15 Holiday Crafts You Can Make and Sell for Extra Cash This Season

With the holiday season here, it’s time to put that Pinterest addiction to good use! How? Find easy Christmas crafts to make and sell at holiday fairs and festivals.

People love to decorate their homes for the holidays, so this time of year is a golden opportunity for you to earn some extra cash. Many of the handmade crafts you see at holiday craft fairs are inexpensive to make, which means you can turn a big profit from them.

Not that you’re going to make millions selling holiday crafts — but you could earn enough to throw a few extra presents under the tree. Plus, if you enjoy crafting, it’s an easy way to fund your hobby.

Here are 15 Christmas crafts that are cheap and easy to make, as well as attractive and unique enough to sell. These are the perfect solutions for crafters and homebodies to finding this year’s holiday side gig.

When Should You Make Christmas Crafts to Sell?

The window for generating income from holiday crafts opens in September, but the good news is seasonal items continue to be hot commodities throughout the months of October, November and December. You can set up an Etsy account and start selling online, or opt to join the holiday craft circuit.

Use one of the many online directories to help you find a craft fair in your area. Some popular ones include FestivalNet and Art & Craft Show Yellow Pages. You can also check the local school, church and chamber of commerce for smaller events that may not be listed.

How to Make Easy Christmas Crafts That Sell

Most of what you’ll need to create someone’s perfect holiday gift is already laying around your house. Hello, green construction paper! And for the few specialty items, the dollar store carries an abundance of cheap craft supplies.

Here are the basic crafting supplies and tools you should have on hand:

• Hot glue gun (and hot glue sticks)
• Modge podge (make your own decoupage with glue)
• Washi tape
• Ribbon, twine and jute
• Pom poms
• Crepe or scrapbooking paper
• Spray adhesive
• Clear and double-sided tape
• Pliers
• Paints (acrylic)
• Paintbrushes
• Hole punch
• Stapler
• Exacto knife
• Ruler

Running through the list, you’ll discover you have at least half of these items collecting dust in a closet or drawer somewhere. It’s time to start putting them to good use.

15 Easy Holiday Craft Ideas to Make and Sell

There are hundreds of easy Christmas crafts, but the key is to find projects that are both cheap to make and trendy enough to sell. Here are 15 fun holiday crafts that fit the bill.

1. Handmade Snow Globes

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Cute takes on versatile mason jars make a nice wintery addition to any table or mantel. Choosing quirky items to feature can make homemade snow globes more than glitter and glue. Think tiny Star Wars figurines, llamas or even pieces from a holiday village or train set. If you have the skills, level up your snow globes with a wooden base for a more professional look.

You can also try your hand at these tiny DIY snow globe rings sure to impress your seasonal customers.

Skill level: Easy to intermediate

2. Handmade Christmas Candles

Who doesn’t love the warm scent of cinnamon, cloves or peppermint? Making candles at home is a surprisingly easy (and profitable) holiday side gig. Pour them into jars with handmade labels or decorate with sticks, burlap and jute for a more natural, Pottery Barn-inspired look.

Not sure you’ll hold a candle to the professional chandlers? Try mixing holiday essential oil blends that smell like the ghosts of Christmas past with pine, ginger, orange, peppermint and clove oils.

Skill level: Easy

3. Handmade Holiday Signs & Decor

If you have basic woodworking tools in your garage, you can pull off a more sophisticated Christmas craft. Handmade holiday signs and other Christmas decor are popular sellers at holiday craft fairs and festivals. Stick with a little paint and some twine or put a wreath on it to make your sign attract attention.

And if you really want to light up your profits, make your own marquee letters or add battery-powered twinkle lights to your signage for a little extra holiday cheer.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

4. Holiday Soaps & Bath Bombs

Who knew it was so easy to make soap? Many soaps promise sweetly scented results in about 10 minutes per batch. Pour into silicone molds of any shape or size to make these seasonal bath products.

Want to make a big splash selling your holiday bath supplies? Create sets of Christmas-themed bath bombs or paint them as Christmas candy for a fizzy surprise from Santa.

Skill level: Easy to intermediate

5. Handmade Holiday Wreaths

Wreaths on front doors are the surest sign that Santa is on the way. Shoppers are always on the lookout for something festive, fun and unique that’ll bring a little cheer to their curb appeal. Here are several ideas for handmade wreaths that require a wreath form, some floral wire and a sprinkle of holiday spirit.

• Winter Wonderland Pom-Pom Wreath
• Let It Snow Christmas Wreath 
• Festive Paper Straw Wreath
• Quirky Spool Wreath

Skill level: Easy to intermediate

6. Mason Jar Holiday Mixes

Cookies. hot chocolate — layering ingredients in a mason jar is about as easy as it gets. And though they’re super simple (you could even make them with kids), printing up a nice label automatically makes them fancy enough to sell at any holiday fair.

And for the little ones (and teens) on the nice list, avoid the sweet stuff and go right for homemade jars of holiday slime that are popular on YouTube.

Skill level: Easy

7. Christmas Tree Ornaments

Kitch for the Christmas tree is an endless source of revenue for holiday fair purveyors. Instead of throwing glitter in a clear ornament, try hanging up one of these festive Christmas ornament ideas in your stall or online shop.

