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Tip Store: Christmas: Decorations
Pegged Up Christmas Tree Decorations
At Christmas my cards were always falling over with the breeze. Now I peg them to the Christmas tree as decorations. It makes a much more personalized tree and saves you having to pick up the cards all the time. I put a star on the top of the tree and that's it, apart from the cards. No other decorations go on the tree and it looks fabulous (but if you want to you could put more on.)
Contributed by Jen Orr
Contributed by Jen Orr
Christmas Storage Bags from Linen Packaging
Whenever we have purchased bed linen such as sheets sets, electric blankets or doonas, they generally come in clear, thick, plastic bags. The doona packaging generally has a zip. We keep this packaging and use it not only to store spare pillows and doonas etc, to keep the dust out but they are also great to store large Christmas decorations such as wreaths and garlands. This way you can see exactly what you have stored inside the bag and they are kept dust free. The zip allows easy opening or if there is no zip, the flip over plastic lid is generally resealable or you could use sticky tape to seal. This way not only do you have free, clear, storage bags but you are also being environmentally friendly.
Contributed by Rita Kallas
Contributed by Rita Kallas
NOEL Block Ornament
I saw a similar arrangement to this one in a gift shop last week, selling for $29.99! I loved it, but it was far to expensive so it was a few notes jotted in my diary and home to check the craft cupboard.
I knew I had the little Christmas trees and green craft paint. I also knew there was plenty of silver glitter. The only thing I had to buy were the stickers - I didn't have any and my freehand writing skills are not quite up to scratch, at least not for something I plan to display for a few weeks.
You will need:
4 x 10cm miniature Christmas trees
4 x 5cm square wooden or cardboard blocks (raid the kids toy box for old wooden blocks or the garage if you have a woodworker in the house)
Green craft paint
Silver glitter
A glue pen
Stick on letters to spell out NOEL
Step 1. Paint the wooden blocks green, being sure to cover all six sides.
Step 2. Pour the glitter into a small, flat based dish (I used a small square Tupperware container). On the front face carefully spread a thin layer of craft glue. Stamp the block, glue side down into the glitter, pressing hard. Lift it up and gently tap the excess glitter off. Put it aside to dry.
Step 3. Carefully spell out NOEL by sticking one letter in the centre front of each block.
Step 4. Glue a Christmas tree to the top of each block. Set aside to dry.
Step 5. Find a spot to display your cute new Christmas ornament.
I knew I had the little Christmas trees and green craft paint. I also knew there was plenty of silver glitter. The only thing I had to buy were the stickers - I didn't have any and my freehand writing skills are not quite up to scratch, at least not for something I plan to display for a few weeks.
You will need:
4 x 10cm miniature Christmas trees
4 x 5cm square wooden or cardboard blocks (raid the kids toy box for old wooden blocks or the garage if you have a woodworker in the house)
Green craft paint
Silver glitter
A glue pen
Stick on letters to spell out NOEL
Step 1. Paint the wooden blocks green, being sure to cover all six sides.
Step 2. Pour the glitter into a small, flat based dish (I used a small square Tupperware container). On the front face carefully spread a thin layer of craft glue. Stamp the block, glue side down into the glitter, pressing hard. Lift it up and gently tap the excess glitter off. Put it aside to dry.
Step 3. Carefully spell out NOEL by sticking one letter in the centre front of each block.
Step 4. Glue a Christmas tree to the top of each block. Set aside to dry.
Step 5. Find a spot to display your cute new Christmas ornament.
Recycle Ribbons into Christmas Ornament Hangers
When I buy blouses they have a small ribbon near the shoulder area that is used to hang your blouses up on. I cut them off and use those ribbon pieces to hang Christmas decoration on the Christmas tree. Sometimes Christmas decorations don't come with a ribbon. They come in all colours so it's perfect for all shades of decorations. Depending how many decorations on your tree, using these beautiful discarded ribbons could save you a lot of money.
Contributed by Anna Waltisbuhl
Contributed by Anna Waltisbuhl
Christmas Ornaments Good Enough to Eat
Each year for Christmas you'll see packets of red and green M&Ms in the stores. They're a short, special run, done just for Christmas, which makes them kind of special. It also makes them just right for making edible Christmas ornaments.
Edible ornaments not only decorate your home, but they are a treat to offer visitors during the holiday period too.
Here are two types of "ornaments" you can make. Both are quick and easy enough for primary school aged children to make too.
Tree Ornaments
You will need:
Clingwrap
Packets of Christmas (red & green) M&Ms
Pipe cleaners
Curling ribbon in Christmas colours
To make the tree ornaments:
Cut plastic wrap into 15cm squares. Place a tablespoon of M&Ms in the centre. Gather the corners and twist tightly. Secure with a pipe cleaner. Cluster individual balls into one large one, connecting each ball with the adjoining pipe cleaner. Tie curling ribbon around the cluster to form a loop at the tops. Tie two 10-inch strands of ribbon at the bottom and curl. Hang on the tree with the loop ends.
Christmas Wreath
You will need:
Clingwrap
Packets of Christmas (red & green) M&Ms
Pipe cleaners
Curling ribbon in Christmas colours
1wire coathanger
To make the M&M Christmas wreath:
Make cluster balls the same way as the tree ornament clusters, using plain or peanut M&M's. Form a circle from a wire coat hanger, the hook forms the hanging loop. Attach cluster balls to the hanger with pipe cleaners. Tie a large bow at the top of the wreath.
Note: You can use Smarties or Beanies instead of M&Ms and reduce the cost.
Edible ornaments not only decorate your home, but they are a treat to offer visitors during the holiday period too.
