This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SAU chapter.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season is by going to the Festival of Trees at the River Center in Davenport the week of Thanksgiving. You get to surround yourself with Christmas festivities and look at all the creative ideas different people in the area have come up with. It’s always a jolly good time since I enjoy being there with my family. It’s great quality time for us and I was even more blessed this year to share this event with my boyfriend’s family as well! We all enjoyed looking at all the amazing decorations and deciding which trees, stockings, displays and ornaments we liked the best. To spread on the holiday cheer on to all of you, if you find yourself needing a break in between finals or want to celebrate being done with them when you get home, then this is the article for you. Get your scissors and glue out because it’s DIY ornament time!!

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Bring the Northern Lights right to your living room or celebrate with some classic holiday tunes while dancing around your musical themed tree!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest

Who says your tree can’t dress to impress this Christmas season?

Oh Sheet, is it Really Almost Christmas?

If you dropped the ball on shopping for the holidays, filling an empty ornament with sheet music or tinsel is a crowd pleasing, go-to gift to save your butt!

Some Trees are Worth Melting For

Grab a bucket of Melty Beads and get creative. The Star on top of your tree is the limit!

The Disco Era is “Stayin’ Alive” on Your Tree This Year

Create a base of your choice and then glue some small mirror fragments on top and you can single handedly bring back disco for your holiday pleasure!

Seas ‘n’ Greetings

It may be snowing outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t vacation at Waikiki beach right here at home!

‘Tis the Season for Good Vibes

Channel your inner hippie, or Bonnarovian,* vibes with this flower child spin on the holidays!

*a Bonnarovian is someone who attends the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee, and enjoys celebrating the good and positive things in life :)

A Record Snow This Christmas

Home is where the vinyl is, right?

Bottoms Up

The perfect memento from your study abroad trips, or other vacations, when you cracked open a cold one while soaking up those memories!

A FantaSTICK Christmas

When you’re a broke college student with a low Christmas budget, it’s time to take a hike and use what you can find!

Knock on Wood for Some Great Christmas Cheer

Channel your artistic powers and combine that with your holiday spirit to personalize your tree this year!

No One Will Bead Alone for Christmas

Make your tree unique like a snowflake or even make someone’s day with this homemade, frosted treasure!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for… Whiteys!

These cute, mini ice cream cups are perfect for attaching a ribbon and making a themed tree or a souvenir ornament from the QC!

A Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas

It doesn’t take much to pull out some white paper and cut out snowflakes to cover your house! Sometimes, that’s all it takes to get in the holiday spirit :)

For advanced snowflake making activities, try 3D Snowflakes!

Here is a link for instructions: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

Merry Christmas, Everyone!! HCXO

All photos provided by me :)

Gifs from: https://giphy.com/gifs/hulu-snl-saturday-night-live-nbc-3o7TKMf5HQQlZvv9Cg and https://giphy.com/gifs/foxhomeent-3o7TKLHb0PWRNnoVq0

DIY Christmas Ornaments