Cozy DIY Christmas Decor on a Winter Homestead | Easy Cottage Crafts on a Budget

This morning the homestead feels extra quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes after a fresh snow. The world outside our window is soft and untouched, every fence post and branch is covered with snow. It's the kind of morning that makes you breathe a little slower, and thank God for the simple beauty. Inside it is warm, the coffee is hot, and the house feels like Christmas. And since I wanted to add a few more simple touches without spending any money, I decided I would craft today. A little slow crafting while the snow falls outside feels exactly right. The first thing I'm making are these paper snowflakes for our Christmas tree. Our tree was just missing something. I did not want more ornaments, but I wanted texture, something bigger and softer that would bring the magical cottage feel together. So I made these snowflakes out of paper craft paper and sandwich bags. They are pretty and so easy to do. All you do is fold the paper back and forth like an accordion. You'll tie the middle with some twine or string, then open up each side securing it with tape or hot glue. That is it. You can make them huge for a wall or tiny for a tree. I made a mix of sizes. I used parchment paper for a different tone and texture. They float so gently when the heat kicks on. I think it looks like something out of an old storybook. Next I've moved on to a simple paper chain. The ones we used to make in elementary school when we counted down the days to Christmas. I found the sweetest vintage inspired wrapping paper at Walmart. It had soft patterns that feels like it came out of an old farmhouse attic. I cut into strips, glued them together into a chain. Nothing fancy, just quiet crafting, pretty paper, and a bit of patience. I love how the colors tie everything else in the house together. The reds, the greens, the warm creams. It feels like winter at home. I'm decorating our garland in the kitchen today too. Layering a bit of everything. I started with cedar and then added dried oranges, cranberries that were strung on a twine. Now I'm adding the paper chain on top of it all. It gives the whole kitchen a sweet cottage feel. The next thing I'm adding is a small craft paper pennant banner and of course a couple more snowflakes. Can you have too many craft paper snowflakes in your Christmas cottage? I don't think so. For our next project we're using the same wrapping paper from before and we're making three-dimensional paper stars for the garland in our living room. They're quite easy to make. They do look complicated, but all you need is a perfect square. You'll fold it in half. It's similar to making a paper airplane. You'll bring it back and then take each corner and fold them in on themselves like a paper airplane. Next you'll take that bottom flap and fold it up. Take the two bottom corners and fold them in again like a paper airplane. Once you unfold those bottom corners there'll be a slight square indent there where they were folded. That's where you will apply the glue and then you will fold them back up and that will adhere them. You'll pop up that bottom piece and that will give it the three-dimensional shape. You'll make six of these and you'll glue them all together which will make your perfect little star. I made several different stars in different sizes and I hung them on my garland in my living room window. It's a bit hard to film because of the light coming in the window. You'll see I also added a ribboned chain as well. I love the way this looks and of course we have paper snowflakes here too. For the last craft today we're heading outside into the snowstorm to gather some evergreens we had left over from our wreath workshop and I wanted to build some of these little porch pot luminaries. They're the sweetest thing to have by your door this winter. They welcome your guests in such an old-fashioned way. All you need is a bundle of pine or greenery like cedar. If you don't have any on your property ask a neighbor or some friends or you can also go to a Christmas tree farm or even places like Home Depot sometimes carry them seasonally. I fill the pots with the greenery and then I added a quart-sized mason jar in the center, tied a velvet ribbon around it and added a votive candle inside. I will light these when I expect guests to welcome them with a cozy glow. A simple porch pot with a handmade touch feels like it belongs in an old farmhouse. Thank you for spending this winter day with us here at the cottage. I hope the season is treating you well and I hope you're finding moments of quiet and beauty in between all of the busyness. I hope you feel inspired to make something with your own two hands, something as simple as crafts become memories to hold on to. Stay warm and take care and we'll see you next time friends.