Christmas is far from a cheap holiday once you add up all the gifts, food, new clothes and possible travel expenses included for just the one day. But there’s no need to leave yourself out of pocket as there is still one area where you can save some precious pennies over the festive season and that would be the decorations.

Why buy the flimsy, mass-made ornaments and trinkets when you could spend some time this festive period making your very own DIY Christmas crafts? Not only does it save money but it also acts as your creative output for the holidays and in most cases, even brings the family together over some quick, easy and risk-free crafts.

Snow globes in a jar

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLKgsQgcA8/

What you’ll need

• Small glass jar
• Superglue or a hot glue gun
• A small plastic figurine that fits in the jar
• Cold water
• 1-2 teaspoons of glitter (depending on jar size)
• Glycerin (while it’s not necessary, it makes the glitter float better)

How to make it

1. Put glue on the inside of the jar’s lid. Place and stick plastic figurine on the centre of the inside of the lid and let dry.
2. Fill jar to the very top with water then add glitter.
3. Add a few drops of glycerine.
4. Screw lid back on and glue to jar. Turn over and shake.

Fabric wreath

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcTjJNlF49x/

What you’ll need

• About 1 metre of garden hose (or enough to make a wreath of your desired size)
• Duct tape
• About 2-3 metres of fabric (this is a good way to use up any left over scraps)
• Scissors

How to make it

1. Meet ends of hose together to make a circle and tape together to secure into the wreath base.
2. Cut pieces of fabric into about 10-15cm lengths and about 3cm width. Tearing fabric will give the wreath a more rugged look.
3. Tie fabric around hose, securing with a double knot. Continue until entire hose is filled and bunched up with fabric ties.

Bauble tree centrepiece

https://www.instagram.com/p/Brf-QTAFqV4/

What you’ll need

• 2 pieces of thick A3 sized paper (or styrofoam cone for a stronger base)
• Hot glue gun or super glue
• Bowl
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Staples
• Baubles

How to make it

1. Place bowl on paper and trace around circle. Cut out circle. Use ruler to mark a triangle from the centre taking up a quarter of the circle. Cut out wedge. Slide edges of circle together to create cone shape. Secure with staples.
2. Cut second sheet of paper to be just larger than base of cone. Secure cone to base using hot glue gun.
3. Starting from the base, glue baubles onto tree until you reach the top.

Bauble filled with memories

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5igv9kHzcT/

What you’ll need

• Measurements of the grandkids
• Piece of ribbon
• Scissors
• Empty bauble case
• Pom poms, glitter, beads to fill (optional)

How to make it

1. Measure your grandchildren using the ribbon. Cut off at the exact measurement.
2. Open bauble and place ribbon plus extras into case.
3. Secure together again and tie left over ribbon to top to hang on tree.

Doily table runner

https://www.instagram.com/p/BB6tFbdrp3r/

What you’ll need

• Old doilies of different shapes and sizes
• Hot glue gun (sewing together will be sturdier but if using once for Christmas then getting rid of, glueing together is more time efficient)

How to make it

1. Gather together doilies and sort along the table into the best size and shape formation.
2. Glue together edges to secure.

Hanging stick Christmas tree

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bro45lrjQx8/

What you’ll need

• 8 branches
• Hand saw
• Sand paper
• 4 long lengths of strong twine
• Fairy lights or ornaments to decorate

How to make it

1. Lay the branches on the ground from longest to shortest. Saw each branch so they are in descending size to resemble a tree formation.
2. Lightly sand each branch to smoothen out.
3. Starting on one side, use two pieces of twine to connect the branches with the same distance in between each one. Tie the two pieces of twine together under the first branch then tie another knot above the branch. Continue until you reach the top.
4. Hang against wall preferably and decorate with fairly lights or other ornaments.