DIY & Decor

Christmas can be very expensive, particularly if we want to put up beautiful decorations, give wonderful presents and eat abundantly. But, as we explained in the pervious article, you can save money at Christmas if you think & organise well ahead and if you try to make as much as possible yourself - such as ornaments, gifts, food etc. Here are a few ideas for DIY Christmas ornaments:..

Baubles

You can easily make baubles from foam or polystyrene balls, papier-mâché or ping-pong balls! Just decorate them with shiny paper, glittery paint or beads; or wrap them with satin, fake fur, velvet and ribbons! For a natural effect, decorate the balls with twigs, hemp, dried leaves and fruits. You can make quick ornaments from cards and shiny paper – this is ideal for a weekend project with your kids. 

Natural ornaments

Let’s try to be green this Christmas! You can make lots of decorations out of things you find in nature – including dried leaves, twigs, pine cones & branches, acorns, dried berries, cinnamon sticks and nuts. Paint the cones, twigs, branches and nut shells with metallic paint or frosted spray; whilst the berries and cinnamon sticks can be tied with a lace or velvet ribbon. Then make wreaths, garlands, hanging ornaments and simple displays in bowls & vases. Cut some apple and orange slices – put them on a piece of tissue paper for a few days to dry out. These are ideal to hang on the tree or to decorate wreaths or to add the bowls/vases - not to mention the fragrance they will provide around your home! 

Edible ornaments

The most satisfying Christmas ornaments are those that are edible!

Here are a few ideas:

• Make cookies (with lots of cinnamon) in the shape of stars, Father Christmas, snowflakes, angels, ginger-bread-men etc. and decorate them with icing or jelly beans or sweeties. Tip: For easy hanging don’t forget to make holes in them before baking -  you can use a straw!
• Chocolate or coconut balls can also be made quite easily – wrap these in shiny paper or a piece of satin and hang them on the tree or put them on the dining table in a large bowl!
• Lollies can be used as icicles.
• Meringue rings, popcorn or jelly beans can be used to make garlands.
• Simple sponge cake can be made into mini parcels – bake the cake in a rectangular tin, when cool, cut into little cubes – dip these into chocolate, then shredded coconut; or decorate them with icing & sweets.
• Dried fruits, such as dates, prunes and apricots, can be put on metallic thread to make instant hanging ornaments.

DIY Christmas ornaments are more individual and eco-friendly than those we buy in the shops. Also, they are good fun to make and can save you quite a lot of money!