Dollar Store Christmas Craft Garland

The dollar store has become my new favorite place for craft supplies!  On a recent trip, I found the cutest little chocolate candles and I scored some really nice Christmas washi tape.  While I was there I grabbed some red and green straws to make a wreath that I saw on Pinterest.  My project turned into something completely different and instead of making a wreath, I decided to make a garland for my little Christmas tree.

We always buy a big tree to decorate for Christmas, but it takes time to get it home, get it inside, and set it up.  Sometimes I get impatient and can't wait for the Christmas decorating to start, so I get out my little tree and decorate it with ornaments I've made.

Here's what I used to make my garland:

paper drinking straws
scissors

yarn

wooden beads

I cut the straws into one inch pieces.
I love how they look like pieces of candy! 

Then just string the straw pieces and wooden beads onto the yarn. 

I made the felt gingerbread man ornaments a couple of years ago.  

You can get the instructions and patterns here.

As I was making my garland, I didn't realize how much it would look like candy when it was finished.  With the candy garland and the gingerbread men, I'm seeing a whole new theme for my little tree this year!  It's still looking a little bare and needs a few more ornaments.  I'm working on one more set of ornaments and hopefully they'll be ready to share tomorrow! 

The last couple years, I've done a "homespun Christmas" theme.  

Here's how I decorated my little tree last year. 

You can get the directions and patterns for making the felt ornaments here.  

Inspired by this pin for a straw wreath.