Homemade Christmas

helcat26

We really don't buy new decorations every Christmas I have been using the same things for years and get compliments
Here are my main items:


Christmas tree decorations made from old bits of crystal chandelier. These look very pretty with white lights. You can get bits of chandelier from junk or charity shops.


Garlands made from gold or green cardboard leaf shapes with red beads as berries strung on wire. Use real leaves as the template to cut out lots of different realistic shapes.


Red or crystal beads on wire - several loops- for napkin rings, and made into bunches to go around candles for table decorations.


I made red velvet stocking for everyone from an old dress, lined them with left over curtain lining, and edged them with the fleece like fur of a mattress topper.


Gold sprayed pine cones on a plate around candles, and wired together with cinnamon sticks for the door wreath.


We always make the cake, damson gin and limoncello, but I didn't like the attempt I made at homemade baileys- it was yuk.


Pickled onions, damsons, and apple chutney were made in autumn but some things you could make quickly now for presents like lemon curd, chocolate truffles, and Florentines.


I find mincemeat a bit expensive to make rather than buy to be honest but do mix a bit of homemade apple sauce in with it to make it go a bit further and be a bit more moist.


The big new thing for us this year has been making sausages with one of those big syringe things and hog casings bought off ebay!

babyblooz

I remember my mum making decorations from crepe paper. She bought two colours, orange and yellow if I remember rightly. They were already folded up into something similar to a flattened roll of today's wrapping paper.

She cut them into around two inch strips and then sewed down the middle of them with the sewing machine, stretching them slightly so that they crinkled up a little bit, then joined the next colour, and then alternated them like that until they were all joined together.

Once they were twirled around a few times and cut to fit they looked lovely and were so cheap to make. Once they came down they were carefully rewound and then they made an appearance every year for ages after.

I have such happy memories of those Christmas's, even though there was very little money around it never ever once felt like that. I always felt like one of the luckiest kids around. It was all about the little rituals that built up the excitement.

vodkawitch1

..well its almost finished just got the edging to do - Christmas pressie for my little neice. :T

http://s13.postimg.org/5run2dit3/016.jpg

aggypanthus

marleyboy wrote: »

We used to make paper chains using crepe paper and decorate the tree by making decorations, even the angel on the top was made using an old toilet roll tube.

When my Son is old enough to join in the DIY festivities, he too will be adding his own homemade festivities to the home.

Last 2 years running, we made chains from wallpaper samples from DIY stores. worked a treat, stapled together.

Butterfly_Brain

That is beautiful Vodkawitch :T:T

meritaten

vodkawitch - that is SO adorable! well done you!

girlsmum

Just found this thread whilst thinking what to get people for Christmas. Last year I made Christmas Pudding Vodka (Hairy Bikers) Although i was a bit silly as i threw the fruit out after it has steeped, I must have been able to do something with all that vodka infused fruit. I was thinking of doing Limoncello this year and making up a small hamper with homemade Chutney, i am sure my mum and her partner will like it. I am knitting an Aran jumper for one nephew. just got to think of something to do for the other 2 (18 & 20 so not an easy age to make things for). I always make spiced ginger bread biscuits cut in stars/hearts etc to hang on my tree they smell lovely.

Hopefully i will find plenty of tips and ideas here.

Eenymeeny

girlsmum, I've filled re-inforced file boxes for males before. (Like you get in Ikea http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50292001/#/10291999 )
They don't look too 'pretty' and can be filled them with all sorts of bits and bobs and hopefully the boxes will be used for storage later! HTH
I've bought some Christmas shaped cookie cutters from the Pound shop and am thinking of making some biscuits and packing them up in nice jars which I tend to accumulate . (I knew that they'd come in useful sometime!) I wondered if any one can advise on recipes that can be made well in advance or how long some of them can be stored for please? Could I make them and freeze them, then bake nearer the day? Any advice would be appreciated thanks
Loving this thread, thanks OP.:T

andrewmax

We too plan some creative new things like wallpaper, paintings etc as part of doing homemade Christmas

VfM4meplse

I flipped through the Christmas edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, normally a publication I enjoy as it promotes quality and value for money, and celebrates life experiences.

I expected some Chrimbo bumph but was amazed at how commercial it was, page after page of shopping "ideas" and little on the HM front. Another negative - after making a real effort to kick sugar recently, it reminded me that Aldi's SS mince pies exist. How'm I gonna resist this year?