This month in New Mexico, Texas, and California, I debuted my 12 Days of Thriftmas ideas on local television shows…one show a day leading up to Christmas, and featuring 12 simple and thrifty DIY decor and gift ideas. I am breaking it into a three part blog series and welcome to part one!

On the first day of Thriftmas we create an advent calendar out of a thrifted muffin pan.

Supplies needed: muffin pan, tape, scissors, and printables (linked below).

This is one of my favorites. It’s not only simple, but it’s family friendly and helps get everyone into the spirit of the holidays. Once you’ve selected your muffin pan (I need all mine around the holidays, so I found a thrifted one at Thrift Town for under a buck), simply print and cut out the list of fun family activities and fill each pan space with one. Here’s a great printout that I used: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/121175046197838326/

Next print and cut out the calendar spaces, and use either regular tape or magnet tape to cover each of the muffin pan openings. Here’s the link to the printable I used for this project: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/121175046197838320/

Put a ribbon on the top of your project and put in a place where your children can easily access it. Done!

On the second day of Thriftmas I turned a thrifted frame into a Christmas Card Display. Like many, I participate in a holiday card exchange with friends and family. Each year I get dozens of cards, and instead of putting them in a basket, I wanted to create something that I can display them on so whenever I walk by I can literally count my blessings.

Supplies needed: frame, chicken wire, staple gun, wire cutters or strong scissors, clothes pins, wreath hanger.

This too is a very easy project. I found a beautiful frame at Thrift Town for $7.99. I purchased a small roll of chicken wire at Home Depot, and after removing the frames backing and glass, I simply cut the amount of chicken wire needed to completely cover the back of the frame and stapled it into place. You may want to wear protective gloves as the wire is sharp and could cut into your skin if not careful. Hang it from a door using a wreath hanger, and attach cards as they come in using clothes pins. That’s it!

On the third day of Thriftmas I am showing you how ridiculously easy it is to string ornaments together creating a beautiful ornament garland.

Supplies needed: LOTS of ornaments, a heavy wire (could be floral, you could also use ribbon instead), wire cutters/scissors.

Cut your wire to the desired length of the garland you wish to make. Take one end of the wire and twist together to form a stopping point so the ornaments don’t fall off the wire. Start stringing the ornaments onto the wire by threading the top of the ornament loop through the wire. Continue until you’ve reached your desired length, and twist the other end of the wires together so the ornaments don’t fall off. That’s it! My pre-teen daughter actually created the above garland. I used about a hundred ornaments in mine. Good thing packs of ornaments at Thrift Town cost around $0.69 each!

On the forth day of Thriftmas I’m showing you an idea on how to create a special keepsake ornament for your child.

Supplies needed: large plastic or glass ornament, paper (or other keepsake, like a graduation cap tassle).

Again, this one is ridiculously easy, with a very high sentimental factor. Each year, we have the children write down their Santa list (we wrote it during the years they couldn’t) on a small piece of paper. We have them sign their name, date/age on the bottom. I make the paper look a little “weathered” before hand either dipping it into tea and letting it dry, or using a lighter and burning the edges a bit. I take the list roll it around a pencil, and drop it into the top of the ornament. By the time they hit 18, they will have a whole collection of Santa lists to hang on their own tree and reminiscence over. You could also use these type of ornaments to put other types of keepsakes such as graduation tassels, etc. Boom. Kleenex please!

All of our 12 Days of Thriftmas pinspiration can be found here: http://www.pinterest.com/pinthrifttown/12-days-of-thriftmas/ . All of the photos above were taken from our pinterest inspiration.

Stay tuned for next week’s Mommy Moments blog post for part 2 of the 12 Days of Thriftmas!

Happy thrifting!

Gina Doglione-Nielsen is featured every week on Good Day Sacramento’s Thrifty Thursdays, and owns GNJ Consulting which handles Public, Social, and Media Relations for Thrift Town Stores. Gina lives in Northern California with her amazing husband Josh, and is constantly on the go with three “very active” and “strong personality” bambinos; aka Team Nielsen, and loves every minute of it.