Easy Christmas Crafts Using What You Already Have

It’s that time of year again… Christmas! If you’ve been here a while, you already know Christmas is my season. My happy place. My crafting Olympics. The time of year when I usually have glitter on my face and Mod Podge in my hair by November 1st.

But not this year.
This year?
Well… this year the kitchen has taken over my life. At this point I’m not sure if I’m living in a construction zone or a scavenger hunt. Every tool we own has gone missing at least twice, and forget finding my many measuring tapes (how did we end up with so many?)—I’m lucky if I can find my water bottle.

But a friend keeps reminding me, “It will be worth it in the end.”
I sure hope she’s right, because right now I’d trade “the end of this mess” for a single day of running water at the kitchen sink.

So instead of my usual craft parade, I’ve been quiet lately. And I missed it. Truly missed it. So today, I’m making up for lost time by sharing five easy Christmas crafts using what you already have—because yes, I shopped my basement like it was a fully stocked craft store. And honestly? I think everything turned out pretty enough to pass as store-bought.

And because this post is part of the Do It Over Designers Blog Hop (hi friends!), you’ll want to hop around and see what everyone else has created too. This group never disappoints. Every time we get together I’m blown away by how creative these ladies are. I am so thankful Ann with The Apple Street Cottage rounds us up every other month to share ideas. 

Alright… ready to get started?

Let’s go!

Before We Begin—Wait… Stop!

Do not put that dresser to the curb.

Do not toss that broken Christmas décor.

Do not think that because something is chipped, bent, missing a leg, or looks like it's seen better days, it’s trash.

Because guess what?
You can use the pieces and parts.

Ask me how I know.

A few years ago, when we cleaned out my husband’s parents’ home, we didn’t have the space to keep his mother’s chest of drawers. But my husband—ever the practical one—said, “I can use the wood,” so he broke it down into pieces.

And those pieces?
They’ve become frames… craft projects… other various things... and today, a Christmas sign.

Yes, you can absolutely use dresser scraps for holiday décor.
And pieces of broken candle rings.
And leftover fence pickets.
And books you can’t read twice.
And napkins.
And tuna cans.

If you saw the state of my basement, you’d fully understand how I was able to create five projects without spending a dime. (Yes… this hoarder knows she needs to get it together. But hey—it worked in my favor today!)

So here we go—five Christmas crafts made from things you already have around the house.

1. Dresser Drawer Upcycle Christmas Sign

This one makes me laugh because it started with me spotting a drawer side peeking out from under a pile of “stuff” in our basement.. Inspiration hits in the strangest places, doesn’t it? When I saw it, I knew immediately what I would do with it. 

Materials

• One dresser drawer side

• Orbital sander we use Dewalt

• White craft paint, I used Apple Barrel in the color White

• Stencil of your choice (mine was North Pole B&B)

• Stencil brush

• Hot glue gun

• Piece of a broken 1950s candle ring

• Hanger for the back

Instructions

1. Sand the dovetail joints down so you have an evenly sided board.

2. Give the entire drawer side a good sanding for a smooth finish.

3. Position your stencil where you’d like it (I pushed mine to the right).

4. Stipple your paint onto the stencil—don’t rush this part.

5. Hot glue the broken candle ring piece onto the left side.

6. Add a hanger to the back and display!

My favorite part?
That little candle ring belonged to my grandma. She passed it along years ago because she never threw anything away. (Now you see where I get it!) I can’t wait to show her how I used it—she’ll get the biggest kick out of it.

Plus, my mother-in-law's dresser is being used, talk about one sentimental piece of decor for our wall. 

I'm a bit disappointed the pinecone and berries do not show very well in my photos

2. Fence Picket “Candy Cane Co.” Sign

Remember when we used leftover fence pickets to back a cabinet for our bathroom? One of those leftover pickets somehow survived the garage and my previous projects. It was once a shelf in my old antique booth, which I distressed for an aged look.

And now it’s a Christmas sign.

Materials

• Fence picket, cut to size you desire

• Black craft paint

• Orbital sander

• Candy Cane stencil

• White paint

• Candy cane rub-on transfer (mine was IOD)

• Mod Podge

• Hanger

Instructions

1. Paint the picket black, then sand to your desired level of distress.

2. Stencil “North Pole Co.” in the top left corner.

3. Apply the candy cane rub-on transfer in the center, burnish once applied.

4. Stencil Candy on one side and Canes on the other.

5. Finish the top right section with the rest of the stencil.

6. Distress the entire sign, wording, transfer and all for an aged appearance.

7. Wipe the sign down and add a coat of Mod Podge to seal.

8. Attach a hanger and enjoy.

This one feels like a vintage sign you’d find tucked in a small New England shop window (or perhaps that is just my imagination talking here). It’s simple, festive, and perfectly imperfect—like it’s been around for years - just the way I like it.

3. Ralph Lauren Christmas Book Stack

If there’s one thing I have too many of, it’s books.
Pre-Kindle Cara bought them all. And since I can’t reread a book (I already know the ending!), they’ve been collecting dust for years.

But layered in tartan napkins and tied up with baker’s twine?
Instant Ralph Lauren Christmas vibes. I hear it's all the rage this year... and I am 100% on board. 

Materials

• 3 books (mix of hardback + paperback)

• Sandpaper

• Mod Podge

• Tartan napkins

• Glue stick

• Scissors

• Rub-on transfer

• Baker’s twine

• Jingle bells

Instructions

1. Sand the spine (and front of paperback) to remove text.

2. Book #1: Mod Podge the napkin onto the spine and cover the entire book.

3. Book #2 & 3 (paperback & hardcover): Use a glue stick so the napkin doesn’t wrinkle as much.

4. Allow everything to dry completely.

5. Add a rub-on transfer if text is still showing through.

6. Stack books largest to smallest.

7. Wrap in baker’s twine, add jingle bells, tie a bow.

These turned out so charming I honestly may leave them out year-round. The Mod Podge version looks like an old leather-bound classic, the Elmer's glue version had less wrinkling, and the rose transfer on the paperback gave it the sweetest vintage touch. I tried to cover the wording a bit with the transfer, it works in certain lights.

Books and Christmas?
Be still my heart.

4. Tartan Plaid Napkin Christmas Tree

This project is for everyone who asked what I do with my leftover napkins.
The answer?
Everything.

Today: a Christmas tree that is giving me those Ralph Lauren Christmas ideas swirling around my mind.

Materials

• 1 foam tree

• Tartan plaid napkin

• Mod Podge

• Fingers (trust me, it’s the best “tool” here)

• Styrofoam egg

• Skewer

• Painted tuna can

• Pearl push pins

Instructions

1. Dry-fit the napkin to see if it covers the tree.

2. Apply Mod Podge with your fingers (yes, messy—but effective!)

3. Roll the tree into the napkin.

4. Let dry overnight.

5. Hot glue half a Styrofoam egg inside a tuna can.

6. Insert the skewer and slide your tree down onto it.

7. Add pearl pushpins as “ornaments.”

It’s classic, charming, and cost me zero dollars because I used leftover everything. Honestly, this one surprised even me. I want to make so many more of them to line our mantel for the holidays.

5. Wood Round Note + Christmas Card Holder

This one is part décor, part functional, and you can even turn the clothespin element into ornaments. I’m putting mine on our back door so I see it every time I come in and out. 

Materials

• 1 wood round

• Christmas stencil, Milk & Cookie Company 

• Black chalk paint

• Waverly antiquing wax

• Clothespins (8 + 3 optional soldiers similar set)

• Hot glue

• Ribbon

• Clear sealer

Instructions

1. Stencil your wood round in black paint.

2. Let dry and apply antiquing wax over everything.

3. Wipe back wax for a vintage look.

4. Remove metal from clothespins, glue smooth sides together.

5. Create a snowflake shape by gluing 4 clothespins in a cross, then filling in corners.

6. Add a ribbon bow to the top of the clothespin snowflake.

7. Glue soldier clothespins along the bottom.

8. Seal and hang with ribbon glued to the back of the round with a popsicle stick for reinforcement!

I fit them together before adding glue, how would the glue stick with this style?

This is what I came up with, let's see if it works

I feel like it is a little off...

It holds notes, cards, photos—whatever needs a home during the holiday season. I can even leave notes for my husband on the door, imagine all the things I can ask or say... honey do list anyone? Husbands won't be able to claim not seeing it when it's literally on the door! Make one for your girlfriends, daughters, mothers, everyone could use one of these, teehee. 😉

Christmas Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

I created all five of these easy Christmas crafts using what I already have without buying a single supply.

And honestly? That felt good.

Crafting doesn’t have to mean a trip to the store. Sometimes the best projects are hiding right in your basement, closet, or junk drawer. We all have things we’ve been hanging on to “just in case,” and this is the perfect season to give them new life.

I wasn’t even sure I’d have the time (or the motivation) to do this today, but once I got going—well, you know how it goes with me. One project turns into five, and here we are. I thank you for the push, I really needed a break from the kitchen. I was about to loose my mind over here, and as you can see, I didn't need much to get me going. 

I can’t wait to see what the other Do It Over Designers created this month!
Hop through the links below and prepare to be inspired.

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Modern on Monticello

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Sum of Their Stories

Vintage Style Gal

And as for our kitchen?
No, we’re not even close to done.
Yes, I’m getting antsy.
And yes, I miss running water.

But today felt like a much-needed creative break. I feel so bad for not sharing for the past month, but I will, I was not prepared for this mess that is happening in our home. I always think, this will be a piece of cake, and guess what? It isn't, ha! 

Yes, I was working on the top of our washing machine for some of my projects. A gal sometimes has to do what she has to do. I felt revived after working on these projects, and it really brightened my day after receiving so much bad news lately, to say this project is not going as planned is an understatement, but hey! We have Christmas crafts, so there is the positive my friend.   

See you soon with more updates... I will be sharing a piece we refinished, and I have to say, I am so happy with how our Marketplace piece turned out.

Ciao,

Cara