1. Winter Scene in a Mason Jar

2. Snowy Jar Candle Holders

Snowy jar candle holders and ornaments are the perfect Christmas DIY and craft. They are also a great way to upcycle unused jars.

3. Christmas Floating Candles

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Try these easy candles for Mason jar crafts you can make in bulk for gift-giving. Wrap the jar with wide plaid ribbon and secure with three jute strings tied in a bow. Hot-glue a pinecone and artificial greenery to the bow. To add a finishing touch to this easy Christmas craft, wood-burn a snowflake or polka-dots onto four wooden beads and thread onto four string ends. Place a tall, slender pillar candle in the jar.

5. Winter Wonderland Centerpieces

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Use bottles and jars as flower vases to make elegant centerpieces…

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you’ve heard of Christmas lights before, but have you ever heard of Christmas lights in a wine bottle? Find this clever craft and many other glass bottle ideas below. We have plenty of fun recycled craft ideas that you and the kids can make together.

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It can feel challenging to gather fresh inspiration year after year, so we’ve rounded up the best Christmas mantel decor ideas — everything from garlands, string lights and stockings to entire Christmas villages and DIY advent calendars.

Start scrolling to find your favorites!

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Winter Wonderland

Snowflakes, mini Christmas trees, pinecones, birch wood — this mantel is full of nature-inspired decor. The best part: this look could carry you through winter, just take down the Christmas stockings.

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Citrus Garland

Don’t feel guilty if traditional Christmas decorations aren’t your style. Spruce up your mantel with dried citrus garland, which can stay on all winter long.

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Village Scene

If you’ve always been obsessed with the Christmas village scenes you’ve seen in movies, bring a dose of that charm right into your living room with mini houses in different sizes and colors.

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Cozy With Candles

For a warm winter feel, create a monochromatic display of candles with various heights and sizes. Layer in sprigs of greenery and neutral stockings with rustic ribbons.

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Red Stockings

Secure a garland to your mantel with adhesive hooks, and warm up the space with bright red stockings. Tip: dress up store-bought stockings by gluing ball fringe or ribbon.

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1. Chocolate and Peppermint

Peppermint bark. Peppermint hot cocoa. Mint chocolate chip ice cream. If there’s a better combination than chocolate and peppermint, I’ve never found it. When you use this mint chocolate cookie dough recipe as the base for this year’s gingerbread house, you’ll finally understand the whole Hansel and Gretel story.

2. Sugar Cookies

At my house, it just isn’t Christmas until we roll out my great grandma’s cut-out cookies. The recipe famously calls for “between 2 and 12 cups of flour, or until the dough looks right,” and I almost broke my stand mixer trying to recreate it one year. Don’t be like me: Use this Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen-approved recipe for (almost) guaranteed success.

3. Sticky Toffee Pudding

Don’t bring me the figgy pudding — sticky toffee is the real star at my table. This British export consists of a warm, moist date cake drizzled with a decadent toffee-pecan sauce and topped with a sizeable dollop of fresh whipped cream. Take a page out of Charles Dickens’ book and add this to your dessert table.

4. Brie Cheese

Baked brie is creamy, gooey, a little funky and tastes great when spread on tiny toasts with apples and pomegranate seeds. At my house, I have to beat my younger brother to the brie wheel or I won’t get any for myself. This simple, festive tart made with the star of the cheese tray will really up the ante on your app spread.

5. Gingerbread

The slightly sweet, spice-studded flavor of gingerbread tastes like the platonic ideal of the holiday season. But to me, biting the head off a man-shaped cookie is a little dark for the most wonderful time of the year. These gingerbread wands are both easier than rolling and cutting and less cannibalistic. You can also use this recipe for the classic shape cookie, for the traditionalists in the crowd.

6. Roast Beef Tenderloin

At the end of The Grinch, the title character carves a many-limbed “roast beast” as the guest of honor. My mouth starts to salivate every time I watch him passing that platter. If you’re also a meat-eater, there’s just no better dish for a big holiday feast than a showstopper of a roast.

7. Chocolate Bark

Chocolate bark looks fancy but truly couldn’t be easier. That’s my kind of treat: Maximum reward, minimal effort. You can’t go wrong with the peppermint classic (see above), but switching it up with different chocolate flavors and your favorite mix-ins gives it a fun personalized element. It also makes a personal, affordable gift.

