For the last few years, I’ve used the same stockings with the same sad little wreath on them. Actually, it’s a napkin ring. Well, this year, I wanted to add a little pizazz to the stockings. And this month’s Pinterest Challenge landed at just the right time. November is all about stockings, and I’m sharing 5 easy ways to spruce up a humdrum Christmas stocking.
5 Easy Ways to Spruce Up a Humdrum Christmas Stocking
If you are visiting via Our Southern Home, welcome! I’m excited you’re here. I’ve always enjoyed Christy’s traditional style. Her home is beautiful, elegant, and graceful.
The stockings weren’t humdrum the year I bought them. That was about 5 years ago. But as you know, design styles change. I’ve changed. Now I want to put forth a tiny bit more effort into the Christmas decor. Emphasis on tiny. So when I dug our stockings out, I put my thinking cap on because I have no plans to buy new ones.
Home By Heidi
Our inspiration photo comes from Home by Heidi. I find her stockings adorable, and they have the simple pizzazz I was looking for. Let’s see how I’m going to incorporate my own personal style into the Christmas style I usually settle on.
Christmas tour from 2024
In years past, here’s what the stockings looked like when hanging on the dining room mantel. Not terrible, but you can see why I wanted a change, right?
First attempt to spruce up an old stocking.
Use leftover paper crafts.
I enjoyed making this little nutcracker banner from a paper craft set I already had. They are raised figures with a sticker on the back. Typically, they are used to embellish gifts, a card, or a name tag. I used hot glue to add them to a string. Easy peasy and pretty darn cute.
Second attempt for sprucing.
Use an ornament.
Going through some of our ornaments and hanging one with the original napkin ring is a no-brainer. It even had the same twine. You can easily customize the stockings this way. How about using an ornament with a craft your kid made when they were little? I think all of our kids have a popsicle stick and foam ball craft somewhere.
Sprucing Idea number three.
Use a battery-operated toy.
This little lantern was used in a large dollhouse a very long time ago. I never liked the color when it was lit up. Seems more appropriate for Halloween. But there are lots of other dollhouse pieces you could use. Speaking of dolls, how about using a shot of the person’s full body? You can cut it out, add a backing to it (like cardboard or foam board), and voila – a personalized tag. 🙂
Spruce up a stocking idea number 4
A ribbon can always elevate things.
It can’t get much easier than adding satin ribbon to a stocking. It’s basically effortless and looks simple, but at least it’s slightly better than a plain ol’ stocking. 😉
Sprucing idea number 5
Use broken decor.
This metal piece used to be on the top of a French Country bird cage. It broke off a couple of years ago. So layering scraps together gives new life. Especially when you spray paint them in a pretty metallic color. I usually throw things away when they break, but I was glad to see this at the bottom of a bin.
Well, are you ready for the final stocking look? Don’t laugh when you scroll down and see it.
LOL! I know you’re thinking – girl, get rid of those ugly little wreath napkin rings. I can’t! For some reason, I keep pulling them out year after year. And y’all, they are even uglier when used as a napkin ring! Next year, maybe I’ll buy new stockings. Or make them. I’d love that.
Next up with more Christmas ideas is my friend Cindy from DIY Beautify. You will love her creative ways to decorate with stockings. Don’t forget to come back and check out the rest below!
Cindy
So many clever ideas to update Christmas stockings. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Author
Thank you Rachel. Not sure anyone has called me clever before. Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy, I love how you’ve repurposed things which were broken or just not in style to refresh your stockings!! They all are cute, and yes, I think we all have some holiday decor which could use a refresh, lol! Thank you for the idea to reuse broken metal leaves ~ I have a birdfeed which the squirrels or rats chewed the top off… The body is perfectly fine but I have it outside to do something with the leaves. Great ideas!
Happy holydays,
Barb 🙂
Author
Thank you Barbara! Darn those cute little squirrels. We have a love/hate relationship with them around here. I love them for their cuteness, the mister hates them because they continually chew up parts of the soffits. Glad you were inspired today. Have a great week.
What darling ideas to spruce up your white stockings. I think I like the last one best, but the bright red bow is simplicity as its finest. Thanks for sharing.
Author
That’s funny to me. The red bow almost didn’t make the cut because I dislike it the most. LOL. Thank you Carol.
Well, I for one like the little wreaths! But these are all really creative ideas, and some (like the little lantern) I never would have thought of! My favorite is probably the red ribbon, but that’s ’cause I need red at Christmas. Your final revamped stockings with the ornaments and green ribbons turned out really cute!!
Author
I was telling Carol that the red ribbon barely made the cut! I don’t love red but used it this year in the dining room. I was talked into it by my youngest child. Thanks for the encouragement. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
So many clever ideas Cindy! I think my fave is the one with the leaves and joy ribbon. Thanks for organizing us yet again!!!
Author
Thanks so much Diane. You seem the glamorous type so I can see why you like that one. I’m more of a plain Jane and will continue to use those ugly little napkin ring wreaths. LOL!
I personally love the little napkin wreath rings – they are vintage-y and sweet! And you can add to them any way you like (:
Author
Aww, thank you Gina! I thought I might be the only one. Have a great week!
I love your cute ideas for those stocking, brilliant but simple and perfect. I have some little wreaths that I can use, thanks and have a blessed and wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving.
Author
I love the tiny wreaths and can never find them. I’d love to know where you got yours. Thanks so much Marlene. Happy Thanksgiving!
I don’t even know where I got my tiny wreaths, cause I’ve had them forever, I usually hang them on my kitchen cabinet knobs and just anywhere else. If you find them let me know, maybe Hobby Lobby?
Author
I’ll start there. I don’t like buying things on Amazon if I need to touch it and check sizing. I have been wrong on sizing many times. :/ Thank you!
Well all your stocking sprucing up ideas are pretty darn cute Cindy! I usually go for simple and easy most of the time, no surprise there LOL! Those napkin rings are so fun to use in so many different ways. I have them on vintage bottles this year. 😊 Excellent Pinterest challenge this month!! Hugs!
Author
On bottles – that’s genius! I had a couple of extras and they are on a few door knobs. Thank you for making me smile Michelle. You are the best. Happy Thanksgiving!
Cindy, I am so excited to see these ideas today. I had to buy two new stockings for new family members (yay), but they are pretty simple, and I am going to use these ideas to spruce them up! Thank you for putting this together!
Author
Oh my golly, I love hearing you have new family members. That’s more smiles, laughs and hugs. Enjoy the season Libbie and thank you for the sweet comment. I’m glad you were inspired.
Great creative ideas! But I do love the classic napkin rings:)
Author
I just knew people would say to ditch the ring but I can’t! They work in so many places. Thanks bunches Lora.
So much inspiration and I love the rod the stockings hang from on the mantle. Did you make that?
Author
Just the fact you even thought I could make the rod put me in the best mood! No, I found it years ago at Kirkland’s (i think). Maybe the At Home store? Thank you for making my day Cyndi.
I like the napkins rings on the stockings! I also like the ribbon and broken bird cage leaves. Have a great Thanksgiving
Author
My favorites too! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving as well. Thanks so much for stopping by!