Christmas decorations that aren't just shop bought decorations

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

To explain that a bit better:
I do have some lovely shop bought decorations, but I like to complement them with some decors that are, or have an element of homemade.

The sort of thing I'm talking about:

The last few years I have planned on planting some paperwhites, but have always run out of time. Am hoping to get that right this year!

Also a friend has just given me some very tasteful Christmas material which I might make into simple cushion covers.

I usually do things like

Baubles & battery lights in a glass 'fishbowl' vase.

Mini wooden decorations on pre-lit twigs.

Plant arrangements with candles.

Christmas runner on the coffee table.

I know Pinterest is full of ideas but just thought I'd ask for what you do along the same lines. Even if that is a picture of ideas youve got saved on Pinterest.

The simpler the better!

Thanks

Your things sound lovely. I made my own nativity scene. Just flat bottomed peg dolls that I dressed in felt clothing but I really love it. I also made a Waldorf style needle felted angel for the top of the tree. This year I am updating her wings to give her some pzazz. I may even give her a needle felted long trumpet.

I draw with white chalk pen on the dining room window. I machine embroidered a plain table runner and decorated the place mats and coasters with adhesive vinyl that I designed and cut with a Silhouette Cameo (older version of the Cricut)

I "made" my own glitter baubles as I couldn't find the colour I wanted to compliment the lounge but I could find the right colour glitter. Plain clear acrylic baubles, remove top, coat inside with varnish, drain, add glitter, rotate to coat and leave to dry.

Every year I use a different music quote for a picture frame that goes on the mantelpiece.

This year I will be doing some cushion cover designs. I start thinking about it now once school is back in session. There is always a big Christmas in July on YouTube from the US cohort as schools are out for summer.

Wow @ChippingLeCrue you sound a lot more accomplished than I, all sounds fab, thank you.

I'm particularly interested in the angel as we definitely need a new tree topper. How difficult was it? Any idea where I might find instructions?

I’ve seen some lovely things where fairy lights (and other things) are in resin but I’m slightly scared of resin 😂. I’m not good at strong smells. There were some lovely concrete stars knocking about last year. I’m also slightly reluctant to use concrete. I’m working my way up to it though for flowerpots. I’m more of an ideas person unfortunately.

Go for a walk in a local wood where there's some pine trees and collect a load of pine cones. Stately home gardens are a good source for differently shaped varieties. They are useful for all sorts. You can leave them undecorated and attach them to garlands with florists' wire for instance. Larch cones are good too, and you often find whole larch branches that have broken off with cones still attached.

What music quotes?
I have some embroideries that are xmassy

Pine cones with the tips painted white and tied to the tree with gold string are lovely and the kids can help to make them.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot thank you. I made my angel about 5 years ago. I feel that you have the skills to pull this off seeing what you already made. YouTube is an incredible resource for tutorials so I have linked one at the bottom that I used. Sometimes I then look for specific things like how to make the arms.

I bought pre-made felted heads (Etsy) and I always do practise runs before I commit to making the final one. Needle felting was very easy and to be fair there isn't actually a lot of needle felting in this project. My angel looks similar to this one except I gave mine beautiful ginger hair. Mine has those see through wings but she has seen better days hence her wing upgrade this year.

The one thing I did do was when I was constructing her body I use a long white pipe cleaner that wraps round her waist and is hidden in the construction meaning she doesn't have a branch up her skirt but instead is pipe cleaner twisted to the top vertical branch.

I can't seem to link the video but it is Waldorf Inspired Winter Fairy by Yelena Poghosyan.

@scissorsandsellotape Have yourself a merry little Christmas, It's the most wonderful time of the year, Dashing through the snow, Sleigh bells ring are you listening, Silent night, holy night. That type of thing.

There are lots of YouTube diy Christmas decor, wreaths, garlands, sign making, hot chocolate stations etc. I am just good at copying people. It is only for me, I don't make anything to sell.

Thank you @ChippingLeCrue, I'll investigate further!

You need to head on over to the Christmas Poncing/ Poncetastic thread.

You will all find kindred spirits there.

I made a patchwork wall hanging for above the fireplace (it's a christmas tree made of pinwheels and I love it), and have also done some patchwork cushion covers in christmas fabric (I love quilting so my house is full of it anyway).

Our local paint-your-own pottery place has recently started allowing people to fire their homemade pots in their kiln for a small charge, so I think I'll try making a ceramic Santa for this year.

Oh! We also have some beautiful hand embroidered table cloths and napkins that my late MIL made for our first christmas together.

I made paperback Christmas Trees one year.

I used up the paperback books that were too rubbish to send to the Charity shop (recommended by Richard and Judy 🙄), wafted some gold spray over and they looked very nice.

I knitted an advent calendar for DH and I, the pockets are the exact size of 2 Anton Berg liqueur chocolates

We also make anagrams with existing decorations. Our “just married” bunting was “rim adjuster” last year

Ah yes thank you !

I just found this really cute, eco-friendly Christmas bauble. It's personalised and includes some wildflower seeds to plant in the garden.

www.somethingprettyplants.com/product-page/personalised-wildflower-bauble

Ordered a few for my family and friends. A nice stocking filler
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