Shop bought decorations are all well and good, but there's something very satisfying about hanging decorations you have lovingly crafted yourself.
You can personalise them for your family, give them a designer touch, or create your own family heirloom. And it doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. Why not try some of these ideas...
For a simple yet effective window decoration, thread glass baubles onto lengths of ribbon to hang from the top of the window. Use different lengths of ribbon and space them a little way apart for the best effect.
~o0o~
Take circles of fabric offcuts - silks, metallics or organza are effective. Place a number of small sweets in the centre then tie into a pouch with festive ribbon and hang from the tree as a grown up alternative to chocolate novelties!
~o0o~
Instead of piling all the presents under the tree, make a feature of a selection of small to medium sized parcels by wrapping in foil paper in rich opulent colours. Stack on top of a chest or hall table, and softly illuminate with a couple of tealights.
~o0o~
Customise a plain wreath with dried orange, lemon and lime slices. Simply slice the fresh fruit (for an extra festive scent rub some cinnamon over the orange slices) and dry on a rack in a low oven for 3 to 4 hours until completely dry. Use florists wire or a glue gun to attach to the wreath, along with cinnamon sticks and fresh pine cones and berries. Perfect for hanging in a kitchen or dining room, and adding a bowl of clove studded oranges will fill the room with the scent of christmas.
~o0o~
There's still time to make your own advent calendar. Cut a simple Christmas Tree or Snowman shape out of felt or other suitable fabric. Using a variety of plain, patterned, metallic and textured offcuts, cut 24 squares, large enough to hold a small sweet or toy, but small enough to fit them all on the body of the calendar. Then simply stitch each one into place, leaving an opening at the top to pop your surprise into.
If you intend your calendar to become a family heirloom it might be worth backing and padding the fabric, it simply means you cut two templates, sandwich thin wadding inbetween then stitch together, after you've sewn the pockets on. The advantage of felt is it doesn't fray so you don't need to worry about binding the edges. Add a hanging loop to the top and fill with little treats.
~o0o~
Let the kids get involved. Your tree and decorations in the living room may be co-ordinated to within an inch of their lives, but there are always places to hang good old home made paper chains, silver sprayed pine cones and cotton wool snowmen. Give the kids free rein to decorate a playroom, their bedroom or even the porch and make their Christmas about more than just what's on that present list!