8. Sweet Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are tasty and all, but mashed sweet potatoes? That’s my carb go-to, every time. They’ve got the creamy goodness of the traditional mash, with about a hundred times more flavor. Add a little rosemary and sprinkle the whole shebang with roasted pecans and watch your guests scrape the bowl clean.

9. Gingerbread Men

I love a gingerbread cookie, and we already know chocolate wins my heart. What I do not love is fiddly decoration. These mocha men solve that problem because they need nary a sprinkle; just a quick dunk in melted chocolate makes them ready for the ‘gram (not to mention your belly).

10. Baked Ham

We love the way this glazed ham looks and the easy steps it takes to cook. Glaze your ham with (yes!) root beer and serve this main with zero fear. I really like this Christmas ham, but not as much as I like yams.

11. Stuffing

I wait all year for stuffing season, but it wasn’t until I began making my own that I really fell in love with it. Ditch the box and tear your own bread, chop some veggies, toss some fresh herbs in there and you’ll see what I mean. Some years, I’m tempted to skip the turkey altogether and fill up on this classic side.

12. Turkey and Gravy

Many households swear by ham, lamb or another protein for Christmas dinner since it follows Thanksgiving so closely. But I still love a turkey centerpiece. Others (like my husband) consider the majestic bird too boring. If your turkey is bland, try this simple recipe that will make your kitchen smell amazing.

13. Thumbprint Cookies

As a kid, I couldn’t understand why my mom always resisted making thumbprint cookies. Rolling dough between your hands, sticking your thumb right in the center, dusting with powdered sugar – it made the best mess. Now that I have to clean my own kitchen, I understand why she didn’t want to still keep digging sugar out of the countertop grout a week later. They’re not in my top five cookie choices, but still worth the effort.

14. Cranberry Sauce

In the cranberry category, nothing beats homemade. If your family serves cranberry sauce at Christmas as well as Thanksgiving, level up for the second round with this tonsil-tingling orange-apricot cranberry compote. Or just go for the homemade version both times. It’s that much better and it doubles as a glorious kitchen aromatic.

15. Roasted Carrots

Even during the holiday season, you really shouldn’t eat candy all day long. That’s where these slightly spicy, slightly sweet roasted carrots come in. They pair beautifully with your holiday main and even the kids won’t be grinches about eating their veggies.

Our social channel: Eva & Beauty

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1. Ornament Storage

If you find yourself constantly buying new ornaments because last year’s are now broken, save yourself some money in the long run by getting an organizer.

2. Egg Carton Storage

Short on cash or just don’t want to allocate money towards organizers? No worries, you’ve got all the organizers you need in your fridge! Take your empty egg cartons and place your ornaments inside of them. Just make sure they’re clean first!

3. Lights Storage

To make sure your lights don’t break by getting all tangled up before the next holiday season, just wrap them around a box and you’re good to go.

4. Cookie Cutter Pancakes

Make breakfast fun for the family by using your Christmas cookie cutters to make the cutest pancakes ever.

5. Cranberry Ice Cubes

Keep your guests’ water cold and flavorful by using frozen cranberries at dinner.

6. Stovetop Potpourri

Make your home smell amazing the natural way this year; no toxic chemicals are wanted!

7. Crack Nuts with Hand Tools

The holiday season can bring out varieties of nuts for guests to enjoy but what if you don’t have a nutcracker around? Hand tools can help crack nuts. We suggest some pliers to get the job done.

8. Holiday Light Hangers

Instead of poking nails into aluminum soffits and fascia when you’re hanging holiday lights, clip the wires to the bottom lip of the fascia with clothespins.

9. Illuminated Holiday Jars

Create illuminating holiday jars with cranberries, greenery and floating candles. Place the greenery (we trimmed ours from a bush outside) followed by fresh cranberries in a jar. Fill the jar with water allowing the cranberries and greenery to float. Add a floating candle to the top, and voila–you have a simple and inexpensive centerpiece to add color and light to your holiday table.

