It’s just about that time to bust out the Christmas playlists and start decking the halls. DIY Christmas decor is all the rage this year. So why not clear off the table and pull out all the art supplies.
It’s just about that time to bust out the Christmas playlists and start decking the halls.
I adore Christmas and love looking for great new ways to decorate my home for the holidays. Christmas can be an expensive time of the year for everyone, but decorating your home needn’t be. DIY Christmas decor is all the rage this year. So why not clear off the table, pull out all the art supplies and get messy with some Christmas craft.
Here are some of my favourite cheerful holiday projects perfect for getting you and your little ones into the Christmas spirit.
One of the best fail safe ways to make Christmas decorations is to use salt dough. Salt dough Christmas decorations not only look beautiful on your tree and around your home, but they also make unique and thoughtful gifts for teachers, friends & family. It’s great for encouraging creativity in children and for keeping those little hands busy.
Here are some of my favourite cheerful holiday projects perfect for getting you and your little ones into the Christmas spirit.
One of the best fail safe ways to make Christmas decorations is to use salt dough. Salt dough Christmas decorations not only look beautiful on your tree and around your home, but they also make unique and thoughtful gifts for teachers, friends & family. It’s great for encouraging creativity in children and for keeping those little hands busy.
They are so simple and easy to make and only contain 3 ingredients. All you need is;
300g / 10oz salt
300g / 10oz all-purpose flour
200ml cup luke warm water
- In a large bowl mix salt and flour.
- Gradually stir in water. Mix well until it forms a doughy consistency.
- With your hands form a ball with your dough and kneed it for at least 5 minutes. The longer you kneed your dough the smoother it will be. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for about 10 minutes to firm up.
- On a well floured board, roll dough out to 1/4″ thick. Cut out ornament shapes using various cookie cutters. I use a stars, snowflakes, hearts and reindeer but you can use whatever cookie cutters you have at home.
- Transfer decorations to a baking tray cover in grease proof paper and poke a small hole in each using a toothpick. Make hole large enough for ribbon or twine to go through so you can hang it on the tree.
- Bake for 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius or gas mark 4.The ornaments should only harden but not brown.
- You can paint your creations with acrylic paints and seal with varnish. I like to add a little glitter to my dough to give my decorations a Christmas sparkle. You can also colour your dough by adding some food colouring or adding natural colourings such as cinnamon or ground coffee. Cinnamon work great especially if you are making tree decorations. It gives you home a yummy Christmassy smell. If you are using colour in your decorations, add food colouring to the water in step 2 before mixing it into the flour and salt. Adding food colouring to the dough will result in splotchy decorations.
- Add your guests name to your salt dough decorations and when dry simply threads some Christmas ribbon or twine to it, then tie it around a napkin to make the perfect place name setting.
Ribbon Stars
Another great way to add some festive cheer to your Christmas tree is ribbon stars.
These are a little more difficult than the salt dough but once you get the hang of them you will definitely become addicted to making them. I found these a few years ago and made them with left over ribbon from the previous Christmas. Below is Martha Stewart the queen of craft excellent tutorial on how to make them.
- Cut a length of ribbon (ours were 1/2 inch by 18 inches, 5/8 inch by 22 inches, 1 inch by 32 inches). Holding 1 end of ribbon in left hand, between index finger and thumb, with remainder of ribbon pointing at a 45-degree angle toward index finger's tip, wrap ribbon over and around index finger, creating an X-shaped loop.
- Slide out finger, holding loop securely. Tuck opposite end of ribbon through loop, pulling to create a flat knot.
- Repeat 5 times, adjusting each new knot so its bottom left touches the bottom right of the previous. Trim ribbon ends, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch at each side.
- Tuck each ribbon end into knot at opposite end to complete star, pulling gently to adjust; use a dab of glue to secure. And voilà there you have it.
How about turning your home into a magical wintery wonderland by making some pretty paper snowflakes.
Everyone can remember making these as a child so why teach your little ones how to. All you need is some paper, a scissors and you are good to go. String them together to make a snowy garland or cover them in glitter so that they twinkle against your Christmas tree lights. Stick them on some plain coloured wrapping paper to give your Christmas gifts that personal touch or pop them on a window to make it look like Jack Frost has paid you a visit
- Fold a square piece of paper in half diagonally to make a triangle, then fold in half to make a smaller triangle.
- Fold the triangle in thirds with one side to the back and the other side to the front.
- Cut the edges off the bottom.
- Around the outside edges of the triangle cut shapes such as circles, squares and triangle etc.
- Once the cutting is all done carefully unfold your magical creation.
So come on folks embrace homemade this Christmas and add that special seasonal touch to your home. Christmas crafting is a great fun for all the family so pop on that ugly Christmas jumper, grab yourself a glass of mulled wine and go get your craft on
