Simple Christmas crafts are a great way to exercise your inner artist. Not only are they a fun way to get involved in the holidays, they sometimes offer you a chance to be more environmentally friendly, save money, and add a personal touch to the holidays. How can you go wrong?

One of the biggest offenders during the Christmas season is gift wrap. Most of it can't even be recycled, so you wind up with piles and piles in landfills the day after Christmas.

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Not all kids crafts for Christmas are simple and easy. Sometimes, it's worth asking kids to put in some effort to make something really astonishing -- something they will treasure for years to come. These incredible eggshell Christmas crafts do require some adult assistance and work, but they are inexpensive, not overly difficult to make, and look more impressive than anything you would buy in a store.

There are many different options for these crafts depending on the age and ability of the kids you're working with. I've listed a few adaptations below, but feel free to use your imagination: there are no wrong answers when it comes to crafting.

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Homemade Christmas decorations make the holidays special. Sure, storebought decorations have a certain charm, and they're often beautiful centerpieces. But if you really want your holiday to have that old fashioned family feel, you need to do some decorating all by yourself.

Homemade Christmas decorations aren't just fun and impressive looking, they can be very easy. You don't have to be Martha Stewart or have a few weeks of free time to turn out beautiful, easy decorations like these homemade Christmas baubles.

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I love Christmas crafts for kids. They are what Christmas is all about: kids having fun, being creative, and getting into the spirit of the season. That's why there are so many crafts for little hands kicking around. Doing crafts with children really puts me in the spirit, and I can tell that most of you feel the same way.

When it comes to a craft like this cute, fun mitten wreath, there are dozens of different ways to do it depending on the age and abilities of the children you're working with. For example, a kindergarten class could have each child make one mitten and (with the help of adults or older children) glue them onto a communal wreath to create a class decoration.

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It's tricky to find easy, inexpensive Christmas craft gift ideas. That's why I love these personalized mousepads. It's true that for some people, mousepads are a thing of the past: with all the new technology that has come out, you often don't even need a mousepad. Many people still like them, however, and you can't go wrong with a personalized Christmas craft designed specifically to someone's tastes.

In my case, I have a sister who loves butterflies, so my example involves a butterfly mousepad. The cool thing with this craft, though, is that you could really do just about any theme you like. There are no limits to your imagination.

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Nothing says Christmas like a pinecone wreath. I've bought many at craft fairs and I've loved every one of them -- until, that is, I realized how easy they were to make myself. There are so many variations of pinecone wreaths that you won't believe how easy it is to make one that's totally unique and original to your own family.

Don't worry if you don't have pinecones handy -- you can easily buy them at a local craft store. Better yet, you can get wonderfully yummy cinnamon scented pine cones at most department stores as Christmas draws near. That gives you best of both worlds -- Christmas crafts with Christmas smell!

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It can be hard to find Christmas crafts for everyone on your list. Either they're too hard for the little ones or too easy for the big ones, or the grown ups aren't really interested... but in the spirit of holiday togetherness, it's a good idea to find at least a few crafts the family can do together.

Christmas crackers are perfect crafts for everyone. They're fun, and you can do them in a variety of styles so everyone from the very young to the very old can participate and make them as intricate as they like. Furthermore, Christmas crackers are a fun tradition, and the commercial ones are expensive and unimpressive. These are more interesting. They also make great holiday gifts.

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At this time of year, we're all looking for Christmas card ideas. This is especially true if you like to do crafts with younger children. There's nothing quite like a homemade Christmas card to give to Mom or Dad, or to send off to Grandma and Grandpa, or your favorite aunts and uncles.

Unfortunately, while still cute, our very youngest kids tend to make indecipherable cards with scrawls of crayons we have to label as trees and presents. Of course, this type of card has its place. But sometimes you want Christmas card ideas that double as crafts for children of various ages, or you may want something that looks a bit more impressive.

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Kids of all ages love the traditional Advent calendar. Counting down the days to Christmas is something we all love to do. Adults and kids alike can have a great time making this easy Christmas craft.

There are dozens of options with a simple craft like this. One thing I love to do is have the kids work together to make Advent calendars for one another. In my family, each child takes a special trip to the discount store to buy candies, treats, and tiny toys they think their sibling might like. Then we work together to create calendars for one another and hide the toys inside. It's a tiny gift from brother or sister every day of December.

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Christmas ornament crafts can sometimes get complicated. These beaded trees are actually very easy to make once you get the hang of them. I can do a whole batch sitting in front of the TV, and they're great for so much more than just hanging on a mini Christmas tree. They work well as gift adornments, Christmas jewelry, charms, and so much more... these really are my go-to craft of the season.