10. Easy-Clip Tree Ornaments

The wire hooks that come with Christmas tree ornaments can be hard to use and can scratch the ornaments. Instead of wire hangers, use plastic-coated paper clips to hang your ornaments. The paper clips are stronger and easy to use, and best of all, they won’t scratch the ornaments, so you can leave them attached when you pack the ornaments away at the end of each season.

Our social channel: Baby & Mommy

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His mother said she didn’t have enough money to buy him a new bike but suggested that if he wrote to Jesus promising to be a good boy in the future, then maybe Jesus might be willing to get him one.

So the boy started writing out a letter. ‘Dear Jesus, I promise to be good for one year…’ He then crossed it out and wrote: ‘Dear Jesus, I promise to be good for one month.’

Still he wasn’t happy, so he crossed it out and wrote: ‘Dear Jesus, I promise to be good for one week.’ His head in a spin, he tore up the paper and went for a walk.

As he passed the local church, he noticed a nativity scene. When nobody was looking, he grabbed the figure of Mary, hid it under his coat and ran home.

There he composed a new letter. ‘Dear Jesus, if you ever want to see your mother again…’

Thanksgiving Meal

A young woman goes to her boyfriend’s parent’s house for Thanksgiving dinner.

This is to be her first time meeting his family, and she is very nervous.

They all sit down and begin eating a fine Thanksgiving meal.

The young lass is beginning to feel a little discomfort, thanks to her nervousness and the beans.

The gas pains are almost making her eyes water.

Left with no other choice, she decides to relieve herself a bit, and lets out a dainty fart.

It wasn’t loud, but everyone at the table heard the pouf.

Before she even had a chance to be embarrassed…

Her boyfriend’s father looked over at the family dog that had been snoozing at the young woman’s feet and said in a rather stern voice,

“Charlie!”

The young woman thought to herself, “This is great!” and a big smile came across her face.

A couple of minutes later, she was beginning to feel the pain again.

This time, she didn’t even hesitate.

She let a much louder and longer one squeal.

The father again looked at the dog and growled,

“Get out from under the table!”

Once again the young lady smiled and thought, “Yes!”

A few minutes later our petite heroine had to let another one free.

She let go a blast that rivaled a train whistle blowing!

Once again, the father looked at the dog with disgust, and yelled,

“Move Charlie before she shats on you!”

Our social channel: Baby & Mommy

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A popular tradition, Christmas baskets make perfect gifts. Filled with delightful treats, from food and drink to small gifts and luxury items, they are an easy win for your friends and family to enjoy over the festive season.

SEE MORE: 11 Essential Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Christmas Holidays

1. Christmas Morning Coffee Crate

Fill a wooden crate with coffee beans, mugs, spoons, filters, and a French press. Add some festive ribbons, ornaments, and a chalkboard sign to make it more attractive. You can place this crate on your kitchen counter or dining table to enjoy a cozy Christmas morning.

2. Christmas Breakfast Crate

Fill a wooden crate with pancake mix, maple syrup, jam, butter, and fresh fruits. You can also add some plates, cutlery, napkins, and a festive tablecloth. Decorate the crate with some greenery, berries, and a Merry Christmas sign. You can use this crate to set up a delicious Christmas breakfast for your family.

3. Christmas Cookie Box

Fill a metal tin or a cardboard box with assorted Christmas cookies, such as gingerbread, sugar cookies, shortbread, and chocolate chip cookies. You can also add some cookie cutters, sprinkles, icing, and a recipe book. Wrap the box with wrapping paper and ribbon, and attach a gift tag. You can give this box as a gift to your friends or neighbors, or keep it for yourself to enjoy some sweet treats.

4. Coffee Lover’s Gift Basket

Fill a basket with different types of coffee, such as ground coffee, instant coffee, flavored coffee, and coffee pods. You can also add some creamer, sugar, syrups, and biscuits. You can also add some coffee-related accessories, such as a coffee grinder, a coffee maker, a coffee scoop, and a coffee mug. Decorate the basket with some coffee beans, ribbons, and a coffee sign. You can place this basket in your home office or living room to enjoy a cup of coffee anytime.

