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 three!

On the ninth day of Thriftmas we create a cute Santa inspired centerpiece.

Supplies needed: hurricane or glass vase, candle, fresh cranberries, black belt, adhesive

This is a super easy DIY centerpiece that looks great at parties or as a table centerpiece on Christmas Day. I used a hurricane vase I found at Thrift Town for $2.99, and attached a black velvet belt I also found at Thrift Town for under a dollar, around the center of the vase. I filled the vase with cranberries, popped a candle in the center and you’ve got yourself a very merry Santa belly centerpiece!

On the tenth day of Thriftmas I am showing you how to use thrifted book pages as Christmas cards.

Supplies needed: book, scissors, card stock, sharpie, glue stick

You can get as creative as you want on this DIY. I bought a book at Thrift Town for under a dollar. I based my selection on how weathered the pages looked. I simply cut out shapes from the book pages to form my card scene (I’m not an artist…so I stuck to circles for ornaments and varies lengths for Christmas trees!). Glue the cut out pieces onto the card stock forming your card scene, write your message using your sharpie, and use as gift tags or holiday cards. Simple, and also a great way to get your kids involved.

On the eleventh day of Thriftmas I am showing you a great and thrifty gift for the cook in your life.

Supplies needed: oven mitt, kitchen cooking utensils, wine corks, sharpie, forks, needle nosed pliers, razor.

At Thrift Town I put together a cute oven mitt stocking full of gently used kitchen utensils for around $5. I then grabbed a few of the $0.29 forks and headed home to create a few garden markers to add to the gift. Using needle nosed pliers bend the prongs of the forks in different directions, leaving one standing straight up. Take a wine cork and print the name of the plant onto it using a sharpie, and on the bottom of the cork, make an incision using the razor. Shove the cork onto the one remaining standing prong of the fork where you made the incision with the razor. Done…you’ve got yourself an adorable garden marker!

On the 12th and final day of Thriftmas I recommend this last gift idea to help prevent your little angels from ripping open their gifts prior to Christmas morning. Admittedly, I probably should have included this one in part 1, but hopefully this may still help a few of you out there, and there’s always next year!

Supplies needed: books, movies, wrapping paper, tape, marker

My bambinos get pretty anxious to open their gifts on the last few days leading up to Christmas morning. I was the same way. To help combat their curiosity and anticipation, I wrap up thrifted holiday themed books and movies and let them open one a night on the days leading up to Christmas. The books and movies cost me around $1-$2 each at Thrift Town and the snuggles they create as we read the book or watch the movie together as a family are priceless.

Thank you so much for coming along on my 12 Days of Thriftmas journey! Here’s the link to Thrift Town’s 12 Days of Thriftmas board on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pinthrifttown/12-days-of-thriftmas/ . In fact all the photos above were taken from our pinterest inspirations, and can all be found with links to each of their individual blogs on our 12 Days of Thriftmas pinterest board.

May your holidays be merry and bright!

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.