DIY Adorable Christmas Nutcracker Decor Using Dollar Tree Laundry Baskets

Nutcracker décor is all the rage this holiday season, with life-sized replicas flanking front doors, standing guard in foyers, and protecting fireplaces. You can find nutcrackers to complement any festive style — the bigger, the better. Unfortunately, these sought-after statues can come with a hefty price tag, averaging around $200 for nutcrackers taller than 3 feet.

If you want to hop on the trend but don't have the budget, we have the perfect affordable DIY for you. Using laundry baskets and a few other items from the Dollar Tree, you can assemble your own Christmas nutcracker that looks pretty darn impressive for being 6 ½ feet tall and only about $20! Wrapping the laundry baskets with poster board and craft foam gives this DIY nutcracker its stately yet whimsical look that rivals the store-bought versions. You can give your nutcracker a custom look using other craft supplies and Dollar Tree finds for this fun, family-friendly creative Christmas decoration using household items that will get everyone in the holiday spirit. This DIY is an easy way to incorporate an on-trend décor element to your home for a fraction of the price.

One of our tried-and-true tips for holiday decorating on a budget is to DIY where you can, and you can get just about everything you need to make this nutcracker from the Dollar Tree. Its base is a 12-inch tin pizza pan and the legs are two 20-by-30-inch black foam boards rolled up and glued onto the pan. For the legs, you could also use the 47-inch pool noodles and cut them down to 30 inches. Next, glue three plastic laundry baskets on top of the legs to make the nutcracker's body. The bottom two should be glued together by their bottoms and the top of the third basket should be glued down last. Then, wrap the baskets in red and gold poster board (or match your nutcracker to your holiday décor color scheme). The head, hat, arms, and face is made of craft foam, and use a microfiber duster and mop pad from the Dollar Tree for the hair and front chest ruffle. You can use ribbon, felt, and more craft foam to add the finishing touches to your one-of-a-kind nutcracker. (While you're at the Dollar Store, grab a hula hoop to make a stunning jumbo holiday wreath!)

While this Dollar Tree DIY nutcracker is a towering decoration, it won't hold up for long outdoors. It'll be better suited to stand ready to greet guests in the foyer, or you can make two to flank the fireplace. If you are looking for an inexpensive outdoor option, the NeepeCiko Nutcracker Banners on Amazon are a fun twist on the trend, and they're only $16.