Revive These Nostalgic Christmas DIY Projects from Earlier BHG Publications
Step back in time and relive the enchantment of past holiday seasons with these nostalgic holiday crafts and decor suggestions from our classic Better Homes & Gardens archives. These enduring projects and decorative ideas blend the familiarity of traditional customs with a dash of vintage charm. Explore tree decorating ideas and DIY crafts for incorporating a touch of vintage holiday magic into your home.
01of 10## Maximum Retro Flair
Adopt this bold and enjoyable decorating concept if you're an modern-day maximalist who adores vintage elegance. The handmade paper curlicues and unique snowflakes from our 1997 issue inject a playful vibe into this cozy living room, where a harmonious blend of greenery and vibrant red accents create a festive ambiance. And here's the best part—those cherished Christmas bears you've been saving for years are ready to make a comeback, taking center stage on your mantel or around the tree.
02of 10## DIY Paper Lanterns
Adorn your holiday dinner table with these vintage-inspired DIY paper lanterns from 1997, perfect for occupying older children on a chilly winter day. The cut-out paper covers a glass hurricane, with a candle inside providing a cozy, flickering light that dances through the complex patterns. For optimal results, use robust 40-pound watercolor paper to ensure the lanterns remain durable.
03of 10## Welcome Winter Birds
Add a nostalgic touch to your holiday outdoor decor with an evergreen tree tailored to please both you and your avian friends. Decorate it with tasty treats by attaching red ribbon to ears of corn and hanging them from the branches. Dip bagel halves in peanut butter and cover them in birdseed, then hang them as edible ornaments. Complete the tree by adorning it with cereal garlands.
04of 10## Christmas Card Display
We love this classic holiday decor idea that is just as relevant today: Christmas card displays. To make your own, weave narrow gold cords around your tree, using them to showcase your loved ones' heartfelt cards and warm wishes. To secure them, add a tiny dot of hot glue to each card's interior before placing it onto the cord. This inexpensive idea is an inexpensive and cheerful way to exhibit the affection and joy filling the holiday season.
05of 10## Pinecone Tree Artwork
Create a woodland-inspired DIY Christmas decoration with this tree made of pinecones and crystal beads. To craft your own, apply hot glue to two rows of hemlock pinecones around the base of a 14-inch-tall plastic foam cone. Following, thread half-inch crystal beads onto wire, then wind the ends around the cone, repeating the pattern to the tip. Top off the tree with a one-inch-wide pinecone.
06of 10## Pear-Driven Christmas Palette
We're encouraged by this captivating Christmas color scheme inspired by the hue of a nearly ripe pear from 2002. Classic evergreens look stunning paired with pear-toned vases, ornaments, gift wrap, and delicate scalloped edges on stockings. The contrast between shiny, polished metals and the rough, pointy texture of the evergreens offers a striking visual harmony, adding depth and allure to the seasonal yet timeless living room decor.
07of 10## Fruit Wreath Transformation
Transform a simple evergreen wreath into a lively front door embellishment using this basic DIY project. Adorn it with fresh, seasonal fruit—such as apples, oranges, or pomegranates—using hot glue. Add greenery, pinecones, and natural accents like holly sprigs to increase color and texture. Finish off by fastening your creation to the door using a wreath hanger.
08of 10## Rosemary Tabletop Tree
For a tiny, tabletop replica of the beloved evergreen Christmas tree, experiment with this natural, rosemary-based tree. To prepare one for your home, gently shake off excess soil from the roots, then place the root ball in a plastic bag and water thoroughly. Wrap the bag in linen or burlap and tie with ribbon. For added sparkle, drape a string of battery-operated miniature string lights around the tree.
09of 10## Gingerbread as Decor
Gingerbread cookies are not just for snacking or leaving for Santa—they can also be transformed into whimsical, edible ornaments for your holiday tree. To create these adorable decorations from our 1998 issue, cut a tiny hole at the top of each cookie before baking. After baking and coating with royal icing, thread a festive ribbon through the hole and knot it to hang on your tree. Large gingerbread figures also make charming additions to your mantel or wreath. For lasting, enduring ornaments, opt for painting instead of coating and seal with clear varnish.
10of 10## Poinsettia Topiary
Turn a pot-bound topiary of English ivy into an eye-catching display using two-tone Strawberries 'n Cream poinsettias as decorations. Commence by trimming the flowers, retaining roughly 6 inches of stem, and removing leaves, as well as the outer bracts for smaller blooms, if you prefer. Submerge the trimmed poinsettias in a vase filled with cold water for 30 minutes to let the stems harden. Post-soaking, insert each stem into a water-filled florist pick and slot them into the ivy, crafting a captivating, seasonally appropriate arrangement that infuses a dose of sophistication into any area.
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- Revive your old Christmas bears by placing them as the centerpiece on your mantel or surrounding your Christmas tree, adding a touch of nostalgia with these vintage elegance decor ideas from Better Homes & Gardens (BHG).
- Craft vintage-inspired DIY paper lanterns for your holiday dinner table using the guide from the BHG archives (BHG) from 1997, perfect for adding a cozy, flickering light during your Holidays Entertaining.
- Encourage winter birds to visit your home by decorating an evergreen tree with edible ornaments such as bagel halves covered in birdseed, hanging red ribbon-wrapped ears of corn, and using cereal garlands, adding a nostalgic touch to your Christmas Outdoor Decor (BHG).
