Hey there! Merry Christmas eve! You probably have a million and a half things to do, but just in case you don’t, here’s an idea that is so flippin adorable you’ll definitely need to run out this very minute and find everything you need to make one yourself. 

Here’s your list:

• One broken snow globe
• One abandoned gumball machine
• White paint
• Fake snow 
• Childlike sense of whimsy

All set? Great. 

Step one: Gut the gumball machine.  

Step two: Gut the snowglobe. 

Now put them together and what have you got? A snowglobe filled with gumballs!

No, no, sorry. Do the opposite of that.  

 
A gumball machine filled with a cozy snowglobe scene! Isn’t it the cutest? 

 And what’s even better is that you could leave it out all winter long, even after Christmas decorations are put away. Unless you put like a Santa scene in there or something. (You could leave that out anyway, just to remind everyone how clever you are).  

Get all the details from Shanna at Restoration Redoux. 

I’m filled with wonder every year when I pull out my Christmas decorations. Specifically, I wonder why on earth am I hanging on to so much stuff year after year after year that I don’t even like? I have boxes of decor that I never use, but I keep dutifully stored away why? Just in case someday I decide that I actually DO enjoy looking at that stuffed snowman family wearing broken ice-skates? That I’m not a little creeped out by that Santa music box that plays an eerily slow rendition of O Holy Night?

Some of this stuff I’ve had for decades so I guess there is a bit of sentimentality, sure. But it’s also OK to say goodbye to things that don’t bring you good tidings of great joy anymore. It really is. I sent the snowmen and the creepy Santa to Goodwill this year, and breathed a big sigh of relief. So maybe that’s the key.  If it brings you more happiness to see something go, then let it go! Give it the chance to bring joy to someone else.

But hey, now that you’re already at Goodwill … you might as well go inside and look around for a minute, right? Maybe you can find a new treasure!

What about an old clock? Not very Christmasy, true. But …

… paint it, gut it, and turn it into a shadowbox filled with glittery things, and it’s as Christmasy as figgy pudding.

From Christy at Confessions of a Serial DIYer.

You can probably find a pool noodle or two for next to nothing. Again … not the first thing that comes to mind when you think “Christmas decor.” Stay with me here.

YES. Those faux birch logs are made with pool noodles!! Toni wrapped them in crumpled paper and shared her painting technique for making them look super authentic on her blog Design Dazzle.

Was there anything wrong with this cute green tree? No sir. It was adorable as is. (As was?) But Meegan wanted a little more sparkle, and who can argue with that?

It makes me want to glitter ALL THE THINGS! See it on her blog Meegan Makes.

And don’t forget to swing by the clothing section and grab yourself some old knitted sweaters.  There are so many creative uses for these, from pillows to other things that I can’t remember right now, but here’s a great idea from Catherine:

Stockings! So cute. And WAYYY easier than knitting your own. I would assume.  I love the differences in their patterns, much more unique than a perfectly matching set. See the how-to on her blog Beginning In The Middle.

Happy Weekend!