Week 15: Easy and Fast Christmas Decorations

Hi Everyone,

I know, I fell behind on posting again.  However, here are some quick and easy Christmas decorations you can make with items you may already own, or can find for cheap.

Remember that lantern of mine from Halloween?  I knew I would get to reuse it for the holidays! 

Pins that inspired- http://pinterest.com/pin/191191946650241859/

Materials:
Lantern
Candle
Ornaments

I took out my fall/halloween pumpkins and put those bad boys in the crafting closet.  While I had my ornaments out to make the window treatment, I set a few aside.  I had a cute winter pillar candle and put that in the center (there is actually a post in the middle of the latern for the purpose so the candle won't move around).  Then, I just filled my latern up!  Quick and easy.  You could always go to the dollar store for more ornaments or even Target's $1.00 bin area.

Tada!

Next, I saw this shadow box idea and fell in love, because I'm a dork. 

Pin that inspired: http://pinterest.com/pin/191191946650232412/

Materials:
Shadow Box frame
Scrapbook paper
Ornaments
Optional items include ribbon and stamps

I found the shadow box frame at IKEA in the "as is" section for $3 because it had a nick in it (which I covered up with black nail polish as it was too cold to go outside and spraypaint).  I have read online in other tutorials that you can buy these at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or Joann's for pretty cheap too.  My IKEA happens to not sell them in the store, and you have to order them online, so I lucked out that they had one.  I bought a piece of scrapbook paper for 59 cents at Michael's and used left over ornaments. 

All I did was put ornaments that would fit in the shadow box frame.  Next I took the back panel of the shadow box frame and cut my piece of scrapbook paper to the same size.  I then put everything back together and I was done!  I actually would like to get a thick red ribbon to tie around the frame like in the pin, but I really haven't wanted to brave the craft stores at the holidays. 

If you do want to do the stamp, you can find a stamp from your local craft store and stamp directly to the glass (if you use rubbing alcohol the ink from the stamp should come right off).  If you don't want to do that, you can always stamp directly on the scrapbook paper.  I like the idea of this project because you really can change out the paper and the ornaments to give the shadow box a different feel, as often as you'd like.

I ended up adding more ornaments in too since all I had to do was take off the back cover :)