MAKE YOUR OWN XMAS DECORATIONS

RECYCLE OLD DECORATIONS. 

PILE INEXPENSIVE GLASS BALL

ORNAMENTS INTO A BOWL OR BASKET TO

DECORATE A WINDOWSILL OR SHELF.

CUT OUT PAPER SNOWFLAKES. 

FOLD A SQUARE PIECE OF WHITE PAPER IN HALF,

THEN IN HALF AGAIN. NOW FOLD THE

SQUARE INTO A TRIANGLE. CUT OUT SHAPES

ALONG THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TRIANGLE.

OPEN UP THE PAPER AND YOU HAVE A SNOWFLAKE.

TAPE TO WINDOWS OR HANG AS ORNAMENTS.

MAKE CHRISTMAS ORANGES. 

USING DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE, STICK A STRIP OF

FESTIVE RIBBON AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF AN

ORANGE. REPEAT THE OTHER WAY, SO YOU HAVE A

RIBBON RUNNING VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY

ALL ROUND. PUSH WHOLE DRIED CLOVES INTO

THE OUTER SKIN OF THE ORANGE AND PLACE IN A BOWL,

OR HANG UP USING A LOOPED RIBBON.

FILL A BOWL. USE BRIGHT RED AND GREEN APPLES,

GOLDEN ORANGES AND SATSUMAS BOUGHT CHEAPLY

FROM A STREET MARKET. TUCK IN SPRIGS OF HOLLY

AND SMALL CONIFER BOUGHS. INCLUDE BRAZIL NUTS,

WALNUTS AND HAZELNUTS, WHICH CAN BE

NIBBLED THROUGHOUT CHRISTMAS.

USE TREE TRIMMINGS. 

CUT OFF THE LOWER BRANCHES FROM YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

BEFORE SETTING IT IN A HOLDER AND USE THEM TO MAKE

A WREATH OR A SWAG FOR THE MANTELPIECE.

GO FOR NATURAL BEAUTY. 

IF YOU HAVE A COTONEASTER OR HOLLY BUSH

IN YOUR GARDEN, CUT BRANCHES TO MAKE INVITING

NATURAL DECORATIONS. ADD A BOW AND FAIRY LIGHTS

STRUNG THROUGH THE BRANCHES. OR PICK UP NUTS,

BARE TWIGS AND FIR CONES ON A WALK THROUGH

THE WOODS. LEAVE THEM PLAIN OR SPRAY PAINT GOLD,

SILVER OR WHITE. ARRANGE THE NUTS AND CONES

IN BOWLS, OR TUCK THEM ALONG THE MANTELPIECE

OR ON SHELVES AND WINDOWSILLS.