Here are two types of "ornaments" you can make. Both are quick and easy enough for primary school aged children to make too.
Tree Ornaments
You will need:
Clingwrap
Packets of Christmas (red & green) M&Ms
Pipe cleaners
Curling ribbon in Christmas colours
To make the tree ornaments:
Cut plastic wrap into 15cm squares. Place a tablespoon of M&Ms in the centre. Gather the corners and twist tightly. Secure with a pipe cleaner. Cluster individual balls into one large one, connecting each ball with the adjoining pipe cleaner. Tie curling ribbon around the cluster to form a loop at the tops. Tie two 10-inch strands of ribbon at the bottom and curl. Hang on the tree with the loop ends.
Christmas Wreath
You will need:
Clingwrap
Packets of Christmas (red & green) M&Ms
Pipe cleaners
Curling ribbon in Christmas colours
1wire coathanger
To make the M&M Christmas wreath:
Make cluster balls the same way as the tree ornament clusters, using plain or peanut M&M's. Form a circle from a wire coat hanger, the hook forms the hanging loop. Attach cluster balls to the hanger with pipe cleaners. Tie a large bow at the top of the wreath.
Note: You can use Smarties or Beanies instead of M&Ms and reduce the cost.
Deco Storage Idea
If you have bought new bedding and manchester in the huge after-Christmas sales (and invested in quality for a fraction of the price), a great way to re-use the heavy duty plastic bags/wrappers that your quilts, mattress protectors etc come in is to store your Christmas decorations. The bags have zippers so they seal easily and are usually clear so you can see what you put in them. You could put baubles in one, other decorations in another, and the small bags that pillow cases come in can be used for tinsel. Why throw something out when it can be used again and save your decorations from getting dusty or tangled up when they are put in the shed for another year? It recycles some plastic, keeping them out of landfill, saves you time from sorting the decorations out next Christmas and saves you money because you aren't buying 'purpose-made' storage containers that no-one will see anyway!
Contributed by Erin, Abernethy
Editor's note: I do this too. Some of the bags I've had since the late 1980's when we were married. I use them to store the Christmas linen, decorations etc but they are also handy for keeping sets together in the linen cupboard. I have sets of linen and towels just for visitors and each set is stored in one of these types of bags. Makes them easy to find, lets the rest of the household know they are not to be used and saves space in the cupboard too. Cath
Contributed by Erin, Abernethy
Editor's note: I do this too. Some of the bags I've had since the late 1980's when we were married. I use them to store the Christmas linen, decorations etc but they are also handy for keeping sets together in the linen cupboard. I have sets of linen and towels just for visitors and each set is stored in one of these types of bags. Makes them easy to find, lets the rest of the household know they are not to be used and saves space in the cupboard too. Cath
Cute Way to Display Christmas Cards
Approximate $ Savings: Can you put a price on sanity?
If you have children and they have received a lot of Christmas cards from their friends no doubt they want to display them. Buy the kids a packet of laundry pegs and get the kids to decorate their curtains with their own cards. Keeps the lounge room clutter free every time the wind blows through the house. This idea will save your sanity and boost your peg basket through out the year.
Contributed by Sharon, Canning Vale
If you have children and they have received a lot of Christmas cards from their friends no doubt they want to display them. Buy the kids a packet of laundry pegs and get the kids to decorate their curtains with their own cards. Keeps the lounge room clutter free every time the wind blows through the house. This idea will save your sanity and boost your peg basket through out the year.
Contributed by Sharon, Canning Vale
Packaging & Storing Christmas Baubles
Approximate $ Savings: $20
If you save your egg cartons, come Christmas time you can place all your fragile Christmas baubles in the egg spots once you remove them from the tree. If you want you can also paint or wrap the egg cartons to make them festive looking.
Contributed by Jodie, Annerley
If you save your egg cartons, come Christmas time you can place all your fragile Christmas baubles in the egg spots once you remove them from the tree. If you want you can also paint or wrap the egg cartons to make them festive looking.
Contributed by Jodie, Annerley
Light Bulb Moment Saves Money on Christmas Lights
Approximate $ Savings: $100-150
Instead of buying replacement globes for the fairy lights for the Christmas tree (at any where from $2 - $3 a packet for about 5 light globes) I just buy another box of lights for $12 and that gives me 200 - 250 bulbs that I know will fit. I have been doing this for the last 3 years and am still going on that same box and I have lots of fairy lights. Also if you have wiring problems with a set in use just transfer the bulbs to the replacement set and problem solved.
Contributed by Vickii, Waterford
Instead of buying replacement globes for the fairy lights for the Christmas tree (at any where from $2 - $3 a packet for about 5 light globes) I just buy another box of lights for $12 and that gives me 200 - 250 bulbs that I know will fit. I have been doing this for the last 3 years and am still going on that same box and I have lots of fairy lights. Also if you have wiring problems with a set in use just transfer the bulbs to the replacement set and problem solved.
Contributed by Vickii, Waterford
DIY Decorations are now Family Favourites
When Christmas time was coming around last year we put up the Christmas tree and the decorations and the kids were happy but a fire destroyed all of that and the rest of the house. We had to be resourceful to create another Christmas tree and decorations in time for Christmas and so since staying away from destroyed home we gathered items from our groceries and kept the packaging (cleaned them) and made Christmas decorations from them - it became the kids project to make decorations from what we would usually recycle or throw away. In the end they appreciated their new decorated tree, boasting how creative they were. It is now our Christmas project for every Christmas to come! No excess money spent and the kids have something to do in the holidays!
Contributed by Paula, Kingston
Contributed by Paula, Kingston