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Dollar Tree Christmas crafts are my favorite kind of holiday project. Most things cost about $1.25, nothing needs fancy tools, and somehow the finished craft still looks like you spent real money.
Picture a mantel full of tiny snowy trees. A wreath that looks like it came from a boutique. A glowing jar on your table that cost less than a coffee. Now imagine a friend asking where you bought it, and you get to say, “Oh, I made that.”
I fill a basket in the craft aisle every fall, so I have made plenty of mistakes you can skip. Here are 30 Dollar Tree Christmas crafts DIY projects to start this weekend. Each one tells you what to grab, how to put it together, and the one thing to watch out for. No crafting skills needed. Promise.
Dollar Tree Christmas Crafting Tips
A little planning saves you glue, money, and extra trips to the store. Before I start any Dollar Tree craft, I make a short list of what I need and walk the whole store once before I fill my basket. Here are the four things I check first.
- Prices: Most items are $1.25, but a few craft kits cost up to about $5. Prices change, so check your local store.
- Core supplies: A mini hot glue gun, paint pens, and a few rolls of ribbon cover most crafts on this list.
- Shop early: Christmas craft items show up in the fall, and the best ones sell out fast. Buy two of anything you love.
- Stay safe: Use flameless candles in every craft that holds a candle. Glue, paper, and real flames do not mix.
One last tip: lay out every supply on a table before you start. It keeps the glue gun hot for less time and stops you from hunting for scissors mid-craft.
1. Fillable Clear Ornaments With Faux Snow
Grab the clear plastic ornaments and fill them with faux snow, mini pom poms, or little scraps of ribbon. Finish with a bow at the top. Roll a piece of paper into a funnel first, because faux snow goes everywhere.
2. Wood Frame Ornaments Painted With Paint Pens
Little wood frames turn into photo ornaments in about ten minutes. Paint them with paint pens, then glue a tiny family photo inside. Wood soaks up color, so do two thin coats instead of one thick one.
3. Pom Pom Garland For The Tree
Glue white pom poms to a long piece of twine, about two inches apart. Drape it around the tree like a cozy scarf. A six foot strand uses about two bags, so buy extra before you start.
4. Mini Bottle Brush Tree Forest
Okay, tiny trees are my weakness. Glue a bunch of bottle brush trees onto a flat board, like a flipped wood sign, and arrange them by height and color. Odd numbers look best, so go with five or seven instead of six.
5. Plaid Ribbon Tree Garland
Start at the top of the tree and drape plaid ribbon down in loose swoops. Tuck the ends into the branches. Use a few twist ties to hold it in place, because ribbon slides right off smooth branches.
6. Garland Cone Christmas Tree With Mini Ornaments
Wrap green garland around a foam cone, gluing it down as you go. Press in small red ornaments, top it with a glitter star, and tie plaid ribbon around the base with a strip of lace. Start at the bottom and glue every few inches, or the garland slides down.
RELATED: Christmas Tree Ideas
7. Red Berry Wreath
Wrap red berry garland around a wire wreath form, then twist the ends to hold it. The red pops against a white or black door. Bend every berry stem the same way, or the wreath ends up looking messy.
8. Mesh Ribbon Wreath
Pinch the decorative mesh into puffs and twist each one onto a wire frame with a pipe cleaner. Keep going until the frame is full. One roll is never enough, so grab two or three in the same color before they sell out.
9. Candlestick Lamp Post Lanterns
Glue a small glass jar on top of a candlestick, then paint the base and the jar lid black. Wrap the stem with garland and tie on a red ribbon. Add a flameless tealight inside, and let the glue set overnight so the jar does not wobble.
10. Giant Bulbs From Plastic Bowls
Glue two matching plastic bowls rim to rim and you have a giant ball. Paint it, wrap it in ribbon, or cover it in glitter. Use the low heat setting on your glue gun, because thin plastic can melt.
RELATED: Christmas Porch Decor Ideas
11. Pipe Cleaner Reindeer Headband
Wrap a plain headband in brown pipe cleaners, then twist two short ones into antlers and glue on felt ears. Finish with green pipe cleaner holly and red pom poms. Tuck the wire ends under, so nothing sharp pokes anyone’s head.
12. Frosted Glass Jar Luminaries
Dab white paint onto a glass jar with a sponge until it looks frosted. Drop in a flameless candle or a short strand of fairy lights. Dab, do not brush, or you will see streaks.
13. White-Washed Farmhouse Lantern
Paint a metal lantern white, then sand the edges with a sanding sponge for a worn look. Fill the bottom with reindeer moss and add a flameless candle. Let the paint dry fully before sanding, or it peels in sheets.
14. Wooden Box Floral Centerpiece
Fill a small wooden box with floral foam, then stick in faux flowers, a few ornaments, and two flameless candles. It works as a table centerpiece or a mantel piece. Keep it under about twelve inches tall so people can still see each other across the table.
