Currier and Ives Christmas: 14 Vintage Winter Decor Ideas Straight Out of an Old Print

A Currier and Ives Christmas is the old fashioned holiday so many of us picture: snowy farmhouses, horse drawn sleighs and skaters on a frozen pond. Currier and Ives was a New York print shop that ran from 1835 to 1907 and called itself a publisher of cheap and popular prints. It published at least 7,500 different lithographs and more than a million prints, all colored by hand. Its famous winter scenes came largely from the painter George Henry Durrie. Today, those cozy snowy views are easy to bring into your own home with free printable copies, thrifted frames and a little decoupage. Below are 14 budget ideas inspired by those timeless winter prints. Ready to step back into a snowy 1800s Christmas..

Currier and Ives Christmas Gallery Wall of Winter Prints

The heart of this look is a wall of framed winter prints. Many original Currier and Ives prints are now in the public domain, and museums share free high resolution copies online. Print a few snowy farm and sleigh scenes at home or at a copy shop, then pop them into thrifted frames in gold and dark wood. Mix sizes and hang them in a loose grid above a sideboard or a sofa. Add an old sled with a little garland nearby and the whole corner feels like a holiday card. Which winter scene would you hang in the middle..

You will need: Printed public domain winter prints, thrifted frames, picture hooks, a level, painter’s tape.

How to make it: 1. Lay out the frames on the floor to plan the grid. 2. Mark each spot on the wall with painter’s tape. 3. Hang the frames and remove the tape.

Winter Print Transfers on Wood Slices

Wood slices and old fashioned winter scenes are a perfect pair, and they fit a Currier and Ives Christmas tree beautifully. Print a small snowy barn, a covered bridge or a sleigh scene on a laser printer, then transfer it onto a wood slice with gel medium. The wood grain shows through and makes the image look aged and handmade. Add a red and white twine loop and hang them on the tree, or tie them onto gifts. A bag of wood slices costs just a few dollars at a craft store. Which scene would you put on yours?

You will need: Wood slices, laser printed winter scenes, gel medium, a damp sponge, sealer, baker’s twine.

How to make it: 1. Brush gel medium on the slice and press the print face down. 2. Let dry overnight, then rub the paper away with a damp sponge. 3. Seal and add a twine loop.

Sleigh Scene Gift Tags

Tiny vintage scenes make the prettiest gift tags. They give every present a Currier and Ives Christmas feel. Print small sleigh rides and snowy farmhouses on card stock, cut them into rectangles, and punch a hole in one corner. Tie them onto presents wrapped in plain kraft or cream paper with burgundy velvet ribbon and a sprig of holly. The gifts look like they came from an old general store. You can fit about a dozen tags on a single sheet of paper, so this costs almost nothing. Do you prefer kraft paper or cream for wrapping?

You will need: Card stock, a printer, scissors or a paper trimmer, a hole punch, velvet ribbon, holly sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Print small winter scenes on card stock. 2. Cut them out and punch a hole. 3. Tie each tag on with ribbon and tuck in a holly sprig.

Currier and Ives Christmas Ornaments With Decoupage

Clear glass ornaments turn into tiny winter windows with a little decoupage. Print small snowy village scenes on thin paper, trim them into circles, and glue them onto the outside of the ball with decoupage glue. Smooth out wrinkles as you go. Finish the edge with a thin gold ribbon so it looks like a frame. When the tree lights glow behind them, the scenes look magical. They also make lovely gifts. How many could you make in one evening?

You will need: Clear glass or plastic ornaments, thin printed winter scenes, decoupage glue, a soft brush, thin gold ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut the printed scene into a circle that fits the ornament. 2. Glue it on and brush a coat of glue over the top. 3. Glue gold ribbon around the edge.

Thrifted Frame and Print Mantel

If you do not want to hang a gallery wall, lean the frames on the mantel instead. It is a simple way to get the Currier and Ives Christmas look. Collect four or five thrifted frames in different sizes and finishes, then fill them with winter prints. Layer them from back to front with the tallest in the middle. Run a cedar garland across the front with a few small brass bells and red berries. It feels collected and cozy, and you can swap the prints for spring scenes later. Thrift stores usually sell frames for a dollar or two. What would you put on your mantel?

You will need: Thrifted frames, printed winter scenes, a cedar garland, small brass bells, red berry picks.

How to make it: 1. Fill the frames with prints. 2. Lean them on the mantel, tallest in the middle. 3. Lay the garland in front and tuck in bells and berries.

Red Transferware Plate Wall

Red and white transferware plates often show old country scenes, and they look gorgeous grouped on a wall at Christmas. Collect a few plates in different sizes at thrift shops and estate sales. Hang them with simple plate hangers in a loose oval above a hutch or a buffet. Add an evergreen swag with a plaid bow on top. This is the only dish idea here, but it makes a big impact. Lay the plates on paper first and trace them so you can plan the layout. Do you have any red plates tucked away?

You will need: Red and white transferware plates, plate hangers, paper and a pencil, an evergreen swag, a plaid bow.

How to make it: 1. Trace each plate on paper and tape the shapes on the wall. 2. Add hangers and hang the plates where the paper shapes are. 3. Hang the swag and bow above.