The instructions are a little bit complicated, but again, the craft itself couldn't be easier. Just string your beads and feed the line back through each section -- after practicing the first few times, you'll barely have to look anymore. Your hands will know what to do.

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I love making Christmas crafts, especially ones that provide me with something I want to preserve and make more of! I was able to transform a simple 18-inch tall plain fake Christmas tree into a beautiful dried floral Christmas tree craft to display in my front entryway.

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At Christmastime, I'm always looking for kids craft ideas. The kids so eagerly await the arrival of Santa it can be hard to focus all that energy. Let them unleash their creativity with great Christmas arts and crafts for kids that you can treasure for years to come. With simple craft supplies, this can keep the kids busy for hours.

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Every Christmas, I love unpacking all the decorations that we have made over the years. We love to see the crafts that we have tried over the years-- some have been not so successful, but never fail to bring a smile to our faces anyway. There is one of my favorite Christmas tree decorating ideas that my kids love unpacking year after year-- the long garland I made out of Christmas patterned fabrics.

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I receive several Christmas catalogues around this time of year and there are always varieties of ideas that use felt crafts. While some are extraordinarily detailed, others are simple forms that you can use creatively to make something special. By using some simple cookie cutters or templates found online, cut shapes out of felt and use them for wrapping presents, making ornaments, or creating a garland.

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Cranberries aren't just for eating anymore. Try these 7 different uses to turn bags of fresh cranberries into easy Christmas crafts. They're colorful, fresh, and inexpensive to purchase. Don't settle for pre-made decorations when you can make your own. Here are a few ideas to spice up your home with cranberries this Christmas.

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I've tried these Christmas projects before, but they were not as big a success as they were this time. These mini sparkle trees are easier and more shimmery than before. I started down this path to find a better method to one of my previous crafts. This time, I stuck with a theme -- the color purple. All of my recent Christmas craft projects for the home have been purple and silver. Together, they look fabulous!

Prepare these Christmas crafts projects and check out the crafts in the week to come to find how I have paired this tree with another craft to create a fun and fresh centerpiece.

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These adorable snowmen are excellent Christmas crafts to sell during the holidays. Instead of shopping booth to booth at your local holiday fair, open one of your own. For a small cost on craft supplies, you can create a variety of festive holiday people, starting with this snowman. Use these Christmas craft ideas to sell snowmen, nutcrackers, penguins, and Santas.

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Your parents have probably told you at some point in your life that Christmas is not about the gifts. For the sake of these Christmas crafts, gifts are everything! You'll prove your parents wrong and brighten up any room in your house. Trust me!

These gifts are creative Christmas craft projects that are simple or as elaborate as you would like them. When painting your gifts, think of your favorite holiday colors, images, words, or gift wrap designs. The goal is to have fun while designing your own masterpieces.

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Christmas craft decorations should be fun for everyone. With these sparkly trees, all hands are on deck to build your next family favorite. The use of crafts for Christmas decorations is a way to bring your kids together during those hectic weeks of school, activities, and work. Let this Christmas craft decoration do just that for you.

Clear off an open area of floor, table, or patio pavement and round up the kids for a fun time with beads, glue, and ribbon.

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Who says making Christmas crafts has to be an expensive and complicated process? Make Christmas crafts that make sense. Turn your everyday pillar candle into a gorgeous holiday work-of-art. You will enjoy this creative and inexpensive craft so much that you might find yourself picking up pillar candles during every shopping trip!

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Combine the sound of jingle bells and the season's first snow into Christmas crafts that will hang beautifully from your tree, your staircase, or any place in your home that beckons a festive touch. These Christmas craft projects are great for adults looking to host craft parties with friends. A few supplies go a long way in this simple, fun, and impressive Christmas craft!

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Whether you're making Christmas centerpieces for your own family, a staff party, or a church banquet, here are three easy ideas you can't do without!

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There are many reasons people turn to homemade and edible Christmas gifts. They're sick of the commercialization, they prefer personalizing the gifts they give, or they don't trust the quality and standards of many things you get commercially. Well, these are all legitimate reasons, and if you're in the mood for a homemade Christmas, you might want to keep food on your Christmas giving list.

Food is always a popular gift, but there are only so many boxes of chocolates and jars of muffin mix one person can use. That's why I love to give these homemade Christmas oatmeal packets. They taste delicious, are practical, require very little effort or money, and -- best of all -- they put you in the driver's seat as far as sugar and fat are concerned.

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