6 DIY Christmas Ideas to try in 2020

The Holidays are looking a little different this year, due to the Coronavirus that stole Christmas, but that doesn’t mean we have to cancel. Here are some DIY projects to do from inside the house during a stay-at-home order…

1.) Make Holiday Popsicles

These Kiwi Popscicles are super easy to make. You need a red fruit (frozen strawberries work well), white yogurt (we used vanilla), a green fruit (kiwis are great), a little blendery thing, and a popsicle mold. Whir up your fruit (about 3 kiwis to about 10 medium-sized strawberries) to make a puree. Add sweetener if you’d like and fill up your popsicle molds using layers of each color. The consistency of the three ingredients is very different, so they won’t mix together in the mold. Put the mold in the freezer for several hours, and then you have a healthy holiday treat that you won’t feel guilty about! Recipe by Paper & Glue (visit the website for more photos and info)

2.) Show Off the Holiday Sweater (in a virtual meeting)

Everybody is on Zoom nowadays. Why not have a Family Zoom Party, Friend Zoom Party, or even a Drinking Zoom Party. Have someone dress up as Santa or an elf, and everyone else can wear Christmas Sweaters and do something together like make hot cocoa, watch a movie, or play Charades, Pictionary, or a fun drinking game. If you have little ones, there are now “Zoom Calls with Santa” available this year.

3.) Create a Fun Family Photoshoot

A great excuse for putting the whole family in matching outfits! Family photos are a fun way to make memories that will laugh a lifetime. Don’t be afraid to get goofy with it. Take at least 2 or 3 “fun poses” that show off your family’s silly side. If you’re home alone for the holidays, you can take Zoom meeting photos. They won’t seem like much now, but later we can all look back at that time we spent Christmas looking like the opening of the credits of the Brady Bunch.

4.) Build a Gingerbread House

You put it off every year, just seems like so much work! Well this year, we’ve been blessed with more time inside and its the perfect time to finally make it work. Nothing beats a craft that you can eat when you’re finished! Many supermarkets will sell a gingerbread house kit around the holidays. The kit will usually include the bare essentials to build four walls and a roof. Head to the candy aisle of the supermarket and select a few custom treats that will add to your child’s design of the gingerbread house. Here are a few ideas on how some popular candies may be incorporated (Source minted.com) :

Plain or peanut butter M&M’s – can be used for colored roof tiling.
Gumdrops – can be used for colored roof tiling.
Small candy canes – can be used for wall decorations or fence posts.
Shredded coconut – can be used for snow on the roof, or dyed green for grass.
Pretzel sticks – can be used for fence posts or logs for a log cabin.
Red vines – can easily be bent and wrapped around corners and edges.
Marshmallows – can be used to make snowmen or little snow bundles.

5.) Go for a Christmas Lights Drive

And if you’re feeling extra festive, decorate the car you’re in! Make some hot cocoa, pour a cup for each member of the family, and head out in the car in search of the best Christmas light displays for some memorable family bonding. Some cities and towns even have a professionally made light display or experience that charges admission. If you are lucky, you will come across a light display that is synched up with music.

6.) Make and Send Christmas Cards

The COVID-19 pandemic has really transformed our traditional social practices in 2020. Many of us have canceled travel plans and missed out on deep engagements with friends and family. Take special advantage of this holiday season and send a personal update to let all those you care about know you have been thinking of them. Browse through pinterest to find thousands of holiday card ideas created by independent artists from around the world. Ensure that your Christmas card leaves a lasting impression this year!

Whatever you decide to do this year, try not to be discouraged (COVID seasonal depression is a real thing, yikes). Remember that Christmas is about the love and memories you make!

With Love,

Joanna