Creating Christmas Magic with DIY Decor: Ornaments, Cranberry Garlands, and Crafty Fun

After being a total Scrooge last year, I decided this year I’d do a 180 and become “Christmas Magic Mom.” Christmas Magic mom is still overwhelmed, busy, and exhausted, but we’re adding in ✨crafts✨. In all seriousness, I see no reason to pretend that Christmas “magic” a la DIY ornaments, beautifully decorated trees, or hand made gifts doesn’t rest on the back of a very tired mother. BUT, as a very tired mother, when I think back to the magic of my childhood Christmas (thank you to my very tired mother), it’s an experience I don’t want my kids to miss out on. We started off early by making all of our Christmas tree decor- from dried oranges to the cranberry garland, here’s how to DIY your way to a magical (inexpensive, home made, beautiful) Christmas:

DIY Christmas Tree Decor: Dried Orange Ornaments

This was probably the easiest and most beautiful DIY.

Instructions:

1. Set oven to 200 F

2. Slice oranges (try to slice evenly so they are all similar size), and pat them dry with a paper towel. Drying them is a very important step- don't skip it!

3. Put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in oven for 3-4 hours, flipping every 30 minutes.

4. You will know they are done when they become more stiff and begin to darken in color.

5. Place them on a cooling rack. When cool, poke a hole in the top and thread a string or ribbon through to hang on the tree!

Cranberry Garlands

This is a no prep way to add the most gorgeous dimension to your tree or garlands! The varying colors in the berries are so beautiful. All you do- buy a big ol' bag of cranberries, and use a needle and thread to string them together. It's very fun to include popcorn in the garland, but I found that the popcorn easily fell off and was making a big mess, so stuck with just cranberries. They are slowly drying on the garland and still look lovely weeks later!

Initially I tried to dry the cranberries in the oven but they turned in to more cranberry jam than slightly dried cranberries. However, I tossed them all in a pot with water and some other goodies and accidentally made the most delicious smelling simmer pot ever. It smells like walking in to the Claus lodge (they live in a North Pole lodge, right?) and was so easy and fast- find the recipe here!

PS- For a tutorial on the DIY Quilted stockings (pictured above) I made out of a thrifted quilt click here

Air Dry Clay Ornaments

These are not a quick and super easy DIY. The process of using the air dry clay was pretty straight forward, although it was a bit tricky to get impressions- you have to use a LOT of pressure. Also- make sure the ornament is the exact shape you'd like while still wet. I was planning on smoothing edges after it dried by lightly sanding, and cracked the ornament in two. They are pretty fragile and crumbly. Also note that it takes 2-3 days to dry!

A lot of people paint and seal them, which was my original intention, but I couldn't bring myself to paint over the little hand print. I do think they's be so sweet painted though!

Ribbons: How to Tie the perfect Christmas bow

Step one: fold the ribbon in half and grab a little bunny ear on each side

Step Two: Fold one bunny ear over and around the other

Step Three: Pull the bunny ear through the hole.

Step Four: Pull the bunny ears tight

Step Five: adjust the bow to your preferences

We may carry the weight of creating Christmas magic, but it’s in these little moments of crafting and decorating that we create memories our children will cherish forever. So, take a moment, embrace the mess, and let the magic of a handmade Christmas fill your home with joy and warmth. After all, the most magical moments come more from the love and effort we pour into them than a perfect end result.