Homemade Christmas and Festive Decorations: 25 Home Craft Projects. Ros Badger

A real fire in the grate is the true finishing touch. If you have one, stack plenty of wood alongside it for a feeling of warmth and security, whatever the weather. For Christmas, you might like to track down some apple or pear wood, both of which burn with a gloriously atmospheric scent.

       Tips

      The garland doesn’t have to be made of ivy – pine, holly leaves or any evergreen will do. To decorate stairs, tie the evergreen and baubles to some thin rope using twine or wire.

      

       Christmas wreath

      This naturally beautiful festive wreath is a far cry from the tinselly versions available in shops and markets. It is also surprisingly fun and easy to make, and will be much admired on your front door.

       You will need

       Whippy willow branches

       Trailing ivy

       Roll of florists’ wire

       Holly leaves

       Holly or other red berries

       Fir cones

       Mossy twigs

       Hydrangea flowerhead – the redder the better

       Strong ribbon or string for hanging

       To make

      • Lay out the whippy willow branches in a circle to the desired circumference for your wreath. Lay long strands of ivy on top of it and lash all layers tightly together with the florists’ wire to make a long ‘sausage’ of foliage. This gives your wreath a good solid base and will help keep a strong round shape. (It’s possible to use holly and ivy alone as a base, but you may find that the weight of larger wreaths will cause them to stretch into an oval when hanging.)

      • Form the sausage into a wreath shape and secure the ends together with wire. This makes the base of the wreath.

      • Working around the wreath, evenly attach your decorations – holly leaves, berries, cones, twigs, sections from the hydrangea head and any other Christmassy foliage – around the circumference, securing each one with the florists’ wire.

      • When you have worked once around, hang the wreath to view from a distance, and continue to add more leaves and berries if any section looks sparse.

      • Attach a length of strong ribbon or string at the top rear of the wreath where it will not show, for tying around a nail or hook on your door.

      • The wreath should last around three weeks if hanging outside and may even dry out sufficiently to carry on as an indoor decoration, to be supplemented with seasonal flowers and foliage throughout the rest of the year.

       Tips

      For the cheapest, greenest and most natural effect, forage your own foliage from your garden or a hedgerow. Or take an early-morning trip to a flower market where the foliage will be fresh, and buy enough to supply a few like-minded friends too.

      

       Cranberry Christmas decorations

      Cranberries have a rich wine colour and lovely plump shape that makes them a wonderful alternative to shop-bought decorations. They traditionally symbolise peace and the earth’s abundance.

       You will need

       Cranberries

       Darning needle

       String and/or florists’ wire

       Cranberry hearts, circles and stars

      • Use florists’ wire or a malleable alternative that will hold its shape to thread together a short length of cranberries.