We lost a whole tote full of Christmas decorations this year. I went to unpack it and found everything was wet. A large snowglobe had leaked. Everything was moldy and had to be thrown away.

We don't have any extra money right now to replace anything. It is important to me, because of our kids, ages 5 & 2, to have the house look special and festive for the holidays. I am searching for frugal ideas of homemade decorations. All ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lisa

have your 5 year old help you make construction paper garland. also pop some pop corn and string it up. you could paint some elbow macaroni to make garland strings. make cut out snowflakes from white paper you could even have them color them in christmas colors for fun.

i would have it about them making the stuff not only is it fun for them but gives them a sense of pride that they could make and help decorate!

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

I am a pro at this!

DD first xmas I had maybe $5 to my name, but was determined to give her a xmas.

We collect tops from soda bottles and painted them different colors and even glue buttons, glitter, rick-rack and anything else on them. Drilled a hole in the top and put a string in them and hung them on the tree.

We took different gum wrappers and made a chain for the tree.

We took those rings that you put on canning jars for the lids and painted them and cut round shapes out of wrapping paper and glue a cardboard back on them and hung them on the tree.

I took old burn out light bulbs, painted them different colors and hung them on the tree.

I took pinecones, painted them different colors and threw them in a basket with a bright red bow.

Just look around, you will be suprised at the ideals that come to ya!

you can also put a feather inside a clear ornament for a very expensive looking ornament for CHEAP! It's amazing how easy it is and how nice it looks. String with a coordinating color ribbon and voila!

You can also use the plain glass ornaments of various colors and paint them with glitter pens if you have them.

You could also find instructions online for origami ornaments, those are always cool.

Not sure where you live, but if possible, go outside and collect evergreens, magnolia leaves, etc. and red berries. Ok...nix the red berries with a 2 year old. Instead, tie some bows out of any ribbon, tissue paper, or raffia you have around the house.

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If you have holiday themed cookie cutters, you can trace them on brown construction paper or brown grocery bags, cuts them out, decorate them, put a hole at the top of it, hang on tree with some ribbon or string.