5. Holiday Coffee Gifts

Fill a basket with holiday-themed coffee, such as peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte, eggnog latte, and spiced apple cider. You can also add some holiday-themed mugs, spoons, coasters, and napkins. You can also add some festive snacks, such as cookies, candy, and nuts. Decorate the basket with some ornaments, pine cones, and a holiday sign. You can place this basket on your coffee table or side table to enjoy a festive coffee break.

6. Banana Bread and Honey Butter

Fill a basket with homemade banana bread, honey butter, and a bread knife. You can also add some fresh bananas, honey, and a jar of jam. Wrap the basket with cellophane and tie a ribbon on top. You can also attach a gift tag with a handwritten note. You can give this basket as a gift to your loved ones, or enjoy it yourself as a delicious snack.

7. Hot Cocoa Gift Basket

Fill a large basket with hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, candy canes, whipped cream, and chocolate chips. You can also add some mugs, spoons, napkins, and a cozy blanket. Wrap the basket with cellophane and tie a bow on top. You can put this basket near your fireplace or sofa to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

8. Easy DIY Christmas Goodies

Fill a basket with easy-to-make Christmas goodies, such as popcorn, pretzels, candy canes, and chocolate chips. You can also add some microwaveable bowls, spoons, and napkins. You can also add some instructions on how to make different treats, such as popcorn balls, pretzel rods, candy cane bark, and chocolate clusters. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a Merry Christmas sign. You can use this basket to make some fun and tasty Christmas snacks with your kids or friends.

9. Wine Gift Basket

Fill a basket with wine bottles, wine glasses, wine opener, and wine stopper. You can also add some cheese, crackers, grapes, and nuts. You can also add some wine-related accessories, such as a wine rack, a wine cooler, a wine aerator, and a wine journal. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a wine sign. You can place this basket in your kitchen or dining room to enjoy a wine night with your partner or friends.

10. Christmas Sundaes

Fill a basket with ice cream sundae ingredients, such as ice cream, whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, and syrups. You can also add some ice cream cones, bowls, spoons, and napkins. You can also add some festive toppings, such as candy canes, gingerbread cookies, and chocolate coins. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a Christmas sundaes sign. You can use this basket to make some delicious and festive ice cream sundaes with your family or guests.

11. Bundt Cake Pan and Baking Essentials

Fill a basket with a bundt cake pan, a cake mix, a frosting, and a cake stand. You can also add some baking essentials, such as a spatula, a whisk, a measuring cup, and a cooling rack. You can also add some festive decorations, such as candles, sprinkles, and a Merry Christmas cake topper. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a bundt cake sign. You can use this basket to bake and display a beautiful and tasty bundt cake for your Christmas party.

12. Tea Lover’s Gifts

Fill a basket with different types of tea, such as black tea, green tea, herbal tea, and fruit tea. You can also add some honey, sugar, lemon, and mint. You can also add some tea-related accessories, such as a teapot, a tea infuser, a tea strainer, and a tea cozy. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a tea sign. You can place this basket in your bedroom or study to enjoy a relaxing and soothing cup of tea.

13. Easy DIY Cookie Paper Plate Baskets

Fill a paper plate basket with homemade or store-bought cookies, such as chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, and snickerdoodle. You can also add some candy, nuts, and dried fruits. Wrap the basket with cellophane and tie a ribbon on top. You can also attach a gift tag with a sweet message. You can give this basket as a gift to your teacher, neighbor, or mailman, or keep it for yourself to enjoy some yummy cookies.

14. Warm and Cozy Chocolate Gift Basket

Fill a basket with chocolate goodies, such as chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels, and chocolate-dipped spoons. You can also add some hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, and whipped cream. You can also add some cozy items, such as a mug, a blanket, a candle, and a book. Decorate the basket with some ribbons, bows, and a warm and cozy sign. You can place this basket on your bed or couch to enjoy a relaxing and indulgent night.

15. Mini Bar in a Jar

Fill a large glass jar with mini liquor bottles, such as vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey. You can also add some mixers, such as soda, juice, tonic water, and ginger ale. You can also add some garnishes, such as limes, lemons, olives, and cherries. Seal the jar with a lid and tie a ribbon around it. You can also attach a gift tag with a mini bar sign and a cheers message. You can give this jar as a gift to your friends or coworkers, or keep it for yourself to enjoy a cocktail party.

