Instead of splurging on holiday decorations from those pricey home décor stores, make your own seasonal crafts for next to nothing. Here are three holiday craft ideas that will give you a bit of extra money to spend on gifts for your loved ones.

Magazine Trees
Take an old magazine and fold it over page by page to create fan-like holiday trees with a bit of a vintage look. Once you’re done, you can even decorate the trees with tinsel and ornaments. Display them along a mantle or up the stairwell.

3D Paper Snowflakes
If you’re decorating for a holiday party at home, these 3D paper snowflakes are a fun and easy craft that you can make in bulk. Use silver or gold paper for a metallic look, or simply use white computer paper to create a whole flurry of realistic snowflakes.

Ornament-Filled Vases
If you have some leftover ornaments that didn’t fit on the holiday tree, don’t let them go to waste. Instead, create a festive centerpiece or an accent for the mantle by placing them inside of a cheap, clear vase. Add some tall branches behind the ornaments and place the whole thing somewhere that all of your guests can see.

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As sweater weather approaches we hope you all stay warm and cozy this season! What are some of your favorite winter activities?

If you’re the type of person with more refined tastes in desserts, you’ll love South Austin’s Dolce Neve. This eclectic sweet shop serves gelato, frozen yogurt, and ice cream all under one roof, and its gourmet flavors make it just as delicious for grown ups as it is for the little ones. Gelato comes in flavors like buttermilk blackberry, lemon goat’s milk, and ricotta honey pistachio, while elaborate creations like the Cassata combine ricotta gelato with chocolate chunks and candied orange peels to create a dessert that's exciting to the senses.

Inside, the cozy dining room at Dolce Neve is just as enticing as its delicious frozen treats. Reclaimed wood tables and farm-style light fixtures fill the room, and there are lush green plants lining the windowsills to create a truly cheerful ambiance.

Dolce Neve
1713 S First St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 804-5568
www.dolcenevegelato.com

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr theglobalpanorama