How to make Christmas decorations
Get creative this Christmas with pretty and personalised decorations that would impress St Nicholas himself.
Whether you want to get the kids involved in a Christmassy activity or just fancy a homemade, rustic look we have plenty of ideas to keep you busy, so you can leave tatty tinsel in the attic.
For the tree
Make your tree stand out from the crowd this Christmas by covering it in sugar, spice and all things nice – just don’t be tempted to eat the tree!
Peppermint candy canes
No Christmas scene is complete without a traditional candy cane or two, spend an hour or so rolling out icing into perfect shapes for a homemade treat for your tree. No cooking is involved so it is also a nice activity for older kids to get involved in too. Got some extras? Add them to a homemade hamper or Sellotape on top of Christmas cards or presents for an extra festive lift.
Fruity tree decorations
Bake thin slices of apples and oranges to dry them out, then thread them onto string to be tied up on the tree, around door knobs, or underneath the mantle piece. These completely natural decorations are scented with cinammon and cloves, so your house will smell deliciously Christmassy all day long.
Fruity tree decorations
Bay, popcorn & cranberry strings
Create beautiful, rustic decorations to drape around your tree or just your home, with this simple recipe. Older children will have the threading skills required to do this on their own. And there is something very soothing about creating these decorations that everyone will enjoy.
Bay, popcorn & cranberry strings
Orange and cardamom biscuits
Sometimes more is less, and these understated biscuits make a beautiful addition to the Christmas tree. Festive biscuit stamps are all over the high street and online this Christmas, so it should be easy to pick some up in any type of style you like. This also makes a great and fairly mess-free activity for kids – and there won’t be any hundreds and thousands or icing in sight.
Orange & ginger stained glass biscuits
Who would think smashing up some sweets could make something so pretty and magical? These lovely biscuit decorations are so simple to make, the only real trouble is that they smell and taste delicious so it’s very tempting to take sampling a little bit too far. A lovely way to spend a winter’s afternoon with children too.
Orange & ginger stained glass biscuits
Watch our video on how to make iced decorative biscuits:
For the door
Cookie cutter wreath
This contemporary take on the classic Christmas wreath takes only minutes to create, and makes minimal mess. Use a variety of cookie cutters in festive shapes to create a striking arrangement - the more eclectic, the better.
For the table
Peppermint & rose cream napkin decorations
These delicate napkin adornments will add something really special to your Christmas table. You can get as creative as you want with food colouring and shapes, but we love the simple snow-white effect in the photo.
Peppermint & rose cream napkin decorations
Coconut & cinnamon place-name cookies
Make your guests feel extra loved with these edible, place name biscuits. Use a variety of sprinkles to make each guest feel unique if you have a pantry full of decorations.
Serving coffee after dinner? It might be just a little bit painful to see your beautiful creations demolished.
Coconut & cinnamon place-name cookies
Christmas cake pops
Looking for a Christmas centerpiece to take pride of place? These stunning cake pops make perfect eye candy. They are bound to be a huge hit with kids and adults alike, so you may have to keep an eye on little hands. These also make the perfect alternative to traditional Christmas pudding if everyone is stuffed after the main course.
Christmas cake bauble bunting
If you're not an icing pro but still want to dress up your Christmas cake with something special, this homemade cake bunting is sure to impress. Make our Suits-all Christmas cake, then ice up to step 2 in our recipe for our Classic iced holly cake to create a blank canvas to showcase your cake topper. Not a fan of fruitcake? Try using to top any round cake, such as our Ultimate chocolate cake, Cappuccino cake, Banana cake with pecan crumble crunch or Passion layer torte.
For the kids
Muffin tin Advent calendars
Make the countdown to Christmas extra-special by letting children design their own Advent calendar this year. All you need is a 24-hole mini muffin tin, some sturdy card and a work surface to let them loose with pens, pencils and paints. When they're done, fill each hole with individually-wrapped chocolates or sweets, or small trinkets and gifts (being mindful of choking hazards).
Still not satisfied your creative bug? Check out our guides to Christmas decorations for the house and how to style a Christmas table.
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