Bring festive charm into your home with these simple homemade decorations. Each project uses inexpensive materials and adds a personal, rustic touch to your Christmas tree or home décor.
Rustic Pine-cone Baubles
Time: 20-40 mins Skill Level: Very easy
Materials:
· Clean & sterilized pine cones
· White acrylic paint or faux snow/glitter
· Small eye screws or ornament hooks
· Twine/ribbon and optional jingle bell or wooden beads
· Hot glue gun, scissors, baking tray & paper
Steps:
1. Brush paint or faux snow/glitter onto the tips for a snowy look and let dry.
2. Screw a small eye screw into the top; secure with hot glue if needed.
3. Thread twine or ribbon, add decorations, and tie a loop for hanging.
4. Optional: group several cones together.
CLOVE-STUDDED ORANGE POMANDERS
Time: 15-30 mins (+2-3 weeks to fully dry). Skill Level: Easy
Materials:
· Firm oranges or clementines
· Whole cloves
· Toothpick or skewer
· Ribbon for hanging
Steps:
1. Wash and dry oranges. Plan your design.
2. Use a toothpick to make small holes and press cloves into them.
3. Continue until design is complete, tie ribbon around orange for hanging.
4. Dry in a cool, airy spot for 2-3 weeks or in the oven on low setting.
CINNAMON STICK STAR ORNAMENT
Time: 10-20 mins. Skill Level: Very easy
Materials:
· 5 cinnamon sticks
· Hot glue gun or strong craft glue
· Twine or ribbon for hanging
· Small embellishments (optional)
Steps:
1. Lay two sticks as an upside-down ‘V’ and glue the meeting point.
2. Add a third stick horizontally across the two; glue.
3. Add the fourth and fifth sticks to complete the star shape.
4. Tie a loop of twine at the top point for hanging.
5. Decorate with greenery or berries as desired.
PAPER SNOWFLAKES
Time: 10-20 mins. Skill Level: Very easy
Materials:
· A few sheets of white square paper
· Scissors & Pencil
· Glue stick or tape
· String or thread for hanging
Steps:
1. Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half to make a triangle, and again to make a smaller triangle
2. With the folded edge facing you, cut curved or angled shapes out of the sides – like petals, triangles, or half-hearts – but don’t cut all the way through; leave the folds intact at the centre.
3. Unfold gently to reveal a flat snowflake.
4. You can stop here and hang it flat — but for a more dramatic effect, make several and glue them together, or you could use different coloured paper for a more dramatic effect.