free christmas decorations

karren

Im fed up of tinsel etc, ors got tatty so i threw out last year.
and thinking of holly around a plate with some cones and church candle in middle
what sort of traditional things do others use as decorations
I wondered about using pine cones and dusting with glitter and popping in bowl

parkgirl

Church candles in a plant pot with pine cones and christmas tree offcuts, holly and dried fruit slices. Looks lovely

Anne_Marie_2

You could spray paint some of the pine cones gold. Might be better than glitter which gets everywhere.

I have a white fireplace (never been used) and last Christmas had candles in the hearth with cones, pine leaves, and some oranges and apples. It looked really nice.

A nice wreathe made up of pine leaves, cones and red berries (probably have to be fake for the latter).

Have a look on Pinterest for ideas, sure there will be tons.

Nargleblast

You could still use fairy lights, they will make the place look festive - and you can use them other times in the year as well!

Also try making wreaths and swags using natural foliage with red, green, silver and gold ribbons as well as glittery pine cones.
Home made gingerbread men can be used to decorate a Christmas tree, also the red and white striped candy canes and foil wrapped chocolate coins. For a table centrepiece, pile up clementines (with leaves if possible) in a glass dish and intersperse with gold-wrapped chocolate coins.
If you celebrate the midwinter festival the Christian way, collect nativity sets and display them in all the rooms. If you are pagan, think of greenery, candles and Yule logs for your themes.

meritaten

I go the 'go out and gather up some pine cones' route too. and nick some holly of neighbours trees!
Yes, a church candle looks stunning surrounded by greenery and pine cones. and although sweet chestnuts are not free you can include those (or save some from the 'conkers', just dont eat them!),their shiny skins are really attractive.

I have also been known to add to my 'arrangement', red apples, satsumas, any berries I can find, odd baubles that no longer fit my tree colour scheme - almost anything I think will look pretty!

Sue14

When my DS was little, we made a decoration using a plastic basket, we threaded green crepe paper through the bars around the edge, and lined the inside with red crepe paper. I then put cotton wool on the bottom and filled it with pine cones (after spraying them with spray snow) and holly, which DS and I had collected. We also put an artificial poinsettia flower at the centre of the back, and a couple of robins on the cones. It also has a nice piece of tinsel around the edge of the outside.

I still have this almost 30 years later, and it comes out every year, although the holly is long gone I still have the original pine cones. I think I'll go and pick some fresh holly for it this year, and maybe respray the cones.

graspandsave

Sue14 wrote: »

When my DS was little, we made a decoration using a plastic basket, we threaded green crepe paper through the bars around the edge, and lined the inside with red crepe paper. I then put cotton wool on the bottom and filled it with pine cones (after spraying them with spray snow) and holly, which DS and I had collected. We also put an artificial poinsettia flower at the centre of the back, and a couple of robins on the cones. It also has a nice piece of tinsel around the edge of the outside.

I still have this almost 30 years later, and it comes out every year, although the holly is long gone I still have the original pine cones. I think I'll go and pick some fresh holly for it this year, and maybe respray the cones.

oh how lovely,
your post made me feel all chrstmassy

poet123

I use red and green apples hollowed out and filled with a tea light, they look stunning and you get a lovely smell. Surround with greenery on a large plate and they look stunning.

lobbyludd

greenery from the garden (we have eucalyptus, lots of ivy etc) can make a lovely wreath or garland.

not free - but cheap - slice up oranges (old withered ones are fine - and you can them cheaper) dry in a low heat oven - string together for garlands - lovely smell too

you can make really intricate snow flakes from plain white paper (google it for ideas), and paper "baubles" that are really pretty - martha stewart has some great ideas, as do other places (look at pinterest and search for hand made christmas decorations or whatever you're after).

lobbyludd

argghhh double post sorry!

Mojisola

Pine cones make good kindling so don't leave the candles until they burn low.