DIY Xmas Decorations

I have been trying to get into the holiday spirit, which is kinda difficult to do in sunny Los Angeles. I left behind all of my tree trimmings the last time that I moved and didn't want to go out and buy all new things, so my tree is full of found objects. I even used the head of a goat piñata left over from a birthday party this summer for the tree topper. Here is my inexpensive, DIY solution for ornaments and a fun craft night activity with friends.

Beer Can Diorama Ornaments
Materials:
22oz beer cans (can really be any size that you want)
matte knife
heavy duty scissors
hot glue gun
fake snow or moss
ribbon/trimmings
miniatures

Take any tall boy can of beer and using a matte knife, cut out the front part of the can. Using a pair of heavy duty scissors, clean up the rough edges or create more of a stylized shape to the opening. It would be best to hot glue metallic braiding or some type of ribbon around the edges, as they are sharp and it would look cleaner.



Visualize whatever you want for your diorama. I made one with snowflakes on the inside of the can and fake snow at the bottom, with a tree and deer miniature.



The second diorama I made to look like a moss-covered stage with miniature ballerinas. If I had more time and some fishing line, I would have hung tiny metal stars from the top.



For a third one I would turn the can on its side and put cellophane water and a little canoe with an animal in it. When you are finished with your diorama, simply tie a ribbon around the beer top and it is ready to hang on the tree. I used the leftover aluminum scraps to cut out hearts and star ornaments for the tree. All you have to do is drill a small hole at the top and hang with an ornament hook. So easy, so sharp!



Holiday Mantlepiece
A simple and festive way to spruce up a mantle is with a wintry scene. I just put some miniature evergreens on the mantle with a heavy dusting of fake snow and added mini deer and candlelight for dramatic effect. So easy, so flammable!



What to do if you don't have a Mantlepiece
If you do not have a fireplace, you need not fret. There are festive ways to fake it. I made another holiday display out of hand made xmas stockings and tacked them to the wall in my entryway. Last year my big crafting project (besides hand-sewing 30 felt owls on a xmas tree skirt) was making a fabric advent calendar, which I hung between the stockings. It is fun to hide notions into the little pockets or bigger things in the stockings for when guests come over. So easy, so thoughtful!



Red Velvet Snowman Cupcakes
I saw these little sweeties at a party last night and thought it would be wonderfully clever to make. You would just need to garnish the frosting with coconut flakes for snow and use two large marshmallows for the snowman. The junior mint cap was a nice touch. So easy, so edible!



When you want winter in a place that doesn't snow...
A Can of Magical Snow from Berlin


When you are really creative and have time on your side...
Giant Luchador Sculpture at KGB Studio Party