15. Snowman Mini Trees In Mugs
Tie a small ribbon around each mini tree like a scarf and glue on a snowman face ornament. Then set each tree in a mug packed with floral foam. Cut the foam a bit too big for the mug so it holds tight.
16. Cutting Board Christmas Signs
Paint a cutting board white, then write “Merry Christmas” with a paint pen. Tie a ribbon through the handle hole and lean it on your mantel. Practice the lettering on paper first, since paint pens do not forgive mistakes.
17. Tabletop Decor Kits, Restyled
The DIY tabletop decor sets come with wood shapes you paint yourself. Skip the colors on the box and paint them in your own palette. Group them in threes on a shelf. Kits change from store to store, so grab one when you see it.
18. Painted Mini Christmas Village Houses
Look in the toy aisle for tiny plastic houses. Paint on windows, doors, and snowy roofs while a Christmas movie plays in the background. Test your paint pen on the bottom first, because glossy plastic can make ink bead up.
RELATED: Christmas Mantel Ideas
19. Felt Christmas Tree Bunting
Cut tree shapes from felt sheets in red, green, and gold, then glue two layers together and thread them along a length of ribbon. No sewing needed. Plain scissors work fine because felt does not fray, but use pinking shears if you own them for a fun zigzag edge.
20. Bottle Cap Christmas Garland
Glue small Christmas pictures or stickers inside bottle caps, then hang them in pairs from a chain or ribbon with a few beads in between. Tie each end to a cabinet knob. Add a dab of clear glue over each picture so it does not peel.
21. Giant Candy Lollipop Porch Decor
Paint a red and white swirl on a plastic plate, then tape it to a dowel. Push the stick into a planter filled with sand or rocks. Wind will knock these over, so weigh down the base.
22. Color-Your-Own Tote Bag Gifts
The DIY tote bags come with pens, so you can draw a Christmas design in ten minutes. They make easy gifts for teachers and friends. Slide a piece of cardboard inside before you color so the ink does not bleed through.
23. Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Crafts For Kids
Save your toilet paper rolls and let the kids paint them into trees or snowmen. Add googly eyes and pom poms for faces. Cover the table with newspaper before the paint comes out. Trust me on this one.
24. Hand-Painted Christmas Glasses
Paint white snowflakes or red holly berries onto plain glasses with paint pens made for glass. Wrap one in tissue paper and you have an easy gift. Wipe the glass with rubbing alcohol first so the paint sticks, and wash by hand unless the label says dishwasher safe.
25. Vintage Santa Wood Slice Scene
Glue two bottle brush trees and a pair of mini Santas onto a wood slice, then cover the top with moss. Add tiny plaid gift boxes and stick gems and gold stars around the side. Place the trees and Santas first and fill in the moss last, so nothing slides around.
26. Ribbon Bow Tree Topper
Make one giant bow from wide ribbon and tuck a stem of garland behind it. Then push the bottom into the top branch of your tree. Check the label for wired ribbon, because plain ribbon droops by day two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Make With Dollar Tree Items For Christmas?
You can make wreaths, ornaments, centerpieces, luminaries, gift toppers, and even a mini village. Dollar Tree sells ribbon, mesh, glass jars, plastic ornaments, wood shapes, and faux flowers, which are the building blocks of most Christmas crafts. A glue gun and paint pens finish the job. Most projects take under an hour, so you can finish several in one afternoon.
How Much Do Dollar Tree Christmas Crafts Cost?
Most crafts on this list cost between $3 and $10 total, because most Dollar Tree items are $1.25. A few craft kits and larger items cost up to about $5 each. Prices can change, so check your local store before you plan your budget. If you already own a glue gun and paint, your cost drops even lower.
What Supplies Do I Need For Dollar Tree Christmas DIYs?
A hot glue gun, paint pens, scissors, and ribbon will cover most projects. Craft paint, a sponge, and floral foam are also handy. Buy flameless candles for any craft that holds a candle, so everything stays safe near paper and ribbon. Keep a small bag of extras, like pom poms and ribbon scraps, because you will use them across many projects.
When Does Dollar Tree Stock Christmas Craft Supplies?
Christmas crafts start showing up in the fall, and the best selection is usually in October and November. Popular items, like mesh ribbon and bottle brush trees, can sell out fast. Visit early and buy extras of anything you plan to use. Stock changes by store, so if one location is empty, try another nearby.
What Are The Easiest Dollar Tree Christmas Crafts For Beginners And Kids?
Fillable ornaments, gem sticker gift toppers, toilet paper roll crafts, and paint-your-own ornaments are the easiest. They need no special skills and very little glue. Start with one of these, then move on to wreaths and lanterns once you feel confident. Kids can help with the painting and sticking, while an adult handles the glue gun.
The best Dollar Tree Christmas crafts are not the fanciest ones. They are the ones you actually finish and enjoy looking at all season long.
