Some Inspiration For Homemade Christmas Decorations

Homemade Christmas decorations are a way to make a home more festive for the holidays....


While the store bought ornaments can add color and glitter, they just aren't as traditional as homemade decorations.


Many people have started by adding their own custom touches to the store bought varieties, but nothing says Christmas like getting out past years christmas decorations that were made by family members and children.


Homemade Christmas decorations can be fancy or simple. Things like bowls of colorful fruit, with shiny balls and pine boughs can be put together in a matter of minutes and make a table look more festive. Of course, cinnamon sticks and pine cones sprayed with glitter in a large glass bowl, is another simple example that can add a scent throughout the house and be decorative at the same time.


It's not unusual for homemade Christmas decorations to include a grapevine wreath or swag decorated with winter-y things like pine cones, red ribbon, snowflakes, glitter or poinsettia flowers. These are just a few examples of some of the more common and simple ways to make your own christmas decorations. Some people have created homemade Christmas tree ornaments, nativity scenes, wooden sleds or Santas for their yard that they use year after year.


The range and style of homemade Christmas decorations you make is limited only to your imagination, so here are some suggestions to get you started. Work in some of your own personal touches and adorn your home with your own personal style.

Christmas Tree

You can make these simple homemade christmas decorations using cardboard or even colored paper. Fold your card in half so you have a rectangle and then cut from the point of the fold across the card diagonally to the outside edge. This will be the tree's point. Cut small triangles down the edge to form the tree's branches and edges.


Open the card and you should have a nice tree shape. Decorate your tree using glitter, lace, ribbon or colored markers. Punch a hole in the top of your tree and thread with ribbon.

Christmas Stockings

You can make small Christmas stockings to decorate the tree or larger stockings to hang from the fireplace.


For These Homemade Christmas Decorations You will need:

• Red felt
• Cotton wool
• Ribbon

Method

1. To make a small decorative stocking, draw the shape of a stocking onto your red felt and cut out carefully. Trim the top of the stocking by gluing some cotton wool across the top. When the glue is dry, punch a hole at the top of the stocking and thread it through with ribbon.



2. If you prefer to make a larger stocking to hang from the fireplace, draw a larger stocking onto your red felt. Cut it out and then trace around the first stocking to create a second. Cut this one out too. Glue the edges of the stocking together, leaving an opening at the top. Paste some cotton wool around the top to decorate it and punch a hole at the top to thread your ribbon through.



3. You can strengthen your stocking by stitching the edges in a brightly contrasting color or by writing a name on the stocking in glitter-pen.

Potpourri Angel

This lovely homemade christmas decoration gives off a pleasant smell and looks as cute as you want to make her. Hang your angel on the tree or make a larger hanging loop and hang it on a door knob or a hook.


You will need:

• Calico square or white linen
• Potpourri or dried flowers and fragrant herbs
• Card paper or craft paper
• Craft glue
• Wooden skewer
• Felt markers
• Ribbon
• Lace

Method

1. Place a little bit of potpourri into the centre of your calico square. Lift each corner up into the center and tie the ribbon around them so your calico square forms a filled bag or pouch. Your pouch will form the angel's body.



2. Draw some wings on your card paper and a circle to make your angel's head. Cut these out and draw a cute angel's face onto the circle. You can stick some yellow wool or cotton around your angel's face if you want to give her some hair. Glue a bit of ribbon or lace around the edges of the wings and then glue the wings to the back of the pouch.



3. Cut the wooden skewer so it's long enough to insert into the potpourri pouch and leave enough at the end to attach your angel's face. Tie a piece of ribbon around the top of the skewer to form a loop. This will be used to hang your angel from your tree or door.



4. Tape the skewer to the back of the angel's face with a little bit of scotch tape, making sure the ribbon loop extends over the top of her head and then insert the end of the skewer into the pouch. Make sure the ribbon securing the pouch is tied tightly enough not to let the skewer come out. If you want a little extra reassurance, you can glue the skewer into the top of the pouch if you want.

Scented Pine Cones for a Country Christmas

Method

1. Collect or buy some large pine cones. If you collect pine cones out doors you can rinse them and then place them on a cookie sheet. You can put the cookie sheet in an oven that is heated to 200 degrees. Let them remain in the oven for about 1-2 hours, and then remove the pine cones. This will kill any bugs that are on the pine cones. Let them finish drying in the air.



2. Pour 4 ounces of ground cinnamon into a zipper lock plastic bag. You can also add nutmeg, allspice or ginger. Shake the spices together.



