Christmas is a magical time. Youngsters eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus while the adults spend months planning the perfect family Christmas. As the kids count the hours until it’s time to open the pile of presents under the tree, parents worldwide are busy making sure homes are warm, the cupboards are full, refrigerators heave with festive food and the Christmas tree twinkles. The total cost of tree decorations, holiday gifts, Christmas games and festive food and drink is pretty scary, but there are many ways to save money.
CREATE A DOOR WREATH
Buy a cheap wreath frame and decorate it with foliage from your garden. Oruse coloured ribbon to make a pile of different sized bows or buy a low-cost pack of gift bows. Pin or glue each bow to the front of the wreath. Opt for traditional colours like green and gold, or fashion bows in blue, silver, pink, green, yellow and purple ribbon to get a rainbow effect. This is one of the cheapest ways to create a stunning wreath to decorate the front door.
CUSTOMISE BAUBLES
Jazz up a few basic pound-store baubles with just a few minutes and a sharpie pen! Write festive messages on the baubles or draw a Christmassy design. You can now buy permanent ink pens in gold and silver too, so these would make the baubles look even more festive. Or you could even use the baubles as gift tags by writing the recipients name onto them and tying it onto their present.
MAKE PINECONE BAUBLES
Kids love to make handmade tree ornaments and glittery pine cones make a cheap tree ornament. The fun part is going out on a woodland walk to hunt for the pine cones in the first place! When you bring home your haul, pour a little gold paint into a bowl and add some PVA glue. Sprinkle a little glitter into the mixture. Give the children a paintbrush and encourage them to cover the cones with the sparkly paint. Buy a small tree to sit on top of a round pine coffee table like those sold at Brosa Furniture and hang the pinecones with string or ribbon. Also, you can spray paint old toys and hang them on the tree like mu stag below 🙂
DIY PAPER CHAINS
Use Christmas wrapping paper to make DIY ceiling decorations. Use gift wrap offcuts or buy a few sheets of colourful paper. Using craft scissors (don’t forget to supervise the kids) cut a series of paper strips. Each piece should measure six inches long and two inches wide. Form a length into a circle and glue the edge. This is the first link in the chain. String another chain through the first and repeat the process to create a long chain. Pin the homemade paper chain to the ceiling and add a few balloons to each corner of the room.
CARDBOARD ANGELS
Paper angels or cardboard angels are angelic decorations can be made from white card. Locate an angel template online. Using this pattern cut a number of angels from sheets of lightweight card. Attach the wings with glue and don’t forget the halo. These cute cardboard decorations make ideal tree ornaments and table centerpieces.There are many ways to introduce a little Christmas cheer into the home and these low-cost tree and ceiling decorations are just a few ideas. Cover the mantel with free holly from the hedgerows, make mini-trees from dried branches, hang boughs of evergreen on the front door or try some Christmas magazine craft. Above all, relax and enjoy the festive season.
