With more talk of bubbles than baubles, Christmas this year is bound to be a little different from what we’re used to. That doesn’t mean we should look forward to it any less though and we hope you’re still fully on countdown to the big day and successfully resisting the urge to eat the whole of your advent calendar.
Most of us will be spending a lot more time at home this year (making it even harder to not eat that calendar – really, I can hear it calling), so to get you in the Christmas spirit lets spend less time thinking about tiers and more talk of some cheap and easy, Christmas DIY ideas – catchy right?
We’re firm believers that it’s the thought that counts, and these days it’s so easy to fall into the trap of buying real generic gifts that every Tom, Dick & Harry is also probably going to get. So, make sure you take the time to add your personal touch to it by creating your own wrapping paper. Experiment with different kinds of ribbons, get drawing fancy patterns or why not print your own design on? Simply cut a potato in half, score your design, and cut more of the potato away from the shape so it is raised. From there you can dip your festive shape in paint and stamp away – easy!
Wreaths are a steadfast of the Christmas period, and rightly so, working their magic and bringing to life any old door and showing your neighbours you are a fun, Christmas loving, stylish and good addition to their street! Why not go one step further this year and make sure you have a wreath that is completely unique by making your own! You can get all different kinds of kits to customise your wreath exactly how you’d like from Town of Flowers.
Who doesn’t love a cracker? Sure they get in the way when they’re on the table and leave you battling for free space to put your drink, and yeah they might leave a mess all over your food when the person opposite you wants to pull one with you – but they’re still great aren’t they? Maybe we just love terrible jokes and miniature, novelty gifts but now’s your chance to impress the crowd with actually useful little presents, stylish designs and better jokes: what do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas Quacker. Thank us later.
One of our favourite DIY Christmas decorations has to be dried fruits…seriously. Have a glance over to the fruit bowl and see if you’ve got a few tired looking oranges or satsumas – limes would work well too. Spotted some? Well don’t even think about throwing them away, as they’re already on their way to becoming the best smelling decoration you’ve ever owned! Either finely slice the fruit or make multiple cuts around the outside and place on a low-heated oven for a few hours until the fruit has dried out (you may need to constantly flip the slices if that’s the way you’ve gone with). When ready, you can decorate them, maybe add some cinnamon sticks too for the ultimate Christmas scent and then put string through them so they’re easy to hang on your tree. Pretty light work in exchange for some cool tree decorations and a house that literally smells like Christmas!
By Alex Mulvey
