Handmade Eco-Friendly Christmas Inspiration
Although the shops are filled with a plethora of festive items from as early as September, we think there’s something so much more satisfying about going back to basics and having a DIY, handmade Christmas. For a start, it’s more eco-friendly and places less strain on your festive funds – but more than that, it’s so simple to do and really does look better than anything you can buy on the high street. Here are just a few of our favourite ideas for a DIY Christmas.
Slow cooker potpourri
Swap scented candles for a homemade slow cooker potpourri (or alternatively use a saucepan set to a low simmer). You can create any scent you fancy but a failsafe classic is a combination of sliced orange, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves and ground nutmeg – pop it all in the slow cooker, cover with water and turn onto a low heat with the lid off. Sit back and enjoy the smell of Christmas.
Homemade wrapping paper
Visit our post on how to make your own paper for present wrapping – it’s an absolute doddle and a great way to while away a couple of spare hours.
Make an advent calendar
Do away with the shop bought variety this year and make your own advent calendar for the countdown to Christmas. You could use small hessian bags, mini envelopes or little gift boxes to hold the daily chocolate. Alternatively, decorate a strong twig with festive spray paint and then hang all over with chocolate coins attached to loops of ribbon or string. Unbelievably simple but very effective.
Decorate the indoors with the outdoors
Get out and about one weekend and load up on teasels, pine cones, springs of holly, bits of pine, and just about anything else that you think would work well as an indoor decoration. Spray silver or gold (or leave au natural, if you wish) and then deck the halls liberally.
Make a Christmas wreath
Use wire or a supple wood (such as willow) to form the base ring of your wreath, and then decorate liberally with whatever takes your fancy. Try holly, ivy and pine with some sloes, fresh flowers and acorns. The end result is always so much prettier – and a lot more unique – than anything you can pick up in the shops.
And when the festivities are over-
Turn old Christmas cards into gift tags
Neatly cut out any pretty sections of your old Christmas cards, stamp a small hole using a hole punch, and thread with ribbon. Hey presto – homemade gift tags!