Here at H&H, the countdown to the holidays has officially begun! One of our favorite ways to celebrate the season is by filling our homes with handmade decorations. From wreaths and garlands to stylish and unique gift-wrapping ideas, click through for our best holiday crafts from the archives.
Trade your traditional Christmas count-down calendar for a unique flower tree version. This pretty project doubles as a festive decoration for any tabletop.
Learn how to make our Flower Tree Advent Calendar.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2019
Designer: Morgan Michener & Stacey Smithers
Glowy lanterns filled with miniature houses, bottle brush trees and snow (read: cotton batting) are sure to make the season bright.
Learn how to make our Wintry Lanterns.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
It’s so easy to transform plain paper into artful gift wrap. Simply grab some rubber gloves and powder dye, and get dippin’!
Learn how to make our Dip-Dyed Gift Wrap.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Introducing a sweet, stylish and simple project to personalize those crackers everyone loves opening on Christmas day.
Learn how to make our Custom Christmas Crackers.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2019
Designer: Lynda Reeves
Bring some merry to your windows this holiday with a heavenly group of paper bag stars.
Learn how to make our Colorful Paper Bag Stars.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Making your own wreath is easy and fun! This one includes fresh greenery and faux winter florals for a look that feels elegant yet moody.
Learn how to make our Fresh & Faux Wreath.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
This season, give presents that are just as thoughtfully wrapped as they are picked. Personalizing gifts is as simple as putting paint brush to paper or decorating gift wrap with cutouts of seasonal greenery.
Learn how to make our Creative Gift Wrap.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home November 2017
Designer: Jen Masseau
Shine a light on your table this season with a festive centerpiece. Add a ring of pomegranates — a symbol of good luck and abundance — to the mix for an extra rich holiday look.
Learn how to make our Seasonal Centerpiece.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
A felt garland — rather than the expected swag of greenery — feels fresh and new for the holidays.
Learn how to make our Felt Leaf Garland.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Turn ordinary presents into haute gifts by wrapping them in tissue or scraps of solid-colored fabric you have laying around the house.
Learn how to make our Elegant Gift Wrap.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2019
Designer: Lynda Reeves
Wood blocks dipped in a tranquil shade of blue make a lovely menorah when placed en masse.
Learn how to make our Ombre Wood Block Menorah.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Pantry staples and holiday spices (read: star anise seed pods) are the key ingredients you’ll need to make a batch of these charming handmade ornaments.
Learn how to make our Salt Dough Ornaments.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Finally — a good-looking place to display all those holiday cards! Place gift bags with candle cut outs beneath this tree’s towering branches to further glow up your festive decorating.
Learn how to make our Holiday Card Tree & Hanukkah Candle Gift Bags.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer: Jennifer Koper & Kai Ethier
Don’t know what to do with all of your wrapping paper scraps? Turn them into kirigami bows — it’s an origami technique that involves cutting and folding paper.
Learn how to make our Wrapping Paper Kirigami Bows.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home December 2019
Designer: Kai Ethier & Jennifer Koper
Add festive charm to a mirror with a Georgian-inspired wreath overlay. It offers an old world look thats elegant enough to be hung anywhere, from the front hall to the dining room.
Learn how to make our Georgian-Inspired Mirror Wreath.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home December 2016
Designer: Lauren Petroff
Deck the halls with dried orange slices this holiday season! In Graham Kechnie and Andraya Frith’s old stone house, the citrus fruit is used to make ornaments for their Douglas fir.
Learn how to make Dried Orange Ornaments.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2017
And in their master bedroom, a garland made from dried oranges decks out the fireplace.
Learn how to make a Dried Orange Garland.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2017
Dress up windows (or doors) with a more natural, homemade wreath made from berries, pinecones and evergreen bough.
Learn how to make Natural Christmas Wreaths.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home November 2017
Celebratory crackers are a must during the holidays! Play around with the different patterns to suit your home’s holiday palette.
Learn how to make Custom Christmas Crackers.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home December 2016
Designer: Joel Bray & Jennifer Koper
Instead of splurging on a centerpiece, make your own using faux-aged glass bottles, paired with spray-painted leaves and branches for a touch of metallic glam.
Learn how to make Gilded Leaves.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Meg Crossley
Skip the predictable bow in favor of intricate paper toppers, like this spiky star and 3-D paper ball.
Learn how to make Paper Gift Toppers.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Lynda Felton
No Christmas countdown is complete without an advent calendar. Take cues from our senior editor Sally Armstrong who used twigs for a simple, natural look and linen bags to hold each day’s surprise treat.
Learn how to make our Advent Calendar.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2014
Everyone loves a party favors. Fill cones with candy and keep them on a tray by the front door to give to guests as they leave.
Learn how to make Paper Cone Party Favors.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2013
For a playful look, dress your mantel with a pompom garland done in a sophisticated sugar-plum palette.
Learn how to make our Pompom Garland.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Stacey Smithers
Instead of stowing Christmas cards away, show them off by clipping them to a clothespin.
Learn how to make our Christmas Card Garland.
Photographer: Ashley Capp
Source: House & Home November 2013
Designer: Lynda Felton
This multipurpose holiday gift tree idea can work three ways: as a chic advent calendar, a party-favor display, or as a small space-friendly tree!
Learn how to make our Holiday Gift Tree.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Joel Bray & Jennifer Koper
Don’t have the space for a towering evergreen? Try a crafty approach to a Christmas tree like this chalkboard wall hanging.
Learn how to make our Chalkboard Christmas Tree.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home November 2010
Designer: Joel Bray
Set the tone for your holiday soiree with a standout paper garland strung on the stairs.
Learn how to make our Festive Paper Garland.
Photographer: Ashley Capp and Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home December 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill
Instead of a classic wreath, hang a DIY lantern with an old-world feel on the inside or outside of your front door.
Learn how to make our Holiday Lantern.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox and Felix Wedgwood
Source: House & Home December 2013
Designer: Meg Crossley
Baked goods make for great gifts around the holidays, especially when they’re wrapped in a nice little package. This origami-style wrapping comes with two pockets so that you can add a little something extra, like a gift card or a tea bag, to go with your cookies.
Learn how to make our Holiday Cookie Package.
Photographer: Jason Stickley
Designer: Jennifer Koper
Count down to Christmas with this stylish advent calendar made out of a repurposed picture frame.
Learn how to make our Vintage-Inspired Holiday Calendar.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2013
Designer: Margot Austin
Don’t have the space for a full-grown Christmas tree? Pot a mini pine tree instead. These also make for great hostess gifts.
Learn how to dress up a Mini Potted Tree.
Photographer: Luis Albuquerque
Source: House & Home November 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill & Lauren Petroff
Mimic the look of winter greenery covered in a blanket of snow with this seasonal leaf garland DIY.
Learn how to make our Seasonal Leaf Garland.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home November 2012
Designer: Sarah Hartill
Photocopy vintage Christmas cards on cardstock to create this simple garland idea.
Learn how to make our Vintage Garland.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2013
Designer: Margot Austin
This sweet take on place cards is a fun way to welcome guests, and they can double as party favors.
Learn how to make our Mini Gift Box.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Lynda Felton
Dress up your mantel with these customizable paper lanterns that offer a glowy look.
Learn how to make our Holiday Mantle Decor.
Photographer: Luis Albuquerque
Source: House & Home November 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill & Lauren Petroff
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