Candy Cane Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Another outdoor Christmas decoration can be put together quickly and fairly cheaply. Candy Canes made out of PVC pipes and red duck tape are durable and weatherproof.

Materials

• PVC pipes, white, about 2-3 foot lengths


• Red duck tape


• Scissors


• Optional - Christmas lights

Instructions
Wrap the pipes with the tape to create the swirls.
Cut the tape and add pieces to the ends of the pipes if you choose.

You can connect the candy canes with Christmas lights or just line your driveway or walkway with them.

Wrapped Candy Outdoor Christmas Decoration

Save some money on your electric bill this year by decorating your yard with festive items rather than stringing Christmas lights and keeping them on all night. One quick cheap project is making oversized wrapped candy to hang or place in your yard.

Materials

• Heavy duty white paper plates


• Clear packing tape


• Colored cellophane


• Scissors


• Twine or thin weatherproof ribbon

Instructions
Tape two plates together with the bottoms facing outward.
Set the taped plates in the center of a large rectangle of cellophane and fold over the 2 long sides of the cellophane like you're wrapping a present. Tape the cellophane together
Twist one end of the cellophane like a candy wrapper and tie it with the twine or ribbon, then repeat with the other end. You may want to tape the ends before putting the twine around them for extra security.
Add a length of twine or ribbon across the back or a loop at the top of the candy with tape if you want to hang it.

Use different colors of cellophane for a bright display. You can also color the plates like peppermints before wrapping them in the cellophane.

Wednesday Budget Tip - Cheap Christmas Garlands

The idea of making garlands out of popcorn has been around a long time, but that's not the only thing that can be used. Uncooked pasta such as macaroni or penne painted in red and green, or construction paper cut and decorated on both sides then glued to yarn or string, or even cinnanmon sticks tied at intervals can make a festive garland to display. Glue wrapped peppermints from a dollar store, or make a pattern with several types of wrapped candy attached to a length of string. If you have any unused green glow sticks from Halloween make a garland out of them. Little matchbox cars can be tied onto a heavier weight string for a whimsical garland. Take the time to look through things you already have to save some money and make your own unique Christmas garlands.

Budget Halloween Garlands

This Halloween, don't rely on store bought decorations. Make your own Halloween garlands quickly and easily with simple and cheap craft items. You only need the following materials:

• Plastic spiders, bugs, pumpkins, or skulls


• Glue (or glue sticks and a glue gun)


• Black Yarn (or string or ribbon)

Glue or tie the plastic spiders, bugs, pumpkins, or skulls along the black yarn and then choose a place to hang your garland. It's that easy. You can make the garlands out of one item such as spiders or use them all in a pattern along the yarn. If you want to use the garland outside, you can tie glow sticks from a dollar store into it as well.