7 Early-Bird Dollar Tree DIY Holiday Gifts You Can Start Making Now

If you're ready for a break from the triple-digit heat, I've got you covered today. We're diving into some simple Dollar Tree holiday gifts that you can start on right now. These are affordable DIYs from Dollar Tree that you can make for everyone on your Christmas list.

1. Christmas Countdown Candle

Let’s kick things off with a quick win: the Christmas Countdown Candle. Grab a glass taper candle from Dollar Tree; they come in red, green, and white.

The trickiest part of this project is removing the label from the back. I find that soaking it off is the easiest method. I’m using my Cricut Joy to print the numbers 1 through 25, but you could also use stickers if you prefer.

I’m also printing the words "Christmas Countdown" using my Cricut Joy. Again, stickers would work just as well, but I love how much time this little machine saves me.

Pick up a long-handled lighter at the checkout stand from Dollar Tree and attach it to the candle with a ribbon.

I added a few sprigs of holiday decorations, and that’s it! This is a gift you could easily make in bulk for book clubs, Bible study groups, teachers, or doctor's offices.

2. Frosty Hat

For these Dollar Tree Christmas DIYs, I’m using items that you can find right now in your stores. Check out the party section at Dollar Tree for these adorable party hats. I thought the red one would be cute, but I’m picking the black one instead.

My winter décor is packed away, so I went to Walmart for some ribbon and found one lonely sprig of holiday décor that I'll be using in all the upcoming projects.

I also picked up some black foam core at Walmart since Dollar Tree was out. I got caught in a sudden downpour on my way to the car, and it warped the foam core, but that actually worked to our advantage. We need to make the brim of the hat a little longer, so the warp was perfect.

This Dollar Tree DIY Christmas project is all about making a Frosty hat. Once the foam core is the right width, I blacked out the edges and glued the original hat to it.

I gave the hat a light misting of Rustoleum 2x spray paint to make it look snowier.

The final touch is E6000 glue, which I applied generously, then used a paintbrush to spread it around.

I added a base of Epsom salt, let it dry, shook off the excess, and then added a finer layer of regular table salt with school glue.

These Dollar Tree DIY holiday crafts are so much fun, and they’re perfect if you have kids or grandkids who are stuck indoors.

3. Holiday Caddy

Our next Dollar Tree DIY Christmas project is a holiday-themed wrapping caddy.

Start with one of these small caddies from the teacher section at Dollar Tree. I’m using craft paper with holiday patterns and custom-cutting it to fit the caddy. I punched out some little holes to use as gift tags.

This project is super simple but practical, and everyone will love it.

If you’re ever in a pinch, Dollar Tree always has red and green mints in the candy section that work great as fillers for any gift. The finishing touches for the caddy include polka-dotted ribbon and a few holiday sprigs, which can be removed if desired.

4. Holiday Treat Tower

Next up, we're creating a custom holiday treat tower. I picked up a package of striped paper boxes from Dollar Tree in green.

These boxes come in several colors, so you can match them to your holiday color scheme. The trickiest part is assembling the boxes because the paper is a bit flimsy and can rip easily. I found it helpful to bend all the tabs down first and then put them together. Even if you rip a couple, they’ll be hidden when stacked.

I used my Cricut Joy to print out some names for personalization, but you can get creative in many ways. These boxes are perfect for holding gift cards or treats for an advent calendar. Just make sure to place the heaviest items in the bottom box to avoid any toppling.

Glue the boxes together, and add a ribbon and any additional décor. This treat tower would also make a great stocking stuffer idea.

5. Stocking Stuffers

It’s never too early to start shopping for stocking stuffers. Dollar Tree has a great selection of themed toys, including a Friends Forever line of dolls that look high quality and come with their own clothing. If you’ve purchased these, let me know what you think in the comments.

Now’s also a good time to look for Christmas-themed books and packing supplies. If you wait until November or December, holiday items will be marked up or sold out.

6. Christmas Books

I visited my local thrift store to look for Christmas books. The best ones have a red spine or cover. I was initially going to use a children's picture book and frame a page, but it was so beautiful that I decided to keep it intact. Instead, I removed the jackets from three Christmas-themed books. This makes for a great gift for the reader on your list.

I also found two beautiful Christmas-themed books at Dollar Tree for just $1.25 each. I added a simple ribbon to the top and glued on some décor. The recipients can enjoy the books as is, or use them for decoration.

7. Holiday Mug

Dollar Tree always offers beautiful holiday mugs, but I love checking out my local thrift store for unique finds.

I picked up a lovely little puppy mug and a few other holiday mugs. Be sure to check that they are microwave and dishwasher safe.

Fill the mug with goodies, wrap it in cellophane, and add a nice bow. These make perfect last-minute gifts or extras for people you might have forgotten.

Don’t forget to check out my next video, and as always, remember that today is not the end of your story. Keep going strong!