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8 Alternative DIY Christmas Tree Ideas

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Use Green Garlands to create a Christmas tree on the wall.

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Just using string lights can easily create a beautiful Christmas tree. You can add Christmas balls, snowflakes and stars like a traditional Christmas tree.

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Create your own alternative tree using artificial pine branches needles tied together.

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This Christmas ball arrangement also makes a beautiful one worth trying.

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Use existing tree branches, you will be surprised with the results!

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Use this arrangement of string lights and a bright Christmas tree will appear.

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The best DIY Christmas tree ideas work indoors or out, on a tabletop, or in a child’s bedroom. Because some of them double as holiday crafts, they can also be a great way to get the whole family involved in a seasonal quality-time activity.

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While we’re all for giving your entire house the North Pole treatment (see out these Christmas-worthy living rooms), there are so many tiny ways to make a big difference, such as adding a few handcrafted ornaments to your tree or decorating your staircase in red and green.

Put Cards on Display

Tie a trio of fresh greens to a wooden hanger and hang it somewhere within reach, so you can clip on Christmas cards as soon as they arrive.

Round-Up Vintage Bulbs

Head to your local flea market (or grandma’s attic!) to find a bunch of festive-colored bulbs. Then glue them around a wreath form, dusting a few bulbs with glitter as you go along.

Cast a Warm Glow

Fill glass lanterns with LED twinkle lights and put them by your front door, inside your fireplace or along your stairs to light the way.

Personalize Your Place Settings

Once you have your guest list squared away, make a monogram napkin ring to place at every seat. Simply, twist and form a pipe cleaner to look like the letter of their first name, then secure it to a napkin ring in the same color.

Combine Greens and Glitter

Mix in metallic garland and glittery pillar candles with fresh greens to add a touch of glam to your space.

Trade Stockings for Mugs

Perhaps, it’s time to start a new tradition: This year, keep your stockings packed away and round up a matching Christmas mug, one for each family member. Fill them with sweet treats, tiny trinkets or whatever else Santa normally leaves behind.

Opt for Red Accents

Red is a sign of the season, so go all-out with festive pillows, berry wreaths and plaid throws in the cheery hue.

DIY a Christmas Card Tree

You probably receive a countless number of Christmas cards (which isn’t a bad thing), so pick the very best to display on your wall. Arrange them in a Christmas tree shape for a festive look.

Give Santa a Warm Welcome

There’s no doubt that Santa and Rudolf will appreciate a handwritten chalkboard greeting when they swing by for milk and cookies.

Decorate a Tree With Citrus

Who said fruits have no place in your Christmas decor setup? For a fun twist, consider making your very own garland out of dried citrus. Simply use twine, nylon thread, or wire to assemble it.

Craft a Paper Leaf Garland

Put your creativity on full display by dressing your Christmas dinner table with a DIY leaf garland. All you need are green craft paper and fun red jingle bells to complete the look.

Incorporate Pops of Plaid

Boost your living room’s cozy factor with an assortment of stockings in a festive plaid pattern.

Arrange Felt Tree Hurricanes

Go for a playful, crafty look by sprucing up your table with glass hurricanes decked out in felt Christmas trees. Play up the green theme with complementary dishware, cloth napkins, and spruce branches.

DIY an Advent Calendar

If you’re not feeling traditional chocolate or toy advent calendars, make your own with paper tags and on-theme trinkets. That way, the whole family can join in on the fun.

Wrap Garland Around Bedposts

Your kids won’t have to worry about any rogue pine needles with this felt holly leaf garland. Just weave it between the bedposts and bed frame to ensure that it stays in place all night long.

Build a Makeshift Fireplace

No fireplace? No problem! Attach this cloth wall hanging, hang stockings with care, and easily remove it once the festivities are over.

Go for the Candy Effect

Skip the traditional red and green, and opt for candy-colored ornaments instead. Add some candy canes and peppermint garland for good measure.

Deck the Walls

When you have too many gifts underneath the tree, it’s time to get creative. Enter this gift-covered bookshelf, complete with matching wrapping paper and black, white, and silver touches.