3. Now add 4 ounces of craft glue and 4 ounces of water in a bowl and mix together.



4. Use a foam brush to apply the glue/water mixture to the pine cones one at a time.



5. Drop the cones into the bag with the spices and give it a shake. Try not to get excessively thick coatings of spice on the cones.


6. Place two or three cones in holiday baskets or bowls scattered about the house to scent the air.

Snowman Greeter

Here is a homemade christmas decoration that is easy to make and can be placed on your porch to welcome your friends all during the Holiday season. Of course you can bring him inside too, because this snowman won't melt.

You Will Need

• Small Keyhole shaped driveway paving stone (from home improvement store or masonry store)
• All weather paint-white and black
• Modeling clay-orange
• Superglue
• Approximately 24 inches of fleece-your choice of color
• Silver or Gold Pipe Cleaner
• 2 pompoms(1 1/2 - 2 inches)
• Large rubber band
• Small piece of Felt

Making Your Snowman Greeter

1. You will need to rinse the paving stone to wash away any dirt. Let it dry and then place it in a standing position with the small neck pointing upward. Apply the first coat of white paint and allow it to dry. Then apply your second coat of white paint and again let this dry thoroughly.



2. With the paving stone in a flat position you can take a smaller brush and add the snowman's eyes, big smile and some buttons.



3. Once the face and buttons are dry you should shape a nose from the clay and fasten it onto the snowman with a dab of superglue.



4. You need to cut the fleece to make a scarf to wrap around your snowman's neck. This should measure about 1-1/2 inch x 24 inches. A blue, red, or green scarf will look very festive for the season.



5. All snowmen need earmuffs to look their best. Use a 5-6 inch section of pipecleaner and pompoms to make these. First bend the short section of pipe cleaner into a rainbow shape and use superglue to fasten the ends to the sides of your snowman's head. When dry you can use a dab of superglue to fasten one pompom to each side, just over the ends of the pipecleaner. Use a rubberband or a piece of string to hold the pompoms in place until they are completely dried.



6. Now you have a Happy Christmas Greeter ready to welcome all of your guests, and he is absolutely adorable.

Homemade Christmas Wreaths

You Will Need

• 20 inch grapevine wreath
• 4 pine branches made of silk (18 inch size)
• 8 magnolia leaves made of silk
• Craft wire
• Small plastic Christmas shape (angel, harp, trumpet, star)
• Scissors that can cut wire or a pair or wire snips
• Assorted greenery and tiny pine cones
• 4 berry branches (24 inch size)
• 3 1/2 yards of gold and red velvet ribbon
• Pipecleaner
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Crafting Your Homemade Christmas Wreaths

1. Warp the pipe cleaner around several back branches to make the loop you will use to hang the wreath and use glue to secure it in place.



2. Arrange 2 of your pine branches so that they are at the bottom of the wreath facing in opposite directions. The one on the left should be a bit off center. Secure them with glue. Now place another of the pine branches between the 2 at the bottom and angle it downward so it hangs down a little bit to the right and secure with glue. The last of your pine branches will be placed on the left side of the wreath and it should extend up along the wreath's left side. Once it is in place use the glue gun to attach it.



3. Arrange some of your greenery and pine cones among the pine branches and glue them in place.



4. Add the magnolia leaves around the branches and secure these with the hot glue gun.



5. Use a bit of wire to attach the plastic Christmas shape just left of the center at the wreath's bottom



6. Use the ribbon to construct a bow with 5 loops and secure it with wire.



7. Place the bow next to the Christmas shape and wire it in place. You can adjust the tips of the wreath braches to cover the wires.

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Creativity is the main ingredient on any of the homemade Christmas decorations you are going to make. They don't have to be the traditional red and green colors. Some decorations use contemporary color schemes of blue and silver, or burgundy and gold to look festive. Of course, red and green plaid material always looks Christmas-y and can double in a country Christmas decorating theme.

Whether you try any of the homemade christmas decorations we have made, or check out some of the other crafty ideas out there, homemade christmas decorations can save a lot of money, or dress up the store bought items that you have for decorating. Think of it as creating your own family Christmas tradition, when it comes to ideas for making each year's projects.


If you like these ideas or have some fantastic suggestions of your own, let us hear from you. Do you have a fool proof suggestion for homemade christmas decorations, stockings or a wreath that you would like to share with others? Whatever you would like to contribute regarding Homemade Christmas decorations is sure to be welcomed by our eager, friendly community