There’s a real trend this Christmas back to “making your own” instead of splashing out in the shops. You can save money and add a personal touch to the festive celebrations with our simple step-by-step guides to making Christmas cards, baubles, a wreath for the front door and a Star for the tree.
CHRISTMAS BAUBLES
Step One
Cut a length of ribbon long enough to fit around the bauble adding a little extra to overlap the ends. Glue it around the bauble. Cut two lengths of braid and glue them along both edges of the ribbon on the bauble.
Step Two
Work in small sections at a time so that the glue does not dry before the ribbon has been pressed onto it. Alternatively, glue one strip of braid along the middle of the ribbon.
Step Three
Apply dots of glue along the ribbon to decorate it, adding sequins and gems for extra embellishment. Make small dots of glue above and below the ribbon decoration for a more glittery bauble.
Materials required:
- Plain baubles
- Selection of ribbons and braids
- Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
- Sequins
- Small glittery gems
CHRISTMAS WREATH
Step One
Apply glue to the bottom of a pine cone and stick it onto the wreath base. Glue cones around this one, angling them slightly for an uneven look. It is a good idea to tie a length of ribbon onto the wreath base at this stage if needed to hang the wreath to the door when it is finished.
Step Two
Continue to glue pinecones onto the wreath, covering the entire surface so that it cannot be seen. Select smaller cones and glue them on top of this first layer to create a little depth.
Step Three
Using glitter glue sticks, apply small dabs of the glitter glue onto the pinecones to give them a gentle shimmer. Tie two large bows and glue them together to form a double bow. Glue this to the top of the wreath using the glue gun.
Materials required:
- Wreath base – use a plastic wreath base available from florists’ suppliers or try twiggy wreath bases available from flower shops and garden centres
- Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
- Pine cones
- Ribbon to hang the wreath
- Wired ribbon for the bow
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Step One
Measure and draw four strips of paper measuring 17cm by 1cm using a ruler and pencil. Cut them out with scissors
Step Two
Lay the strips over each other in a star shape, gluing each one down at the middle. Apply a dab of glue to the centre of the star shape (on the back) and stick the end of one of the strips onto it. Continue with the remaining seven strips to form a 3-D shape.
Step Three
Cut a square of paper and stick the star onto it. Decorate the star with a button and sequin attached with a large blob of glitter glue. Stick the square of paper onto paper of a different colour or pattern and then glue them onto a piece of silver card that has been folded in half to form the greetings card. Apply spots of glue around the edge of one of the squares and add extra glitter on the stars and patterned papers using the glitter glue.
Materials required:
- Selection of patterned papers
- Silver card
- Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
- Scissors, pen and ruler
- Buttons and sequins
CHRISTMAS TREE STAR
Step One
Take two lengths of wire and glue them together to form a cross shape using the glue gun and glitter glue sticks. Lay two more wires across the first two to make a star shape and glue them together in the middle.
Step Two
Start to thread beads onto the wire, using the same arrangement of bead shapes and sizes on each arm of the wire star. Continue until the star is complete and you are happy with the arrangement.
Step Three
Apply small dots of glue between the beads to hold them in place and form extra decoration. Trim the ends of the wires with wire cutters if necessary. Using green glitter glue, add dots to the centre of the star, fixing a bead in the middle. Twist a length of wire around the middle of the star to use as a fixing to hold the star in place on the top of the tree.
Materials required:
- Florists wire (four lengths)
- Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
- Pearl beads in different shapes and sizes
- Wire cutters