Snowy Farmhouse Print Tray

An unfinished wooden tray becomes a cozy winter piece with one big print in the bottom. Pick a snowy farmhouse scene, print it to fit, and decoupage it inside the tray. Seal it with a few coats of a water based sealer so it can hold mugs and plates. It is perfect for a Currier and Ives Christmas cocoa night and cookies, and it looks lovely on the coffee table between uses. You can find plain trays at craft stores or thrift shops. Would you use it for cocoa or for display?

You will need: A wooden tray, a large printed winter scene, decoupage glue, a foam brush, water based sealer.

How to make it: 1. Trim the print to fit the inside of the tray. 2. Glue it down and brush glue over the top. 3. Seal with three coats and let cure.

A Currier and Ives Christmas Sled Display

Sleds show up in so many old winter prints, and a small wooden sled is one of the easiest ways to bring that feeling home. Look for one at thrift stores, yard sales or antique malls. Lean it by the front door or set it on the hearth, then fill it with pinecones, a little potted evergreen or a stack of wrapped gifts. A red sled is classic, but a weathered natural one looks lovely too. Add a plaid bow and you are done. Where would you set your sled?

You will need: A small wooden sled, pinecones, a small potted evergreen or wrapped gifts, a plaid bow.

How to make it: 1. Clean the sled and touch up paint if needed. 2. Fill it with pinecones or a small potted tree. 3. Tie on a plaid bow.

Winter Print Lantern With LED Lights

A plain wooden lantern can glow like a snowy village at night. Print winter scenes on translucent vellum paper and tape them inside each glass panel. Then place a strand of battery fairy lights inside. When it gets dark, the scenes light up softly, almost like an old magic lantern show. It is a glowing Currier and Ives Christmas moment in any window. It is perfect on a windowsill, a porch table or a side table. Battery lights stay cool, so it is safe to leave on all evening. Which window in your house needs a little glow?

You will need: A wooden lantern with glass panels, vellum paper, a printer, clear tape, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Print winter scenes on vellum and trim to fit the panels. 2. Tape them inside the glass. 3. Add the battery lights and switch them on.

Winter Scene Pillow Covers

Throw pillows with old fashioned winter scenes make a sofa feel instantly cozy. They bring a Currier and Ives Christmas mood to the living room. Print a snowy farm or sleigh scene on iron on transfer fabric, then press it onto a plain cotton pillow cover. Add red piping or trim for a finished look. Pair them with a red plaid throw and a warm mug of tea. If you love this painterly cottage feel, our Thomas Kinkade Christmas ideas are full of it too. Which scene would you want on your sofa?

You will need: Plain cotton pillow covers, iron on transfer sheets, a printer, an iron, red trim, fabric glue.

How to make it: 1. Print the scene on the transfer sheet. 2. Iron it onto the pillow cover (adult help with the iron). 3. Glue or stitch red trim around the edges.

Ice Skating Scene Coasters

Skating on a frozen pond is one of the most loved winter scenes of the 1800s. Put those cheerful skaters on a set of tile coasters for your coffee table. Plain white tiles cost under a dollar each at the hardware store. Decoupage a printed skating scene on each one, seal them well, and add felt pads underneath. Stack four together with a ribbon and they make a sweet hostess gift. They look especially pretty next to a mug of tea. Who would you give a set to?

You will need: Four white ceramic tiles, printed skating scenes, decoupage glue, water based sealer, felt pads, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Glue a print onto each tile and brush glue on top. 2. Add two coats of sealer and let cure for a few days. 3. Stick felt pads on the bottom.

Display Antique Christmas Cards

Old Christmas cards are tiny works of art, full of holly, bells and snowy scenes. Look for vintage cards at antique shops, or print free copies from library and museum collections. Pile them in a pretty bowl on the coffee table so guests can flip through them, or clip them onto a length of twine with mini clothespins and hang them across a window. They add instant Currier and Ives Christmas charm for almost no money. It is also a sweet way to display cards from family. Do you save the cards you get each year?

You will need: Vintage or printed antique Christmas cards, a bowl, twine, mini clothespins.

How to make it: 1. Gather cards from antique shops or print free copies. 2. Arrange some in a bowl. 3. Clip the rest onto twine and hang them across a window.

Vintage Skates for a Currier and Ives Christmas Porch

A pair of old ice skates hung by the door feels like it came straight from a winter print. Look for leather skates at thrift stores and flea markets. Tie the laces together, add a red plaid ribbon and a sprig of evergreen, and hang them on the front door, a porch post or an indoor hook. White skates look soft and classic, while brown leather ones feel rustic. They are a fun conversation piece when guests arrive. Did you ever skate on a frozen pond as a kid?

You will need: A pair of vintage ice skates, red plaid ribbon, an evergreen sprig, a sturdy hook.

How to make it: 1. Clean the skates and tie the laces together. 2. Wrap plaid ribbon around the laces and tuck in greenery. 3. Hang them on a hook by the door.

Sleigh Bell Door Hanger: The Final Currier and Ives Christmas Touch

Sleigh bells are the sound of every old winter print. Tie a few big bells onto a long piece of red velvet ribbon and hang them on your front door knob. Every time the door opens, you get a cheerful jingle. Add a sprig of evergreen or a bit of plaid for extra color. Bells are easy to find at craft stores, and thrift shops sometimes have real old brass ones. It is a small detail that makes the whole house feel festive. Wouldn’t that jingle make guests smile?

You will need: Three to five large bells, red velvet ribbon, an evergreen sprig, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Thread the bells onto the ribbon at different heights. 2. Tie a bow at the top and wire in the evergreen. 3. Hang it on the door knob.