Showing posts with label decorations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorations. Show all posts

Thursday 26 October 2023

Creating inexpensive Christmas wonderland décor for your home

Creating an inexpensive Christmas wonderland décor for your home can be a fun and creative project. You don't need to break the bank to make your home look festive and magical. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

DIY Ornaments: Create your own ornaments using simple materials like paper, felt, or even salt dough. You can paint or decorate them in a festive theme, and they'll add a personal touch to your tree.

Natural Decorations: Use elements from nature like pinecones, holly, and evergreen branches to create beautiful centrepieces, wreaths, and garlands. These are often free and can be found in your backyard or a nearby park.

Twinkling Lights: String lights can transform any space into a Christmas wonderland. Look for inexpensive LED string lights to hang around your home, on your tree, and in windows. You can often find these at discount stores.

Charity Shop Finds: Check out charity shops or second-hand shops for affordable Christmas decorations. You can often find unique and vintage items that will add character to your décor.

Paper Snowflakes: Create paper snowflakes to hang from your ceiling or windows. They're easy to make and add a delicate touch to your décor.

Candles: Candles can create a cosy and warm atmosphere. Look for inexpensive, unscented candles in Christmas colours and place them in decorative candle holders or mason jars.

DIY Christmas Stockings: Make your own stockings using old fabric or felt. You can personalise them with names and decorate them with simple embroidery or fabric paint.

Christmas Cards: Display your received Christmas cards on a string or a ribbon. It's a simple and sentimental way to decorate your space.

Christmas Printables: You can find free or low-cost Christmas printables online, including wall art, banners, and labels. Print and frame these to add a festive touch to your walls.

Repurpose and Recycle: Look around your home for items that can be repurposed into Christmas décor. For example, old glass jars can become festive candle holders, and a plain tablecloth can be transformed with some paint or fabric markers.

DIY Wreath: Make your own Christmas wreath using materials like old ornaments, pinecones, and ribbon. You can often find plain wreath forms at craft stores for a reasonable price.

Festive Table Settings: Create a festive table setting with inexpensive tablecloths, placemats, and napkins. You can also use holiday-themed dishes and cutlery.

Homemade Scented Pinecones: Add a wonderful holiday scent to your home by making scented pinecones. Simply dip them in a mixture of water, cinnamon, and a few drops of essential oils, then let them dry.

Budget-Friendly Tree Décor: Opt for a smaller Christmas tree, or use a table top tree. Decorate it with homemade ornaments, popcorn strings, and inexpensive tinsel.

Holiday Music and Movies: Don't forget to set the mood with Christmas music and films. They're a low-cost way to add to the festive atmosphere in your home. You can find many classical Christmas films on YouTube.

Remember that the key to creating an inexpensive Christmas wonderland is to get creative and use what you have. Incorporate your own personal touches to make your home feel warm and inviting during the holiday season.

Sunday 24 September 2023

Discover the new collection of Christmas Tree Decorations from Jan Constantine

Artisan textile designer Jan Constantine has added four new stunning festive tree decorations to her 2023 Christmas Collection.

Like the other items in the collection, the quartet is inspired by and named after the delicate Alpine flower, Edelweiss. 

Available in two shapes, a heart and a star, and two colours, red and duck egg blue, the Edelweiss decorations come with another little festive treat and are packed with aromatic lavender. 

Jan Constantine, founder of her eponymous textile brand, said: "Like the rest of the Christmas Collection for 2023, these stunning decorations are all hand-embroidered and offer a truly luxurious touch. 

"They boast the aroma of lavender for a really relaxing feel, which is perfect throughout the busy festive season while the exquisite detailing will capture the magic of the season."

The Edelweiss Christmas Decorations are available from janconstantine.com for £39 each. 

Tuesday 5 September 2023

Christmas time is Dobies' time!

Dobies' Garden Centres are a fine place when you are thinking of your Christmas time requirements. 

Thinking of new plants to gift to the dedicated gardeners in your life? You could go take a look yourself to check out what is available, but the truth is you'll probably be better off just browsing around a little bit, treating yourself to a cream tea and then buying them a Dobies' Gift Card.

This is because it's quite possible that you might (for example) inadvertently purchase them a bush, plant or tree that would not cope with the type of soil they have in their garden. If, like me, you haven't a clue what 'ericaceous' soil is, you really should stick with the Dobies' Gift Card option. My wife, however, as a RHA qualified gardener knows what 'ericaceous' soil is, which is why I leave all gardening matters in her more than capable hands!

However, although Dobies' have a good and well-deserved reputation as plant and gardening experts (since 1865) they also have a great reputation as purveyors of fine interior decorating items, including spectacular Christmas decorations.

Dobbies' has the perfect Christmas solution.

Many people who are looking for sustainable ways to decorate for the festive season, and noting the trend for creating a homely, welcoming feel, Dobbies’ very own stylist, Abbie McCann shares her top tips for making an eco swag, which also presents the chance for people to get creative at home.

Abbie said: “This beautiful eco swag can be made using foraged greenery or collected stems from your garden, this not only looks stunning but it’s really easy to create. It’s a fresh, modern take on a traditional Christmas wreath, and while just about everyone loves a wreath, this is a great, fantastic option for those of us who prefer a more naturalistic vibe."

She went on to say: “You can get your whole family involved in foraging and you can even add new dried elements to it every year. going forward. 

"We’ve created ours using ivy, eucalyptus and a mix of evergreens. You could even spray a few sprigs of eucalyptus to match your colour scheme.”

Step 1

First, form the back of the swag using the ivy and evergreens as the base. Decide the length of the swag and trim it accordingly. Wrap twine around the ends to hold it firmly in place.

Step 2

Treat your swag like it is a bouquet of flowers and evenly place the more delicate foliage throughout your display and secure with twine.

Step 3

Finish your swag by wrapping some ribbon around the ends, making sure to cover the twine. Place it on your doorway to enjoy throughout the festive period. 

For more festive inspiration and to explore Dobbies’ collections for Christmas 2023, visit www.dobbies.com.

(Welcome strip doormat 75x45cm, £9.99; Round grey drypot 32cm, £19.99; Orange stripe cushion 70x25cm, £24.99; LED lantern 30cm, £9.99; Black Arzilla lantern 34cm, £19.99; Black Arzilla lantern 45cm, £29.99)

(That's Christmas will be making our regular pre-Christmas pilgrimage to our local Dobies' branch to check out their Christmas grotto section to check out the Christmas trees (real and artificial) Christmas decorations both inside and outside, plus Christmas lights for the garden, our conservatory and our lounge and kitchen. Plus, obviously, having a coffee and a minced pie in the restaurant!)

Friday 25 August 2023

Cherish has handmade Christmas decorations you will love

"Welcome to my Christmas collection," says Cherish of Cherish Handmade. 

She went on to say: "I have a range of handmade felt characters that make great additions to the Christmas tree or for hanging anywhere around your home during Christmas time. 

"They're small and cute enough to send as a small gift or stocking filler for an animal lover.- and there are certainly many of those! 

"My fabric decorations are carefully hand-stitched using only high quality fabrics and they feature exquisite little details like tinkling bells, wooden collar beads, heart motifs and other festive touches. 

"They're available as a white Westie dog, a black Scottie dog, a black dachshund, a brown dachshund, and a black or a brown cat. At £5.95 each they are great value for money and I'm sure your readers will love them." (EDITOR: We are sure of that, too, which is why we are featuring them.)

Cherish also has a gingerbread man and felt heart decorations available, too.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/cherishhandmadeshop