growingthehomegarden.com

Some shrubs start so easily, it's almost shameful to buy them.  This article describes a few.

For me this is a no-risk situation.  I take some prunings, push them into the soil in a somewhat protected spot, and see if they grow.

I've done this with roses, forsythia, honeysuckle, pussy willow, grapes, figs.  The article describes a few others.  It might be fun to try red twig dogwood.  I also love viburnums.  I have not tried this with lilacs.

My approach is almost negligent.  I take prunings of this year's growth when the leaves have fallen.  I usually use about the thickness of a pencil.  Multiple nodes or buds on the cuttings.  Length, a foot, to 18 inches.  Some people use 6 inch cuttings.  Push them 1/3 to 1/2 way into the ground, in a somewhat protected part of the garden.   Too much sun, and they may dry out before the roots are sufficient to support top growth.  My soil is fairly organically enriched, not too hard.  

If they don't grow, that's fine.  If they do, I let them establish roots for a season, then plant where I want them in the fall.

More attentive care, using a prepared soil and rooting hormone might make for better success.  For the easy ones, my efforts are pretty minimal.  I've used rooting hormone but most of the time I don't.  Also, climate matters.  I have winters that are chilly and rainy, but not usually frigid and frozen.

I've used sticks for garden markers and had them grow.  It doesn't work for everything, but it's interesting to see what you can grow.

I tried this with ginkgo prunings and they did not grow.  This is a good time of year to plant gingko seeds, in a sheltered spot also so they will germinate next spring.