Lean on Evergreens

Bring in different textures and colors by adding greens, plaid, and knits all in one Christmas-ready space. And if you use real evergreen, it’ll smell equal to festive.

These room scents are wonderfully strong – not too strong – and they’re easy to simmer. You can do these in simmer pots or you can simply put them on the top of your stove and let them simmer in a regular pot. These are perfect to leave simmering throughout your family gatherings or just anytime you want the wonderful scent of the holidays to waft through your home.

1. Clean Lavender Potpourri

Lavender is a wonderfully clean and fresh scent and when you mix it with fresh rosemary and anise pods, you get a wonderful simmering potpourri that will fill your entire home with freshness. You also add lemon extract and water to this and just let is simmer on the stove or in a simmering pot.

Recipe/Instructions: bet1975

2. Apple Cider Simmering Potpourri

Apple spice is the perfect fall scent and this apple cider potpourri will fill your home with warm and inviting smells. To make this one, you need dried apples as well as cinnamon sticks, ginger and cloves. It smells like hot apple cider and you can make this one with the peelings and cores from your apples if you don’t want to use up the actual apple, like after you’ve made cinnamon apple rings. Just use what’s left after you slice up those apples.

Recipe/Instructions: chickensintheroad

3. Homemade Bay Leaves And Licorice Potpourri

This simmering potpourri is made with bay leaves and anise so it smells like licorice. It’s perfect for adding wonderfully warm and inviting autumn scents to your home. You just add the bay leaves with cinnamon sticks, anise, ground cloves and orange peelings to a pot of water and simmer on the stove all day. Remember to keep an eye on the pot and add water whenever needed.

Recipe/Instructions: thecasualcraftlete

4. Orange And Cinnamon Slow Cooker Potpourri

Orange peel, cinnamon sticks and cloves are the perfect scents for the holidays. This simmering potpourri recipe uses all three of those and you can make it in the slow cooker, so it’s super easy. You just add your orange peelings and other ingredients to the slow cooker and ad din water. You can use any type of citrus you want for this one and change up the scent just a bit.

Recipe/Instructions: thenovicechefblog

5. Homemade Cinnamon And Cranberry Simmering Potpourri

This cranberry and cinnamon stove top potpourri definitely smells like the holidays. It has fresh or frozen cranberries, cinnamon sticks, oranges, cloves, nutmeg and rosemary and it smells absolutely amazing while it is simmering. If you want something to get your home ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas, this is definitely a scent that you need to try.

Recipe/Instructions: rachelschultz

6. Pine Simmering Potpourri

Pine or cedar twigs are perfect for creating that great old fashioned holiday scent. If you are looking to create a country style Christmas, this is the perfect simmering potpourri for you. You just add those twigs to a pot and put in bay leaves and nutmeg. You can also add cinnamon – I think cinnamon and pine work really well together for the holidays – or any other spice that you prefer. This would pair wonderfully with your DIY farmhouse style Christmas decorations.

Recipe/Instructions: theyummylife

7. Floral Scented Simmering Potpourri

Anytime you get flowers you should save them. This goes for those wonderful spur of the moment surprise flowers from your significant other as well as those that you buy yourself. Once those flowers have dried out, you can use them to create wonderfully scented simmering potpourri and you don’t even need that many supplies to do so.

Recipe/Instructions: savvysugar

8. Fall Simmering Spices Potpourri

Oranges are great for creating fall and winter scented potpourri and what you add to those oranges can completely change the scent. I love this fall scented simmering potpourri that has orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla bean to give it a warm and welcoming scent. The vanilla will make it smell like you’ve been baking all day and really set the mood for the holidays.

Recipe/Instructions: thehealthymaven

9. Luscious Spiced Coffee Simmering Potpourri

What could possibly smell better than coffee? Honestly, I love the scent of coffee in the morning and this spiced coffee potpourri will smell like you’ve made a fresh pot…all day long. It has coffee beans (whole roasted coffee beans) as well as cinnamon sticks, whole cardamom pods, anise and allspice berries. This is honestly one of the best scents in the world, especially if you like coffee, and it has a wonderful odor covering property – in case you have pets, litter boxes, etc.

