Today, it is very hard for us, budget-conscious people to buy expensive ornaments or other Christmas decorations. As an alternative cheaper method, I have three homemade crafts you can make using everyday household items. You can use these simple craft ideas for Christmas ornaments to send to family and friends.

1. Cookie Ornaments: Use whatever cookie cutter designs you have on hand and bake cookies to hang on the tree. If you do not have cookie cutter designs, no problem. Make your own designs. For example make pretzel cookies which can easily be hung on a branch and decorated with ribbons.

Here is how to do it. Roll out a small piece of your favorite dough to about 3 inches. Take the two ends and overlap them at the top to form an upside down letter "Q" or make any loop shape. After the pretzel is baked, you can tie a ribbon through the hole in the shape of a bow, and hang it on the tree.

2. Paper Tree Decorations: Take several pieces of colored paper and cut out different Christmas tree designs. Let your kids personalize each cut-out tree with his name, color stickers, a picture, or drawing designs on the tree to look like ornaments. Line these up in your child's room to make a border or link them together and put them around the Christmas tree.

3. Christmas Stocking Ornaments: You can make your own Christmas stocking creations using any material lying around the house. Sew in a couple of fabrics and colors make them stand out. Bows, beads or large ribbons are nice additions that can be glued to the stocking. You can also personalize them with your child's name. When the stockings are done, cut a piece of fabric into a loop and sew it onto the top of the stocking. Hang them on the tree proudly.

Making homemade and handmade Christmas ornaments is not only an enjoyable activity for the entire family, but also allows your child to exercise his imagination. It is much more rewarding to make something yourself than buying it. These simple craft ideas for Christmas are good activities to do during the Christmas season. These homemade decorations make great memorable presents as well.

Before shelling out cash for some Christmas ornaments, scrounge around the house first. You'll never know what beautiful ornaments you can make from everyday things!