• Mini Snow Globe Ornament
• DIY Embroidery Hoop Ornament
• Mini Macrame Christmas Trees
• Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree Ornament

Some of the bestsellers at holiday craft markets are quirky Christmas tree ornaments like these felt cats or yarn ball ornaments for knitting enthusiasts.

Skill level: Easy

8. Holiday Soaks, Scrubs and Balms

Mmm, talk about DIY luxury. Peppermint foot treatments or decadent items like Christmas cookie sugar scrubs only take a few ingredients and five minutes to make. Put it into a pretty jar with a ribbon and you’re in business.

And if you want more DIY holiday cosmetics for your shop or stall, apply yourself to these seasonal lip balm recipes that only require four ingredients.

Skill level: Easy

9. Handmade Christmas Trees

These mini Christmas trees can be made from all manner of materials, including yarn, fabric scraps, or even dollar store silver ornaments glued together. And if you want to be really on trend this year, lean into flannel trees topped with rustic stars.

Because Christmas trees are so expensive, alternative Christmas trees are a booming seasonal business. Check out ideas for alternative DIY holiday trees that might be in your skillset, such as ones made from wooden dowels or even vintage glassware.

Skill level: Easy to advanced

10. Handmade Seasonal Scarves

If the words “fun cross stitching” don’t really apply to you, don’t worry. You don’t need much in the way of sewing skills to create Christmas and other holiday-themed scarves. Buy cheap, plain scarves and mock them up with pompoms or fringe to create something new.

Remember that you don’t have to knit (or sew really) for scarves that scoop up profits. Think about adding elements like buttons and braids to infinity scarves in seasonal colors.

Skill level: Intermediate

11. Christmas Decor

Deck the halls of your stall or online shop with seasonal decor that sells. Try a few or all of the following ideas that require a handful of materials and a little effort.

• Handmade Christmas Tree Skirt
• Old Sweater Christmas Stockings
• Reindeer Stocking Holder
• Oh Deer No-Sew Christmas Pillow

And last but certainly not least, explore your crafty side by creating Christmas villages. This adorable tutorial takes old birdhouses and a little paint and turns them into a tabletop winter wonderland.

Skill level: Intermediate

12. Seasonal Kitchen Supplies

Because so many spend the holidays in the kitchen, ‘tis the season for decor like handmade tea towels in cute Christmas patterns. If you don’t have a Cricut, you can just use fabric or acrylic paint for these festive tea towels. This holiday table runner uses a similar method and attaches some seasonal tassels.

If you’re not feeling the linens, you can put a cork in it with these holiday-themed wine stoppers that use small knobs, corks and a little imagination.

Skill level: Intermediate

13. Homemade Holiday Dog Treats

Making seasonally flavored dog treats in shapes like candy canes and putting them in jars with cute Christmas labels is paws down one of the easiest holiday crafts. You’ll be surprised at how many homemade dog treat recipes appeal to humans, too.

Don’t stop with dog treats because pet-themed crafts are popular and profitable. There probably isn’t a pet owner out there who wouldn’t roll over for this dog bone wreath.

Skill level: Easy

14. Handmade Christmas Advent Calendar

Advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes. Scour for something marketable like advent calendars made out of small envelopes, felt or even mini cardstock bins.

If you have basic woodworking skills, you’re in luck because making advent calendar blocks is an easy holiday craft that you can count on.

Skill level: Easy to advanced

15. Holiday Fabric Gift Bags

Know your way around a sewing machine? Then Santa has a brand new bag. Lean into simple seasonal sewing projects like these holiday tote bags in cute Christmas fabrics and patterns.

Another quick and easy Christmas craft idea is to skip the gift bows and go with stenciled drawstring bags for people who don’t like to wrap. Hey, no judgment here.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

9 Tips for Selling DIY Christmas Crafts at a Holiday Craft Fair

Need help figuring out if the price for your holiday craft is right? This guide from Paper + Spark for selling handmade items on Etsy suggests there is a formula for making a profit off those Christmas craft ideas. Take the cost of your supplies, double it to determine your wholesale price, and then double your wholesale price to account for labor and transportation.

So for instance, if the supplies for that cute wreath you’re selling are $5.50, your wholesale price would be $11, but your retail markup would be $22. This would be similar even if you were selling the wreath online. Although the customer pays shipping costs, you still have to account for the price of packaging and transport to the post office, UPS or FedEx.

And if it’s your first time selling at a craft fair, here are some tips from the pros to make it a smashing success:

1. Know the audience. What items would they be interested in?
2. Make your booth visually inviting.
3. Display your items at eye level.
4. Fill your booth. If you don’t have enough items on your own, share with a friend.
5. Create pretty labels and include prices.
6. Maintain a positive and welcoming attitude.
7. Give people space to browse.
8. Accept credit cards. Try using a tool like Square to accept payments on your smartphone.
9. Hand out business cards

Hopefully, these easy holiday craft ideas will get you started earning a little extra cash from your seasonal side gig. And set you up to carry some financial security into the new year.

Kaz Weida is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder. Susan Shain contributed.