Recipe/Instructions: hellonatural

10. Easy Homemade Holiday Potpourri

This potpourri has all the wonderful scents of the holidays in an easy to make and simmer recipe. You can add this potpourri spice mix to evergreen sprigs, pinecones and so many other wonderful natural holiday items. You can also use cloves, dried walnuts or hazelnuts, and a number of essential oils to make your holiday spice mix your very own. Just play around with scents until you get the one that you love.

Recipe/Instructions: designsponge

11. Homemade Dehydrator Potpourri

You can make the most amazing potpourri in your dehydrator. Once you have this dried out, you can leave it out dry or add it to a pot with water – or another scented liquid like apple juice or cider – and simmer it all day long. You just add whatever scents you like. Good ones for the holidays are apples, any citrus including lemons, oranges and grapefruits and then spices like ginger, cardamom, cloves or cinnamon.

Recipe/Instructions: dappledesigns

12. Apple And Flower Potpourri Mix

The good thing about autumn is that you have so many options when it comes to natural ingredients to add to your potpourri mix. Go outside and gather up pinecones, apples, walnuts and evergreen twigs. Then add those to nutmeg, cloves, orange peels, scented essential oils and dried flowers to create your own custom simmering potpourri scents.

Recipe/Instructions: womansday

13. Homemade Pinecone And Orange Potpourri

This stove top potpourri has so many wonderful smells of the holidays including oranges, cinnamon and pinecones. You start by dicing apples and then add pinecones, cinnamon, oranges, and rosemary to a pot of water to create this wonderful scent. This is a great one for all winter and really makes your home smell warm and inviting. Plus, you can utilize pinecones. There are so many wonderful DIY pinecone crafts!

Recipe/Instructions: ohsodelicioso

14. Homemade Cinnamon And Pine Simmering Potpourri

I absolutely love the smell of cinnamon and pine. It has such a wonderful Christmas scent to it and you can get that scent by just adding a few pine sprigs to a pot of water and putting in some cinnamon sticks. If you have a fireplace, this is perfect for simmering in your living room or you can leave it on the stove top or use a simmering potpourri pot. The scents really work well together and this is such a cheap DIY potpourri to make.

Recipe/Instructions: make-haus

15. Apple And Pumpkin Potpourri

Apples and pumpkin really are the scents of the season, aren’t they? I love this recipe that has apple cider and canned pumpkin, along with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla. It will smell like you’ve been baking wonderful holiday treats all day and you can simmer this for hours by just adding in a bit more water when it starts to get low.

Recipe/Instructions: freepeople

16. Pumpkin Spice Simmering Potpourri

Here’s another wonderful simmering potpourri with pumpkin. This one has apple cider and canned pumpkin as well as apple slices – or peelings and core – and pumpkin pie spice to give it a really strong and wonderful scent. You just add all of your ingredients to a pot and simmer away. You can substitute the water in this one for apple juice or cider or use water if you want to cut down on the apple scent.

Recipe/Instructions: cleanandscentsible

17. Herbal Tea Simmering Potpourri

Herbal tea in any flavor that you want, adds to the wonderful scent of this holiday simmering potpourri. You just add an herbal tea bag to a pot that contains water, apple slices, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cloves and a few pine branches. Peppermint tea would be wonderful in this if you are looking to add some holiday scents or you could use chamomile for a more relaxing scent. The choice is yours!

Recipe/Instructions: christinasadventures

18. DIY Apple Ginger Simmering Potpourri

I love the smell of apples simmering and this apple and ginger potpourri is so perfect for fall. You can simmer this every day from now until New Year’s and it’s really easy to throw together. Just add apple halves – or you can use the cores and peelings if you’re making a pie – along with cloves, fresh ginger, cinnamon and a few other spices to get the most perfectly wonderful scent. Make this potpourri with the leftover apple cores and peels after you’ve made tasty apple pie fries.

Recipe/Instructions: howsweeteats

Today, we’re going to provide you with some helpful hints for managing your stress levels throughout the holidays.

1. Buy your Christmas cards in advance

Did you remember Great-Auntie Sue? Childhood neighbour, Derrick? The exhaustive list of Christmas cards recipients is enough to send anyone a bit loopy.

