13 Stunning Holiday Decor DIYs You Can Make On A Budget Using Candy Canes

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No tree is complete without sweet, pepperminty candy canes adorning the branches. The humble candy cane is perhaps one of the most enduring and popular holiday treats – 1.76 billion are sold every year, and most of those sales fall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. While there are many origin stories for the candy cane (none of which have much credible backing), we can all agree that the classic red and white stripes are a sure sign of the holidays. Even better, those classic treats also work well for a variety of decorations, from heart-shaped ornaments and wreaths to candle holders and placecard holders, all starting with an inexpensive pack of candy canes. These projects are perfect if you're looking for decorating tips for Christmas on a budget.

These days, candy canes come in many different flavors and colors, from the weird (like bacon, pickle, and ketchup) to the sweet (like cotton candy, butterscotch, and caramel apple). While you can use any variety of candy canes for these holiday decorations, make sure the colors fit your seasonal decorating color palette. It's a good idea to pick up extras in case the candy breaks while you're crafting. Many of the projects can be used with full-size or mini candy canes, depending on how you want the finished product to look. And, you can always use artificial candy canes, which are often available at craft stores. Either way, these 13 crafts will dress up your holiday decor (and make your guests hungry for peppermint).

Skip expensive vases for the holidays — all you need for this candy cane craft is an empty aluminum can, a hot glue gun, and candy canes. Once you attach the candy sticks to the can, curves pointing outward, fill it with all types of artificial holiday florals. A ribbon, twine, or other embellishment tied around the cane can help hold the canes in place while finishing it with a flourish. Or, DIY a festive candy cane centerpiece by putting the candy canes inside a clear, straight-sided vase with the hooks outside the jar.

Turn candy canes upside down, and suddenly they become a support system for taper candles. You can opt for classic red, white, or green, but you can also choose colorful candy canes and equally vivid candles. To make the holders, hot glue the candy canes around the bottom of a candle — just make sure you attach them at the same level so the candle doesn't wobble. For more customization, paint holiday designs on the tapers using water-based acrylic paint. Use them for many beautiful ways to decorate your home with candles. 

Upgrade the size of your candy cane candle by hot gluing the candy sticks to a battery-operated pillar candle — make sure the candle is shorter than the candy canes if you want it to be hidden. That way, the candies will seem to glow from within (without melting) when you turn on the flameless candle. You can attach the canes in either direction, but if you put them upside down, you can weave fairy lights, greenery, or ribbons around the curved ends at the bottom. 

If you're hosting a holiday meal, make inexpensive place card holders with candy canes turned upside down. Each holder uses three full-size candy canes — two in the front to make an easel-like tray and one in the back for support. Hot glue or tape works to hold them together, and ribbons hide your chosen attachment method. Choose place cards that work with the candy cane theme. They fit perfectly with other Christmas dining room decor ideas to celebrate a festive feast in style.

The holidays are all about sharing love. Coincidentally, two candy canes facing each other, ends touching, create hearts. Put a dab of hot glue where the ends meet to seal the deal on these peppermint hearts. They're ideal as ornaments — simply tie a ribbon to the top. Or, attach several hearts to a long ribbon to make a garland for your mantel. Don't like the plastic look? Warm unwrapped candy canes in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven for about eight minutes — just enough to soften them — and pinch them into a heart.

This candy cane craft uses the heart idea to create a wreath — you'll create several hearts and then glue them together in a circle. For one wreath, you'll need 20 candy canes. From there, you can embellish your sugary wreath however you want. The center will have a circle in it, so you can add a pompom, small Christmas image, or other embellishments there. Or, weave fairy lights or wire-style garland, like this Vesil gold star garland, around the curves. This candy creation could also work as a cabinet wreath idea.

Candy cane reindeer stir up nostalgia for many people who made them as kids. There are several versions, including a double-cane option with the curves pointing outward as the antlers. Brown pipe cleaners, construction paper, or felt can amplify the antler look. The deer's face is also up to your creativity, but red pompoms for noses are always a hit. For a single-cane deer, the curve becomes the face, and twisted pipe cleaners create antlers. Pop the deer on your tree or on top of presents to dress them up.

When positioned just right, candy canes create beautiful (and edible) bows in a perfect Christmas color combo. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet to keep them from sticking. Creating a rough heart shape (using mini or full-size candy canes) with ends overlapping slightly starts the bow shape. Warm the candy in a low-heat oven (200 degrees Fahrenheit) for 6 to 8 minutes, and push them into bow shapes. The top of another candy cane makes the center loop. Add them to floral arrangements, add bows to make them ornaments, or top holiday treats with them.

Homemade candles are relatively easy to make – place the wick, melt the wax, and pour. Peppermint is the perfect scent for holiday candles. Add peppermint essential oil to melted wax to boost your mood and energy. For a festive look, crush candy canes to add on top of the candle. One ingenious creator on YouTube (Ina&BodyLLC) brushed Mod Podge on the inside of the jar to hold crushed candy canes in place before pouring the wax. You can also reuse old spices to craft the best homemade candles to combine other scents, like vanilla, with the peppermint.

If the classic candy cane look doesn't fit your vibe, make them rustic. Tear thin strips of fabric to get frayed edges — red and green plaid or striped fabrics work well. Hot glue one end of the strip to the end of the candy cane, and start wrapping, overlapping the previous pass slightly. You may want to add drops of hot glue every few wraps to keep the fabric from shifting. These fabric-wrapped candy canes are perfect for your tree, a floral arrangement, or even just laying around on various surfaces.

Create a holiday candy-themed display using candy canes as the handles for artificial cake pops. The original creator, Krafty Leeny, used plastic candy canes, but we think real candy canes would also be adorable. For square-shaped treats, use a small box, or try foam balls for round cake pops. Spackle over the base material creates a cake-like texture. Then, you can add additional layers of paint, texture, and embellishments before pushing the candy cane into the non-edible treat. These DIY decor pieces would look cute on a holiday tiered tray in the kitchen.

Wrapping holiday gifts doesn't have to be difficult. A candy cane paired with other simple decorations dresses up packages (and gives the recipient a sweet treat). For a classic look, layer artificial greenery, pine boughs, or holly branches with a candy cane or two. Tape them in place or wrap red and white twine around the package a few times. Or, cut out a felt holiday shape with a few horizontal slits, and weave the candy through the slits. The affordable candy cane toppers go perfectly with budget-friendly DIY holiday gifts.

Dress up a bare mantel with simple candy canes. This idea uses simple ribbon loops attached to the mantel to hang plain candy canes to create a garland-type look. For a true garland, grab a length of artificial pine, and hang the ribbon loops off of it. You can also dress up the candy canes with bows, pompoms, sequins, and other embellishments. Or, use your fabric-wrapped candy canes for this project. Incorporate it with other Christmas mantel decor ideas for a beautifully festive fireplace.