Make your own Christmas countdown using a muffin tin with 24 cups. Cut circles from magnet sheets, fill each cup with a small surprise, number the circles for each day, cover each cup with its magnetic circle, and hang the whole thing on the wall with festive ribbon.
Sleigh the Season: Six Genius Christmas Hacks
Get ready to sleigh the holiday season with hacks that make life a little easier — crafty wrapping tricks, genius ideas for hosting guests, and a few “why didn't I think of that” shortcuts for a more stress-free holiday.
Muffin Tin Advent Calendar
Family Photo Gift Tags
Give your gifts a personal touch by using family photos instead of regular name tags — print digital photos on cardstock, cut them into fun shapes, and attach them to your presents.
Cookie Cutter Ornaments
Turn cookie cutters into tree ornaments with a quick ribbon wrap. Use tape instead of glue so you can still reuse the set for baking next year.
Craft Stick Snowflake Tree Topper
Top your tree with a snowflake made from craft sticks: spray-paint them white, hot-glue them together, and attach the finished topper to the tree with clear fishing line for an easy, stress-free finish.
Fabric Gift Wrapping
Save money and time by wrapping gifts with fabric scraps instead of paper — it's unique, and ideal for smaller presents that need to travel without worrying about ripped paper or crushed bows. Just center the box on the fabric and tie the ends in a tight knot.
Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Trees
Turn cupcakes into little Christmas trees: place an ice cream cone upside down on a frosted cupcake, pipe on green frosting for “leaves,” and add edible pearl candies as ornaments for a fun holiday treat.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →