7 Amazing Christmas Thrift Flips You’ll Absolutely Love

My favorite Christmas Thrift Flips and Fall Decor DIYs are here! If there is one thing I apparently do not need to buy, it is more stuff to makeover. I went shopping in my own garage for these projects, and somehow I had plenty to choose from. Shocking, I know.

For these Christmas thrift flips and DIY holiday decor projects, I pulled out old trays, wooden boxes, wood scraps, canvases, and even a paper-mâché pumpkin. Then I put the new IOD Holiday 2026 collection and some of my favorite DIY Paint colors to work.

The result? A whole collection of Christmas and fall decor made mostly from things I already had.

And yes, everybody on my Christmas list may be getting handmade decor this year.

Watch the Full Christmas Thrift Flips Video

Want to see exactly how I made everything? I have a YouTube video showing all of these Christmas thrift flips from start to finish, with step-by-step instructions for every project.

In the video, I show you how I apply IOD transfers, use IOD Paint Inlays, prep and layer IOD stamps, work with IOD Air Dry Clay and moulds, blend DIY Paint, add wax and protective finishes, and — obviously — make a few mistakes along the way.

Watch the full video here:

Christmas Thrift Flip #1: DIY Christmas Tray Makeover

Everyone likes a good tray for Christmas, right?

I started with an old tray I found while “shopping” in my garage. I spray-primed it first and then painted it with DIY Paint in Apothecary, one of my favorite soft green colors.

Once the paint dried, I lightly sanded it with a very fine-grit sandpaper. DIY Paint has a beautiful texture, but a quick sanding gives you a smooth surface before applying a transfer.

Then came the fun part:  IOD Darling Holiday Transfer.

I cut out the Christmas images I wanted to use and played around with the placement before rubbing them onto the completely dry painted surface. Once the transfer was applied, I rubbed over it again with the plastic backing to make sure everything stuck firmly.

If you love tray makeovers, check out these fun tray makeovers I did last Spring.

How to Make Painted Christmas Decor Water Resistant

Because a tray will have things spilled on it—especially at my house—I wanted a durable, water-resistant finish.

I used:

One coat of DIY Paint Big Top + one coat of DIY Paint Clear Wax

After the Big Top dried, I applied the clear wax and allowed it to cure.

I even poured Cherry Coke Zero directly onto the finished tray to demonstrate how well this combination protects the surface. The liquid beaded right up instead of soaking into the paint.

So yes, you can make pretty Christmas decor that can also survive real life.

Holiday Thrift Flip #2: Old Wood Box to Holiday Decor

Next up was an old wood box that had clearly lived several lives already.

Exactly the kind of thing I love.

Instead of throwing it out, I gave it another Redoux using DIY Paint Queen Bee and Fire Starter.

I started with Queen Bee and layered Fire Starter over it to create a warm, colorful base.

For the embellishment, I used one of the new IOD Holiday molds with resin. Once the resin casting was ready, I painted it with DIY Paint and added it to the box.

A little floral foam inside turned the finished box into an easy container for holiday greenery.

This is one of my favorite kinds of trash-to-treasure Christmas decor because an old box can become a centerpiece, mantel decoration, or even a handmade Christmas gift.

DIY Fall Pumpkin Makeover With IOD Moulds

Not everything has to be Christmas just yet.

I had a paper-mâché pumpkin that needed a little help, so I painted it with one thick coat of DIY Paint Bead Board.

Then I pulled out my IOD Air Dry Clay and IOD molds to add dimension.

My Trick for Using IOD Air Dry Clay

Before pressing air-dry clay into an IOD mould, lightly dust the mould with cornstarch and tap out the excess.

This helps the clay release more easily and keeps all those beautiful little details intact.

I also have a very specific system for storing leftover IOD Air Dry Clay. I wrap it tightly in Press’n Seal, secure it with rubber bands, and put it in a zip-top bag.

IOD Air Dry Clay doesn’t contain much water, which is one reason I find it cracks less than some other clays. But that also means you need to wrap it up quickly when you’re finished using it.

Once my mould castings were dry, I added them to the pumpkin. I also used the Cornucopia Mould for the decor

Then I applied DIY Paint Clear Wax followed immediately by Dark Wax, making sure the dark wax settled into all the crevices.

I wiped away the excess with a paper towel, leaving the darker wax in the details.

It completely changed the pumpkin and made all that texture stand out.

DIY Christmas Tree Canvas With IOD Stamps

Next, I decided to pretend I am a canvas artist.

I’m not.

But that has never stopped me before.

For this DIY Christmas tree canvas, I used the new IOD Winter Grove along with DIY Paint.

I painted the canvas first, creating a layered background with DIY Paint Electrified and Bead Board. A fluffy brush helped me create a soft, mottled effect rather than one perfectly solid color.

Prep Your New IOD Stamps First

Before using a brand-new IOD stamp, lightly sand the stamping surface with approximately 220-grit sandpaper.

You aren’t trying to sand it aggressively. You just want to remove that slick, shiny surface so the ink has something to grab onto.

It’s a tiny step that can make a big difference in your stamped image.

How to Layer IOD Stamps With Masks

One of the coolest things about IOD stamps is the ability to create layered designs using the included masks.

The mask allows you to overlap stamped images while making them look like separate objects sitting in front of and behind each other.

For my Christmas tree canvas, I laid out the trees first to determine my placement.

I stamped the tree I wanted to appear in front first. Then I covered it with the corresponding mask before stamping the next tree.

I continued working across the canvas this way until I had created an entire little forest.

Then I pulled out the IOD Flurry Stamp and added snowflakes over the trees.

The finished piece looks far more complicated than it actually is.

My favorite kind of project.

DIY Christmas Canvas With IOD Paint Inlays

I had extra canvases in my garage because apparently canvases reproduce when I’m not looking.

For another holiday art project, I experimented with the new North Pole IOD Paint Inlay.

I painted the canvas using DIY Paint, blending the colors together with a neutral brush and plenty of water.

Then I used a generous amount of DIY Paint Clear Liquid Patina to create the wet painted surface needed for my inlay. You need a wet medium to activate the paint on the IOD Inlay; the inlays are magic!

I carefully placed the reindeer design onto the paint, making sure every section was making good contact with the surface.

Then I sprayed it with water and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

This time, I actually remembered to set a timer.

The Magic of IOD Paint Inlays

This part never gets old.

Once the inlay had transferred, I rewet the paper and carefully peeled it away.

Unlike a transfer that sits on top of your project, an IOD Paint Inlay embeds actual paint into your painted surface.

That’s what gives it that beautifully imperfect, hand-painted appearance.

Every time I peel that paper back, it feels a little bit like magic.

Easy Candy Cane Christmas Box With an IOD Paint Inlay

I had one more little wood box sitting around, so naturally it couldn’t escape.

I added a candy cane design using the IOD North Pole Inlay again 🙂

I wet the inlay, allowed it to sit, and then realized I had forgotten to set my timer.

Luckily, after rewetting the paper, it released beautifully.

Even better, I could set the used inlay aside because IOD Paint Inlays can often be used more than once.

This little project surprised me with how much I loved it.

Sometimes the simplest projects do.

Scrap Wood Christmas Decor With an IOD Transfer

I’m also determined to start using some of the old wood and supplies I have accumulated instead of continuing to add to the collection. Here are some more projects where I have used scrap wood; it has many uses around here!

We will see how long that lasts.

I used part of the IOD Stag Tavern Transfer on an old piece of wood I already had.

That’s one reason I love transfers for Christmas thrift flips. You don’t need perfect furniture or an expensive wood blank.

Old cabinet doors, trays, wood scraps, boxes, and thrift store finds can all become something completely different with paint and a transfer.

Shop Your House — Or Your Garage — Before Buying More Christmas Decor

One of my favorite things about creating DIY Christmas decor is seeing what I can make from something that already exists.

An old tray becomes Christmas serving decor.

A beat-up wood box becomes a holiday centerpiece.

A scrap of wood becomes vintage Christmas art.

An inexpensive canvas becomes something completely original with IOD stamps or paint inlays.

And that paper-mâché pumpkin I could have replaced with something new? A little DIY Paint, clay and dark wax gave it an entirely different look.

Before you head to the craft store, thrift store or — let’s face it — the side of the road, look around your house, garage or craft stash.

You may already have your next project.

Supplies Used for These DIY Christmas Projects – All supplies are listed in my shop 🙂 

Throughout these projects I used a combination of:

• DIY Paint in Apothecary, Queen Bee, Fire Starter, Bead Board and Electrified
• DIY Paint Big Top
• DIY Paint Clear Wax and Dark Wax
• DIY Paint Clear Liquid Patina
• IOD Darling Holiday Transfer
• IOD Stag Tavern Transfer
• IOD Holiday moulds
• IOD Air Dry Clay
• IOD Forest Crowd Stamp
• IOD Flurry Stamp
• IOD Paint Inlays
• IOD ink
• Resin
• 220-grit and fine-grit sandpaper
• Cornstarch
• Floral foam
• Old trays, wood boxes, scrap wood and canvases

Which Christmas Thrift Flip Would You Make?

I started this day with a collection of random things hanging around my garage and ended up with an entire batch of fall and Christmas decor.

Which is great.

Now I have to figure out where to put it all!

If you love Christmas thrift flips, trash-to-treasure makeovers, DIY Paint projects, and IOD Christmas decor, watch the full video to see each project come together.

Tell me in the comments: Which project would you make first — the Christmas tray, the tree canvas, the candy cane box, or one of the IOD paint inlay projects?

Happy Creating!-  Karen