A Handmade Christmas

Creating handmade Christmas gifts and crafts nurtures motor skills, simplicity, and joy in your family, while also offering an opportunity to save money in an increasingly intense economy.

I'm not a decorating queen, I've got three simple boxes of Christmas ornaments and I'm often gathering decor from the woods instead of the Target aisles.

Still, if you are hosting parties, or creating a cozy Christmas atmosphere in your homeschool it's fun to make a few simple decorations and gifts.

DIY Christmas Wreath

Create a beautiful, natural wreath using a grapevine base and fresh or faux greenery. We gathered extra greenery when we cut down our Christmas tree, but you can also use eucalyptus, olive, or other greener to fill in, as well as cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, and pinecones to decorate your wreath.

You’ll need:

• A grapevine wreath base
• Greenery stems
• Floral tape or wire
• Hot glue gun and glue
• String lights, if desired
• Optional ribbon or seasonal accents

Directions:

• Prepare your greenery. Trim your greenery into smaller, manageable stems. Arrange a few stems together at a time, mixing different varieties for a natural, layered look.
• Attach the greenery. Beginning at one point on the grapevine wreath, tuck the stems into the vines and secure them with floral tape or wire. Continue working around the wreath, overlapping each bundle so that the stems of the previous bundle are hidden by the greenery that follows.
• Fill in the gaps. Once you have worked your way around the wreath, add additional small stems wherever the grapevine is still visible or the wreath needs more fullness. Secure these with a small amount of hot glue.
• Add lights. If desired, gently weave a strand of battery-operated or other lightweight string lights throughout the greenery, tucking the wire into the wreath so it blends in.
• Finish and display. Fluff the greenery and adjust the stems until the wreath feels full and natural. Add a simple ribbon or other seasonal accent if desired.

Bring the Greenery Throughout Your Home

You can use the same simple technique to bring a cohesive, festive feeling throughout your home. Tuck greenery along the mantel, piano, bookshelves, or other surfaces, and place individual greenery stems in vases throughout the room. Weave your string lights through the greenery for a warm, welcoming glow.

The beauty of this approach is that it doesn't need to be perfect, layering greenery throughout your home creates a simple, abundant, and inviting holiday atmosphere.

Clay Wreath for Young Children

While the larger wreath making might be best for older children, preschoolers can make simple air dry clay wreaths by pressing small bits of greenery into clay circles. 

This sensory activity will give them a chance to work alongside you and improve their motor skills while also making pretty ornaments for the tree or for gift wrap.

Simple Handmade Gifts

Our history co-op celebrated Colonial History this month and as part of that celebration, we had a White Elephant gift exchange with gifts that we have made. This colonial spirit motivated me to also make a few little gifts, both for the exchange and for friends. 

Lavender Bath Salts

~ We started off with some lavender bath salts. I have lavender flowers which my gardener mother gave me and which I have been saving for this purpose.

~ My daughter mixed a package of epsom salts with a teaspoon of lavender oil and 1/4 cup of lavender flowers.

~ You could also add sea salt or magnesium flakes to your bath salt.

~ Mix well and place in pint sized mason jars.

~ Add a label and a ribbon to decorate your bath salts.

Altoid Tin Dolls

You’ll need:

• Scraps of fabric
• Small amount of stuffing
• White fabric for the face
• Needle and thread
• An Altoid tin
• Small scraps of fabric for a mattress and blanket

Instructions:

1. Make the doll pattern. Draw a simple doll shape. Cut out the pattern.
2. Cut the fabric. Use the pattern to cut two matching pieces of fabric.
3. Make the face. Cut a small round opening in one piece of fabric for the face.
4. Create the face. On a small piece of white fabric, stitch simple eyes and a mouth. Place it behind the opening and stitch it in place so it looks like a little baby tucked into a bunting.
5. Sew the doll. Place the two fabric pieces right sides together and sew around the edges, leaving a small opening.
6. Turn and stuff. Turn the doll right side out, gently stuff it, and sew the opening closed.
7. Make the bedding. Cut small pieces of fabric to create a little mattress and blanket.
8. Tuck your doll into the Altoid tin. Add the mattress, blanket, and doll to create a tiny bed.

These little dolls make sweet handmade gifts and are especially fun for children to make and play with. You can make them as little mice similar to a Maileg doll (similar idea linked here) or make simple baby dolls.

Making gifts with and for your children is not just a way to save money. It is also a lovely way to enjoy the quiet, cool days leading up to Christmas.

In our Peaceful Press Holiday Shop you can find several fun guides for Christmas making and fun.

📚 Our Holiday Homeschool Resources

Christmas Guide Volume 1

Christmas Guide Volume 2

Unearthing Wonder Advent Guide

The Holiday Book Flood

You might also enjoy reading:

Christmas Books and Toys for Intentional Families

Favorite Christmas Stories

 

This post updated 9/2026. Includes Affiliate links.