November may be a bit early to stamp and send your cards, but you can get ahead by picking up a few packs next time you’re out. When you find yourself with an hour to kill, get writing so that come December, you’ll be able to sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that no one has been forgotten.

If you’ve left it too late this year, don’t worry. An email, heartfelt text or phone call will mean just as much to them.

2. Make storing food stress-free by deep cleaning your fridge & freezer

It’s fair to say we take festive food pretty seriously in the UK. So seriously, in fact, that finding enough fridge space is one of our main sources of worry at Christmas time.

Deep clean your fridge and freezer in preparation and you – and all your hungry guests – will be safe in the knowledge that there’s enough space to store all that deliciousness.

3. Stock up on your favourite Christmas tipples

Brandy, hot cocoa, cherryade – Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a cupboard full of the family’s favourite tipples.

The prospect of not being able to cater for everyone’s favourite beverages is actually one of the main stresses at Christmas, which just goes to show how seriously Grandad takes his gin. Make sure you’re prepared for whoever drops in by stocking up well in advance.

4. Keep on top of that laundry pile

There’s nothing more stressful than spending Christmas Eve stood over the ironing board or washing machine.

Make sure you’re able to join in with the family Christmas cheer the night before by keeping on top of the laundry on the lead up to the big day.

5. Schedule in the dreaded, big clean

Break your Christmas clean down into smaller tasks for a more manageable clean.
The one you’ve all been waiting for – the big, deep clean before all our guests and their ‘onlooking’ eyes arrive.

Despite the fact that everyone will be too busy cooing over new gifts, divine dishes and friendly faces to pay attention to the odd cobweb, it’s something the majority of us feel obliged to take care of.

Make this mammoth task less stressful by breaking it down into small tasks and scheduling them out over a longer period of time. That way the prospect will seem much less daunting.

If you’re short on time, try to hide as much clutter as possible in cupboards and under beds. Focus on the rooms that will be seen by guests like the living room, downstairs loo and kitchen.

6. Give your car the once over to avoid Christmas catastrophes

Many of us travel around a lot over the festive period to visit nearest and dearests. While it’s great to catch-up, the cold, icy conditions can be tricky to negotiate.

Ensuring your car is fit for the Christmas weather by topping up your screen defroster, checking your tyres and packing a small screen scraper in the glove box for snowy days – it’ll be plain sailing from there on out.

7. Rifle through your Christmas decorations

There’s nothing like some shiny decorations to bring the Christmas cheer!
Christmas isn’t about the materialistic stuff. Of course, deep down we know this is true, but we often feel pressure to make our houses look as beautiful as possible during the festive season.

If you’re guilty of frantically rushing out to buy every bauble in sight as the big day nears, planning in advance is probably a good idea.

Check what decorations you already have in storage and it will help you stay calm and collected when buying new ones. There will be less temptation to buy things you don’t need, helping to keep that Christmas budget low, and you’ll also be able to construct a flowing décor you’re proud of.

8. Make welcoming unscheduled guests stress-free

The beauty – and stress – of Christmas often comes from the unscheduled drop-ins of family and friends.

It’s difficult to throw things together and make things hospitable at the flick of a switch, and whilst your guests will probably be happy with anything, chances are you’ll want everything to be just right.

You can easily make such occasions stress-free by getting a few things together before such occasions arise. Fill a chest full of spare sheets and towels for any ad hoc drop-ins, stock up on toiletries, and clear some wardrobe space so your visitors feel as welcome as you intend them to.

9. Stock up on snacks

Christmas is the one time of year when you can expect an impromptu drop-in from literally anyone who’s ever known you. Not only that, but you’re obliged to welcome the guests – whether you recognise them or not – with the appropriate snacks and nibbles – it’s no wonder having enough food is one of our main Christmas worries!

Stock up now to make sure you can fill any awkward silences with snack offerings.

10. Write the mammoth shopping list

There’s nothing as devastating as starting Christmas Day dinner only to realise you’ve forgotten to buy the most lusted-after ingredient – Yorkshire puddings, and lots of them.

Avoid stressing over forgotten ingredients by writing your shopping list as early as possible. (You should probably check it at least ten times too, you know, just to be sure). If you’re having people over, why not ask them for suggestions?