It’s about that time of year again, collegiettes; so feel free to listen to your Christmas music, make a countdown until finals are over and bake all the cookies you want. However, don’t forget the most important part of the holiday season: decorations. If you’re anything like me, you are probably already planning on turning your dorm room into a winter wonderland. Here is a compiled list of DIY holidays crafts to get your started. Enjoy!
Felt Acorns
What you’ll need:
- acorn caps
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- felted wool (or any material scraps)
Steps:
- Cut the felt/material into small circles (a bit larger than the width of the acorn cap) and save any extra scraps to stuff these circles.
- Fill the cap of the acorn with hot glue (be prepared to move quickly onto step 3).
- Gather up the circle with the stuffing scraps inside and place the open end into the glue-filled cap. Press firmly.
These little acorns look great in a small bowl, scattered among your jewelry dish, or even hung up with yarn or clear string. Add them to your t-shirt wreath (see below) or use them when wrapping gifts!
NOTE: To save time, purchase premade felt balls at the craft store.
3-D Paper Snowflakes
What you’ll need:
- scissors
- stapler
- tape
- six 8”x8” squares of paper per snowflake (you can vary these dimensions if you want a few different sized snowflakes)
Steps:
- Fold each square in half diagonally. Holding the paper with the point facing outwards, cut three parallel lines on both sides of the triangle (see image below). NOTE: Do NOT let the cuts meet in the middle!
- Unfold the paper so the diamond shape faces you. Take the two innermost paper lines and connect them to form a tube. Tape it shut.
- Flip the diamond over. Taking the next most inner pieces, connect them as you did in step 2 (continue this step, flipping the diamond over, until no flaps are left).
- Take three completed segments (from steps 2-3) and join them together at one end. Staple it closed. Repeat with three remaining segments. You should now have two halves of one snowflake.
- Staple these two halves together and staple where each of the arms meet one another (there should be 6 staples all around),
I hung these in my suite hallway last year and everyone loved them. If you want to hang them, simply punch a hold in the end of one segment and attach string. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, add some glitter!
Fabric Ball Ornaments
What You’ll Need:
- 2” or 3” Styrofoam balls
- fabric
- pins
- ribbon
- scissors
- glue
- beads or pearl-headed pins (if desired)
Steps:
- Using Martha Stewart’s template, cut out six segments of fabric per ball.
- Attach one segment of fabric by stretching it taut from one pole of the ball to the other. Secure both ends with pins.
- Attach a second segment of fabric directly opposite the first. Continue adding segments this way until the entire ball is covered.
- By wrapping ribbon around the ball, cover the seams between fabric segments. Pin ribbon into place.
- Trim any extra material and glue any fraying fabric edges.
- Make a loop from your ribbon (or string) and pin the loose edges through the top of your ornament (you may want to dip the pin in glue before securing it to the styrofoam). This is how the ornament will hang.
- Add additional beads, pins, tassels or ribbons. Glue where necessary. Let dry before hanging.
These ornaments look great and make for a really special gift. Plus, ornaments do not have to be hung on trees; they can be hung around your room on doorknobs, towel hooks or even placed decoratively in bowls.
T-Shirt Wreath
What you’ll need:
- one wire hanger (or wreath form)
- hot glue
- t-shirts (solid or patterned)
- scissors
- buttons, ribbon and ornaments (if desired)
Steps:
- If using a wire hanger, bend it into a circular shape. Bend the hook into a loop so that your wreath can be hung (remember that this will be the top).
- Cut your t-shirt horizontally into strips. Feel free to cut the strips into various sizes to add some variety.
- Attach the strips to the hanger or wreath form. I recommend folding the strip in half, placing it under the wire and putting the two longer ends through the top loop. Pull it taut.
- Add various bows or ornaments to spice up the wreath.
NOTE: You may want to use green shirts and red accents to make a Christmas-themed wreath; or a variety of red, orange, brown and yellow shirts for some Thanksgiving fun!
I love this craft because it feels very much like an Anthropologie advertisement to me. Plus, it is easy to gather the supplies for this craft because everyone has old t-shirts lying around (if not, find a cheap option at a dollar store or thrift store). Find other cool wreath ideas here, here or here!
Not only do DIY creations look amazing, they give you a sense of pride (after all, you put in the hard work) and they are easy to manage on a college budget. After you’ve practiced crafting by making your own holiday decorations, think about using your newly honed, Martha Stewart-esque skills to make great holiday gifts! After all, don’t Mom and Dad always say the best gifts are the ones you make?
Sources:
Fabric Ball Ornaments (photo): Martha Stewart. 11 Nov 2011. http://www.marthastewart.com/272053/fabric-balls?czone=holiday/workshop-christmas/workshop-christmas-stock
Felt Acorns (photo): designsponge.com. 11 Nov 2011. http://assets4.designsponge.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/il_fullxfull.109092763.jpg
Paper Snowflake Steps (photo): wikihow.com. 11 Nov 2011. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake
T-Shirt Wreath (photo): Kids, Cats, Clutter and Klutz.11 Nov 2011. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uf6_i3-6Lfo/TVF1DHNeGeI/AAAAAAAAAJM/br2RJisZnZ0/s320/DSC00996.JPG
Davis, Donette. “How to Make a 3D Paper Snowflake.” kidscatsclutterandklutz.blogspot.com. 16 Dec 2007. 11 Nov 2011. <“>http://www.marthastewart.com/272053/fabric-balls>.
Tonia. “{Tutorial Tuesday} Felt Acorns.” TheGunnySack.com. 20 Sept 2011. 9 Nov 2011. <“>http://kidscatsclutterandklutz.blogspot.com/2011/02/t-shirt-wreath.html>.