$100 Christmas: Trimming the Tree

 

Trimming the Tree

How fun it would be to have a tree trimming party.  Invite friends and family over to make things to decorate your tree with.  Later, have a potluck dinner and a movie and do some baking together or make ornaments together.  

STRING POPCORN

String popcorn to make an inexpensive garland for your tree.  It would be a fun activity that the whole family could participate in and hopefully there will be enough popcorn to string after everyone snacks on it.  All you need is a needle and thread and you are good to go.  You could turn on a Christmas movie to watch while you engage in this activity, or you can just gather around the fire and spend time together talking and snitching popcorn.  

USE CEREAL TO MAKE GARLAND

Use any “O” shaped cereal like Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Cheerios, etc. to string and hang up on the tree for garland.  

PAPER CHAINS

Paper chains are easy to make and can be used for garland for your Christmas tree.  You can buy colored paper in the store or you can use paper scraps you do not need from home.  Take crayons and draw pictures if you would like.  

SNOWFLAKES

Remember back in grade school when your teacher would give you a white piece of paper and you folded it up and cut out a snowflake?  It was fun to try to do different designs and hand them up.  You can use snowflakes for window decorations or for ornaments on the tree.  

PINECONE ORNAMENTS/GIFTS

Instead of buying store bought ornaments, go outside and collect some pine cones.  Purchase some glue and red or gold glitter and you have some easy-to-make ornaments for your tree or to give as gifts.  You can use this as a gift for your child’s teacher as well!  Google pinecone ornament online, and you will find all sorts of creative ideas for ornaments that are Christmas trees, birds, angels, reindeer, elves, etc.  They look really fun to make.  What a great family activity.  Sometimes the simple things are the most beautiful ones.  

GINGERBREAD/SUGAR COOKIE ORNAMENTS

Instead of going out and buying ornaments, make some gingerbread men or some sugar cookies and wrap in plastic bags and hang from the tree.  When guests come, let them choose a cookie from the tree to eat or to take home.  

CANDY CANES

Hang candy canes on the tree and share with family and friends who come to visit.

CHEAP DECORATIONS

Get cheap decorations from garage sales.  Sometimes you can find them for free!

POPCORN BALL ORNAMENTS

Make popcorn balls and hand them on the tree.  You can put them in plastic bags with a ribbon.  Try making caramel popcorn balls or use coloring to make them red or green.

ORNAMENTS FROM MITTENS

Make some homemade mittens out of scrap material or paper or yarn to hang up on the tree.  You can put candy, money, little gifts or notes inside of the mittens if you want.  Send a mitten ornament home with someone and they can enjoy the surprise inside.  If you don’t want to make the ornaments, use real mittens and put things inside for whoever owns the mittens.  

PICTURE ORNAMENTS

Take pictures throughout the holiday season and put them up on the tree in an inexpensive frame made out of twigs, popsicle sticks, or whatever you can find around the house.  Seeing the pictures of the things you are doing during the holiday season helps keep the memories alive and close and will remind people of the fun they had.

ORIGAMI ORNAMENTS

For those people who enjoy paper folding, make some origami ornaments for your christmas tree out of recycled paper or whatever you can find that will work.

CINNAMON APPLESAUCE ORNAMENTS

Try making some ornaments out of applesauce and cinnamon.  They are easy to make and smell amazing!  There are recipes and instructions online if you are interested.

PLAYDOUGH ORNAMENTS

Make ornaments out of playdough.  You can be as creative as you want.  

SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

Make salt dough ornaments and paint them.  Recipes can be found online if you are interested.