I love walking into Target and looking at all the tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them decorations from Target’s $1 section — and creating them into whole little universes. On my kitchen counter in rural Deep East Texas, surrounded by the faint music coming from my daughter’s Alexa and the soft glow of evening light, I poured out those miniature jars and let my imagination run wild.

I didn’t see anything when I poured the decor on the counter, but as soon as I picked up my camera it hit me. I created a series of micro-Christmas worlds made from peppermint sprinkles, glittery “snow”, fuzzy snowballs, and a single bendy bottle Brush tree that was a bit lopsided.

Candy Chaos

A scattered burst of Christmas magic — tiny peppermints, frosting-stripe sticks, and shimmering gems tumbled across the wood grain like someone opened Santa’s pockets and let his candy dreams spill out. It’s messy in the most beautiful, joyful way… the kind of chaos that smells like sugar cookies and childhood.

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Heart of Winter

Two candy canes curl into a heart, forming a little base for a tree barely bigger than a fingertip. Fake snow drifts around it, soft and quiet, as if a whole winter scene formed overnight. This one feels like a handmade ornament from years past— something simple, nostalgic, and sweet.

Peppermint Promise

A glass jar, a single candy cane hooked inside, and the warm amber of Christmas lights in the background. It’s an invitation to remember the small things. The way candy canes tasted after school programs. The jars your grandmother used to fill with ribbon candy.

Snow Globe Dreams

Inside a tipped glass bottle lies a lone winter tree resting in faux snow. The reflection circles around it like its own tiny world, forever frozen in a moment that feels both dreamy and peaceful.

Snowfall at Midnight

Snow spills from above in this scene — tiny flakes drifting down like magic while the tree stands steadfast beneath it. I love how the motion blurs, like catching the hush of winter in real time. It feels like a Christmas wish whispered after midnight.

Snowlight Reflection

A jar full of soft, glowing white snowballs catches the light like a cluster of stars. It’s simple, but the sparkle makes it feel alive — like bottled winter, captured just before it could melt away.

Spirit of Yule

The tiny blue tree sits surrounded by peppermint pieces and shimmering jewels, with jars of colorful $1 decorations blurred behind it. It feels like the heart of the season — handmade, humble, magical. A reminder that beauty doesn’t require extravagance…sometimes it’s just a moment, some imagination, and a camera.

Sweet Traditions

More peppermint pieces, more bold color, more childlike joy. This jar feels like the spirit of every Christmas treat rolled into one: gingerbread nights, sugar cookies cooling on the counter, and the first candy cane of December.

Whispers of Winter Magic

The final scene: that tiny tree standing proudly on its peppermint base, surrounded by snow as jars of decorations glow softly behind it. It’s the perfect ending—simple, whimsical, and full of heart. This tiny setup cost only $1, but it became a whole world through the lens.

These photos reminded me that creativity doesn’t require perfection or expensive supplies. Sometimes it just takes a handful of miniatures, a quiet evening, and the willingness to play. Christmas magic is everywhere—especially in the small things.