game for Free

Destress, relax and have some fun with games and puzzles.

Holiday Season Jigsaw Puzzles
Simple or hard, you choose the number of pieces, shapes and other options - free jigsaw puzzle fun for everyone!

- Santa "Claws" Cute kitty cat with a red hat jigsaw puzzle
- Fun in the Snow, Snowman Jigsaw puzzle

Easy Arcade Games and Amusements
- Pop Some Virtual Bubble Wrap! - the great stress reliever, in a virtual bubble wrap sheet. Free.
- Memory Match Game - "Concentration" style matching game. Free.

Printable Christmas Party Games

Fun for all ages, party games for home, office or classroom

Christmas Crafters Book Shop

Holiday Crafting Books and Gifts

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Christmas is About Giving and Caring

Support the troops - make a donation to Soldiers Angels

Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-led nonprofit that encompasses over 20 different teams and programs. They send letters, care packages, and comfort items to deployed American service members, and we support their families here at home.

Gingerbread Man Christmas Stickers

Gingerbread Love - this cute guy is all over the place on tee shirts for grownups and babies, holiday cards, postage stamps and stickers!

Sweet Holiday Gingerbread Man Sticker sticker
Sweet Holiday Gingerbread Man Sticker by imagefactory
Get stickers on zazzle

Christmas Stencils

When I was a kid I loved decorating all the windows and mirrors in our house with Christmas stencils and a window cleaner called Glass Wax. I don't think Glass Wax is on the market these days, but you can get the same effect using spray snow with your holiday stencils on glass or plastic surfaces. I like to use Christmas stencils for holiday crafts besides window stencils - you can decorate fabric, make paper cutouts and glue to card stock or the windows, or let the kids trace the shapes and then color them in.

Here are several sources I've found for free downloadable Christmas stencils:

Christmas Stencils - nice collection of holiday motifs and scenes

Christmas Stencils at About.com - holiday stencils collection with many snowflake designs

Free Printable Christmas Stencils - classic holiday patterns including holly, gingerbread man, bow, stocking, reindeer plus several more

Christmas Stencils on eBay

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If you like this holiday lens, you may enjoy my clip art and craft web sites

Lee Hansen Graphics
Lots of fun and free clip art, mouse drawn by me - borders, holidays, fairies, pirates, line art you can color in yourself ... you get the picture ;).

Clip Art 'n Crafts
Oodles of cool clip art graphics and free paper crafts you can print and use for home, office or school.

Share Your Thoughts and Seasons Greetings!

Leave your holiday greetings here ...

Take the time to spread some cheer here, and if you like this lens why not give it your approval with those nifty Thumbs near the top of the page? I'm very proud of this Crafty Christmas lkens - it earned a Purple Star November 10, 2009 and basks in warm Squid Angel Blessings, too.

Thanks for visiting, and happy holidays!

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Pastiche

I enjoy making Christmas crafts of all kinds - greeting cards, decorations, stickers and tags, ornaments, gifts and baked goods are my favorite holiday... more »

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