Make your own decorations

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By Kidspot Team

Making your own Christmas decorations is as easy or hard as you make it. For busy mums who love shopping, it's probably a cinch to whip to the shops and spend up big to make the house look Christmassy. But for those of us who prefer to get into the Christmas spirit and keep our wallets happy, making our own decorations is great fun. Try these projects:

Christmas wreaths

The tradition of hanging a wreath on the front door in the run-up to Christmas comes from an old Catholic ritual. The advent - or the season prior to Christmas Day - is a significant time, and a circular wreath is hung on the door. The circle symbolises that there is no beginning or end and that God is eternal. A more traditional advent wreath contains four candles in the circle and one candle in the middle.

• Make a paddle pop stick wreath
• Make a button and ribbon wreath
• Make edible Christmas pastry wreaths

Christmas garlands

A garland is a decorative string used during festive times which can be hung around a person, over a mantel or around an inaminate object like a Christmas tree. Originally garlands were made of flowers or leaves and in countries like India, garlands have an important role in spiritual festivals. Garlands can be created from flowers and leaves, fruit, vegetables or even dollar notes but at Christmas time the garland is used to decorate a home. Tinsel and other types of garland or ribbon used as decorations that can easily be strung up for a short period of time.

• Make a paper pom pom garland
• Make a paper bauble garland
• Make a Christmas greetings garland
• Make a paper chain garland
• Thread sweet popcorn onto a long piece of cotton with a large needle and create popcorn garlands

Christmas lighting

Christmas lights and lanterns give decorating a fairy-like quality and who doesn't like driving around and seeing the neighbourhood lit up at Christmas? Every year fire fighters end up rescuing unprepared householders who use lights dangerously for Christmas decorating. Try to follow these safety tips for Christmas lights:

• Only use transformers and decorative lights that have Australian Standards approval. Be extremely cautious of cheap lights bought at markets or on sale.
• Don't use damaged or broken switches, power points, plugs or leads.
• If you are reusing Christmas lights, check their condition and replace any broken bulbs with those specified in the manufacturers instructions.
• Don't overload your power points or power boards and avoid piggy-backing double adaptors.
• Use weather proof, energy efficient transformers that generate low heat.
• Attach cords and lighting strings to fixtures with tape, cable ties, clips or clamps. Never use nails.
• Keep all electrical connections away from areas that may become wet.
• If there is no safety switch fitted to your home, use a portable one at the supply.
• Put your lights on the tree first followed by other decorations, making sure they aren't touching each other.
• Keep tinsel and other decorations away from lights, power boards and sockets.
• Position your tree away from curtains and other soft furnishings that may be flammable.
• Turn your Christmas lights off before leaving home or going to bed.
• Don't move or adjust lights while they're switched on. 
• Make sure children are supervised around Christmas lights at all times

Christmas ornaments and tree decorations

Germany is credited with starting the tradition of Christmas trees and decorating back in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles.But 19th century England brought Christmas decorating into the mainstream when Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria made Christmas ornaments popular by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor castle with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread in 1841. Make your own tree ornaments with these crafts:

• Clay ornaments
• Peg angels
• Felt Christmas trees
• Clay and felt acorns
• 3D paper ornaments
• Paper snowflakes

Christmas table decorations

Turn your table into a hand crafted masterpiece by using Kidspot's Christmas craft ideas as decorations. Try these:

• Santa serviettes
• Personalised bon bons
• Magazine tree centrepieces
• Make your own Christmas crackers
• Christmas meal invitation
• Christmas meal menu card
• Christmas table placecards
• Christmas table decorations

Christmas wrapping decorations

Nothing makes Christmas presents seem even more thrilling than when they are beautifully wrapped. It can be expensive to wrap all those gifts, but Kidspot has plenty of advice on wrapping gifts on a budget, as well as these projects you can make yourself.

• Confetti gift wrap
• FREE printable Christmas gift tags
• DIY jingle bells wrapping paper
• Gorgeous handmade Christmas cards
• Make your own wrapping paper   
• Make your own cards

Find more Christmas decorating ideas on Kidspot

• Plan your Christmas decorating
• Homemade Christmas decorations
• 6 simple decorating tips
• Fun ways to decorate with kids
• Choose the perfect tree for your family
• How to buy and care for a live Christmas tree
• Meaningful Christmas tree decorating

More great Christmas ideas

• Christmas cooking and food ideas
• Handmade craft decorating and gift ideas
• Gift guides for all ages and budgets
• Christmas traditions to discover
• Handy Christmas tips and free printables
• Handmade cards and Christmas greetings ideas
• Easy Christmas parties
• Inspired Christmas decorating ideas
• How to do Christmas on a budget
• Fun games to play on Christmas day

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