DIY Christmas | Brie & Cranberry Savoury Pastry Stars

We've made it - work is over [and if it isn't for you, I hope it is soon] and we can sit in the corner with our bucket of wine, family-sized tub of chocolate and watch TV without judgement.  In case you fancy something savoury with that, my final post before Christmas is this quick brie and cranberry pastry star snack.

DIY Christmas | Last Minute Plant Gift Wrap Idea

Last minute present gift inspiration needed? Christmas saved!

DIY Christmas | Pearl Jumper

If your Christmas wardrobe needs a little updating or you have a jumper that needs an up-style, this DIY is an easy, quick and cheap way of getting yourself a new wardrobe.

DIY Christmas | Festive Gift Box

This idea is perfect for dressing up a token gift, whether for the host of a party, a colleague for Secret Santa or for presenting a small gift.

DIY Christmas | Santa Hat Penguins

3 words you might not expect to see together.
With 10 days to go, some festive cheer in the form of penguins in Santa hats.  Merry Christmas.

DIY Christmas | Gemstone Letter Decorations

This is another perfect craft for sitting in front of a movie with and is a simple, quick, cheap but great decoration for either the tree, presents or around the home any time of year.  They're a bit over the top too, which you absolutely can get away with at this time of year.

DIY Christmas | 4 Christmas Card Ideas

I've been making my own Christmas cards ever since I can remember.  My family get them every year, whether they like it/want them or not.
I thought I'd share 4 ideas, of varying ease and time resource if you're looking to make your own too.

DIY Christmas | Easy Calligraphy Baubles

The easiest way to achieve a calligraphy-style personalised bauble in minutes!

DIY Christmas | Feather Tree Cones

As a Christmas DIY that has been in my drafts for years, I thought I'd actually make these pretty feather trees for 2017 [this is a bit of a New Years resolution for me - completing the ideas I've had in my drafts - so expect many a 2012-2016 themed/popular DIY over the next few months!].

DIY Christmas | Wire Star Wreath

Make your own door/mantle/wall wreath! This everlasting star wreath will make a stylish addition to your home or dress up your front door and can be adapted to suit your colour scheme!

Last year, I made an Ivy wreath with trimmings from the garden, but for 2017, I've made an everlasting wreath to bring out each year.

| WHAT YOU NEED |

Wire Star Frame | Eucalyptus | Hot Glue Gun | Floral Wire | Wire Cutters
From Poundland: Gypsophila | White Berries | Frosted Pines


| HOW YOU MAKE IT |

There are two approaches to this - minimal, making the wire star a feature [Hobbycraft have some great examples of this on their blog] or to use the star as a frame for a more full, traditional wreath.

I decided to cover the frame completely, using the same simple materials as the mantle wreath/tablescapes: gypsophila, eucalyptus, berries and pinecones.

Start with your base colour and texture.  For me, this is always gypsophila as it has good coverage, a little goes a long way and it adds a little detail with its small flowers.  I spread evenly adding one sprig to each side, the spring facing towards each point of the star, securing in place with floral wire at the base[trimmed to size to use only what was required]:

Although I like symmetry, as with the mantle garlands, I didn't pay too much attention to the sides being completely equal in length or fullness.

I then added the eucalyptus - the main feature of the wreath.  Following the same direction as the gypsophila, I trimmed the base of each sprig close to the first set of leaves and staying close to the lines of the wire star to keep the shape:

Two sprigs were used on each side for consistency, but I also trimmed smaller sections to close gaps, add more shape and help make the wreath appear more 'full':

The white berries and frosted mini pinecones details were then added.  I decided to add these in a fairly random manner throughout the wreath, but did concentrate on areas that needed colour breaking up, wire covering up and fullness or detail adding to the shape.  Starting with the berries:

Then adding the pinecones:

I used hot glue to secure them in place and layer the wreath.

Once I added all my details, I finished the wreath with leaves from the eucalyptus, removed from the stem and glued these in place where extra fullness was needed and also to the back of the wreath to add more shape and a little protection at the back.

There are so many ways that you can decorate a simple wire frame to suit your décor, colour scheme and style - and can be easily updated or changed each year.

DIY Christmas | Car & Tree Decorations

If there is one Christmas tradition in the movies that I love, it's a family trip to pick and take home the Christmas tree.

Todays DIY is the recreation of this in decoration form, with some poundland cars, nail varnish and bottle brush trees. The perfect 'whilst-watching-a-movie' craft and it only takes 30 minutes.

| WHAT YOU NEED |

Mini Toy Cars & Truck [poundland] | Mini Bottle Brush Trees | Gold Ribbon | Nail Varnish | White Glitter | Mod Podge | Brush


| HOW YOU MAKE THEM |

I'm a fan of using nail varnish as a quick, cheap and precise way to blanket colour [not to mention no washing up!]  - the drying time is minimal and with the range of nail varnish available, can be used to create decorations to fit in your Christmas theme.

It has transformed a brown sheriffs truck and collection of plastic cars in just two coats and 10 minutes as the main feature of the decoration:

I picked my cars [10 in a pack for £1] and truck up from poundland but if you have any toys that need an up-cycle - this is a great way to transform them!

To add more detail, I used a little mod podge and coarse white glitter added to the tops of the car features [also, a great cover for any messy nail varnish areas!]

I picked up some bottle brush trees in HC and removed the stands for the trees to be added the tops of the cars, fixing them in place with thin gold ribbon, leaving a loop for hanging on the tree, or adding to presents as tags:

They also make pretty cute decorations on their own or added to terrariums.

I love them and they add a vintage theme to my decorating that now makes me want to go out and find more things I can cover in nail varnish, fake snow and gold ribbon.......

DIY Christmas | Pinecone, Dried Fruit and Bauble Garlands

Back in October, I decided to dress up my mantle with a simple garland of eucalyptus, gypsophila, hydrangeas and pumpkins [you can see the DIY here], and todays DIY shows you 3 ways in which I was able to update this for Winter.

DIY Christmas | Pinecone Tree Terrarium

Happy 1st December!