How to have a thrifty homespun Christmas
DIY decorations, gifts and cards ideas that won't break the bank!
One of the things I love most about Christmas, is the chance to get crafting! And with schools about to break up for the holidays, now is the perfect time to get the whole family involved in some festive holiday fun at home. From handcrafted ornaments and DIY wreaths to homemade Christmas cards and gifts, take a look at our five favourite ideas – something for every little elf in the family to get involved in. Plus, the added bonus of making a lot of things yourself is not only does it keep the kids occupied, but it helps save on money too!
Make your own fresh and fragrant wreath
Every year, for the past decade, I have made my own Christmas wreath. I don’t think that there is anything better to create a welcoming entrance or a pretty table display than a Christmas wreath with the gorgeous fresh smell of eucalyptus, fir needles and conifer that I’ve made with my own two hands. It’s a super easy way of bringing a little festive magic into your home. And, if you’re prepared to go foraging for your greenery, it can be a fairly cost-effective decorating solution. I’ll be posting an easy step-by-step tutorial on Instagram at some point over the weekend – it’s on my never-ending list of things to get done before the girls break up for school. I’ll pop the link on the Substack Nest Chat group as soon as it’s ready, don’t forget to download the Substack App so you don’t miss out!
Decorate your home with Paper Chains
Finally a use for the mountain of magazines, old wallpaper samples and gift wrap ends! If you’re looking for a super easy and thrifty way to decorate your home, consider making paper chains. Kids of any age can get involved, simply cut strips out of your paper, each strip makes one chain so try to keep them all a similar size - we recommend W2.5cm x L8cm. Take your first strip and tape, glue or staple together one end to the other to make a loop. Next, thread another strip of paper through the centre of the first loop and join the ends of this strip together using glue, tape or staple. Keep going until you have your desired length.
DIY clay tree decorations
This project didn’t cost me a single penny. We had some spare air hardening modelling clay left over from another craft activity, so the girls and I decided to make use of it by making our own Christmas tree decorations. We simply rolled out the clay and then used playdough cutters to cut out different shapes, making a small hole in each decoration using a chopstick to be able to thread ribbon through. After leaving them for few days to fully dry out, we painted them using leftover acrylic paints and YesColours paint samples. It was a really fun and relaxing craft activity to do with the kids – and a great way to encourage their creative flair.
Give art as a present
I’m not going to lie and say I’ll be doing this this year. I am NOT good with a paint brush – unless I’m painting walls and furniture! However, Charlotte – because she’s actually a very skilled artist – is planning on giving art to family this year. And I think it’s a really lovely idea and definitely something that I would love to receive (hint, hint). Not only will Charlotte’s loved ones get the piece of art, but they’ll know she cared about them enough to spend time and hard work at something just for them.
Design your own Christmas cards
Exchanging greeting cards at Christmas has been a classic tradition for years. Of course, you could simply buy your cards, but there is nothing more personal than a homemade Christmas card. Friends and family always tell me how much they cherish the unique handmade card that they receive from Ada and Lily each year. It also keeps my two occupied for hours while I try to tick things off my never-ending Christmas list. This year, Ada and Lily have embroidered tree holiday cards, let me know what you think in the comments, below.
If you’re looking for more Christmas craft ideas to do with your kids, check out our blog post Christmas crafts you can do with the kids that you won’t want to throw away
If you’re still looking for Christmas presents and stocking fillers for your loved ones, here’s a round-up of all our festive gift guides, just in case you missed them.
