12 Upcycled Christmas Décor Ideas Using Thrift Store Finds

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In process and photo feature for a roundup of 12 Upcycled Christmas Decor ideas. This wreath is made from thrifted wood ring with greenery, white twine, embroidery scissors and red berry greenery. Here the branch from a fir tree is being tied to the base of the wreath with twine.

These upcycled Christmas decor ideas transform thrifted and repurposed items into simple, one-of-a-kind holiday pieces. Collected and made over time, the projects below focus on creative reuse and handmade seasonal charm using found items and materials already on hand.

1. Vintage Chalkboard Christmas Sign

This vintage-style chalkboard Christmas sign was made using a vintage wood-framed chalkboard, though any similar chalkboard would work just as well. The design was created with a stencil cut on a cutting machine and chalk paint, but a store-bought stencil can easily be substituted for the same look.

Horizontal feature photo of a finished chalk painted vintage chalkboard that says K. Kringle Co. Cocoa & Confections.

2. Holiday Wood Ring Wreath

This holiday wreath began as a true trash-to-treasure find, using a reclaimed wood ring and a small vintage rocking horse. Finished with greenery and twine, it becomes a unique rustic holiday wreath.

Finished wood ring wreath with holiday greenery on each side and a rocking horse at the bottom.
Holiday Wood Ring Wreath

3. Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Candle Holder

For a nostalgic touch, gingerbread cookie cutters can be repurposed into a simple candle holder by tying them around a glass vase with ribbon threaded through the handles.

Photo of a tall glass container with five gingerbread man cookie cutters tied around it with a red and white ribbon and a candle in the center.
Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Candle Holder

4. Distressed Paperback Book Stack

Transform paperback books into a rustic decorative stack with a distressed chalk paint finish. Wrapped in kraft paper, then painted, and finished with simple embellishments, these faux book stacks add cozy holiday charm to shelves, tables, or seasonal displays.

Photo of a stack of three distressed books painted with white chalk paint and tied together with green twine, a red bell and a sprig of greenery. Words in black vinyl on the spine say 'let it snow' with a few snowflakes, also in black vinyl.
Distressed Paperback Book Stack

5. Holiday Yardstick Magnets

Cut up an old yardstick and make these beautiful holiday magnets. Find the full ruler box magnet tutorial here.

Closeup photo of a holiday magnet made from nailing together pieces of a vintage yardstick and adding holiday miniatures to the inside. This one has a small red lantern with a bow and two small bottle brush trees.

6. Tart Tin Christmas Trees

Repurpose new or vintage tart tins to make these beautiful Christmas Trees. There’s also a Valentine’s Day version of this craft. Find the full repurposed tart tin trees tutorial here.

Two DIY Christmas trees made out of tart tins and wood spools topped with a colorful bead.
Tart Tin Christmas Trees

7. Scrap Wood Stocking Holder

This beautiful stocking holder is made from a 2×4 that I had in my garage. We don’t have a fireplace mantel to hang Christmas stockings on, so this holder works perfectly for our family. Find the full DIY wood sign tutorial here.

Peace on Earth farmhouse wood sign made from a 2 x 4. Four hooks on the bottom of the stocking holding stockings. Top of the sign has a small deer and eight magenta, pink and cream colored brush trees.
DIY Farmhouse Stocking Holder

8. Christmas Card Holder

Stretch canvas frames can be repurposed into a simple Christmas card holder with ribbon and string lights. This upcycled wall display is a festive way to showcase holiday cards while adding seasonal charm to a room, and it can be reused year after year.

Photo of a finished Christmas Card holder displayed on the wall with a large red bow, gold frames and string lights to clip cards to.

9. DIY Flocked Christmas Tree

I was given this 24″ Christmas Tree, and I thought it could use a little snow. To give it a flocked look, I simply dabbed white chalk paint on the ends of the branches. A bit of a messy process, but it gave this little tree the refresh it needed.

Photo of a 24 inch table top Christmas tree given a makeover by flocking it with white highlights and placing it in a wicker basket.

10. Rustic Christmas Tree Crate

Pick up an old wooden crate at the thrift store, or make one out of scrap wood, to add a little farmhouse charm to your holiday decor! The design features black vinyl for the type, and the tree graphic was stenciled on with green acrylic paint.

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees design on a rustic small white crate. The type has a farmhouse, vintage feel and the handmade thrift store crate is filled with bottle brush trees all in green with snowy accents in varied sizes.

11. Snow Scene Dome

Cheese domes are another thrift-store item to look for. Hot-glue bottle-brush trees in varying sizes to a circle of cardboard or foam board and glue faux snow around the edges.

Cheese dome with a wood base and clear glass dome filled with small bottle brush trees and a snowy base.

12. Reindeer Basket

This reindeer basket was created by repurposing parts from an old gun rack, turning an unexpected thrifted find into a festive, one-of-a-kind holiday basket. Find the full upcycled reindeer basket tutorial here.

Feature image of a square tapered wicker basket turned into a rustic reindeer basket with the addition of plaid red and green nose and ears and antlers made from an old vintage wall hanging gun rack. The basket is show here filled with a branch with small pine cones and branches of pussy willows.

13. Upcycled Tins

Simple metal tins, like this lunchbox-style tin, can be repurposed into holiday décor or storage pieces. This example features a compact Christmas countdown tin with numbered blocks, finished with a simple bow at the top.

Three DIY Christmas Countdown - one of them shown made from tin lunchbox

And one more.

Old Christmas cards can be repurposed into simple gift tags by cutting out shapes by hand or with a cutting machine.

Horizontal photo with 4 finished recycled Christmas card gift tags on kraft card stock. One is on a white kraft paper wrapped gift tied with twine and a sprig of greenery. The other four tags are on the table next to the wrapped gift.
Star divider used has two hand drawn lines with a star in the center, used as a content break and signals new or different content below. This doodle style illustration is in a medium charcoal gray.

– MORE TO EXPLORE –

Upcycled Drawer Riser + DIY Wood Signs + Pinecone Christmas Tree

Photo of a finished repurposed drawer made into a long table riser painted an antique blue with vintage knobs and black feet. Shown here in an overhead side view filled with holiday florals, pots of white flocked greenery, a white candle and a vintage ceramic white sled with horse and carolers inside.
Four Christmas shelf sitter signs shown with white cheerful vinyl type. A red Merry & Bright sign , a green Nice, Naughty sign, a green Fa La La La La sign, and a red Jingle All the Way sign. All featured on a white wood background.
Square feature photo of a Christmas tree made from different varieties of pine cones decorated with red berries.
Photo of a finished repurposed drawer made into a long table riser painted an antique blue with vintage knobs and black feet. Shown here in an overhead side view filled with holiday florals, pots of white flocked greenery, a white candle and a vintage ceramic white sled with horse and carolers inside.
Upcycled Drawer Riser
Four Christmas shelf sitter signs shown with white cheerful vinyl type. A red Merry & Bright sign , a green Nice, Naughty sign, a green Fa La La La La sign, and a red Jingle All the Way sign. All featured on a white wood background.
DIY Wood Sign
Square feature photo of a Christmas tree made from different varieties of pine cones decorated with red berries.
Pinecone Christmas Tree

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