DIY Holiday Decorations For Your NYC Apartment

DIY holiday crafts

One of the trickiest parts of decorating for the holidays when living in NYC is that (most of us) don’t have an attic or basement to store boxes of seasonal decor during the 11 months of the year when they’re not being used. While paying for a storage unit is an option, I personally lean to the “DIY for the season” approach. Not only does it allow you to create festive decorations to jazz up your apartment for the season, but it’s also a great motivator to get out and use your city for the many classes and workshops it offers, all led by artistic pros!

Make Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Ornaments

Sure, you could run out to your local Duane Reade and buy a box of glittery balls for $10, but where’s the fun in that when you could be not only crafting your own ornaments, but learning about a new culture and meeting cool people at the same time! Join the Ukrainian Museum for their Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Tree Ornaments Workshop, which will have you using beads, walnut shells, colored ribbons, and paper to make traditional Ukrainian tree ornaments such as spiders, cradles, stars, mobiles, and garlands. The best part? This workshop is super family friendly, so would be a great activity to take the littles to, or your parents who are visiting from out of town.

WHEN: Saturday, December 10th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. or
Sunday, December 11th 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or
Sunday, December 11th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

COST: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $5 for children up to age 12

Take a Wreath Making Class

Perhaps one of the easiest and environmentally friendly DIY holiday crafts you can put together is a festive wreath. Nothing makes your apartment door look quite so welcoming as a charming magnolia wreath hanging, filled with pine cones and seasonal fruits and holly…and the best part is, after the season is over, your wreath can be composted and won’t harm any landfill (or hog precious storage space in your apartment.) The New York Botanical Gardens is offering a class, instructing those even without a green thumb how to create a beautiful piece.

WHEN: November 30th, 2016

COST: $170, which includes the cost of supplies

Colorful gingerbread houses in front of a christmas tree

Build Your Own Gingerbread House

Mmm, is there anything more delightful than the smell of freshly baked gingerbread wafting through the home? You can have that all season long by creating and displaying your very own gingerbread house by taking a class at Michaels. You’re encouraged to get creative and make your house your own, but using icing and gum drops and peppermints and all the other delightful candies traditionally associated with building a dessert house. Plus, we think this would make an adorable centerpiece to your holiday table.

WHEN: December 3rd, 2016

COST: Workshop is free, but you must purchase a kit to participate

Take A “Holiday Lights” Photography Class and Display Your Prints During The Season

We absolutely LOVE this idea. The Princeton Photo Workshop offers a class AND tour of some of NYC’s most famous holiday light displays (think: Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Christmas Tree and Ice Rink, and gorgeous window displays in midtown.) Not only will you be instructed over the 2 hour class on how to take amazing HDR photos (with tons of hands on instruction, of course), but you will be able to go home with all your professional prints to display in your apartment, showcasing the best of NYC during the holidays! Side note: a framed print would also make a special gift to that friend of yours who loves NYC almost as much as you do.

WHEN: December 4th, 2016

COST: $79

Think Ahead and Craft Your 2017 Calendar Now

While the New Year may seem ages away right now as we have images of turkey and pumpkin pie dancing in our heads, the truth is, it’s only a few short weeks away. Why not get together with some friends and head to a class at one of the Paper Source locations in NYC, where you will be instructed on essential crafting techniques, and then be able to use all the tools at hand to create a calendar with a look you love. Not only will it help you kick off the New Year by being super organized, but you can also take advantage of the 10% off coupon you’ll get just for taking the class and then use your new skills to bang out a few extra calendars as holiday gifts with a personalized touch.

WHEN: November 19th, 2016

COST: $28

What’s your go-to DIY holiday craft? Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and let us know!

Posted in Glenwood News, manhattan living |