We have reached the time of year when we’re usually starting to feel festive, but with our traditional Christmas plans having to change a bit for 2020, it’s harder to get into the spirit. To conjure up some excitement before the big day why not try your hand at homemade Christmas decorations and gifts. We are all spending more time indoors after all.

It gets harder each year to know what to buy your loved ones. Socks, smellies and chocolate is all well and good, but if you fancy putting some extra thought in to your festive décor and gift-giving, we are your guides.

Here’s to staying at home, being crafty, creative, environmentally friendly, low cost, simple and personal all at once! Grab a mince pie, stick on your Christmas playlist and have a look at these ideas below.

Do-it-yourself décor

  • The easiest and most classic homemade Christmas decoration must be the paper chain. Get the kids involved and ask them to decorate strips of coloured paper to give it a personal touch. You could also cut up those awkward bits of wrapping paper left over from last year – a great way to reuse before you recycle!
  • Homemade wreaths are becoming very popular and there are so many ways you can make your own. Pinterest is your friend here, with tutorials using everything from paper, tinsel, string, pinecones and baubles to give your front door some serious curb appeal.
  • For both décor and gift-giving, homemade advent calendars are practical and look great hung up around the home. Number up 24 brown paper bags using whatever you fancy, fill them with homemade cookies, paper crafts, sweets and stocking fillers. Then keep the bags to reuse the following year.
  • For the main attraction – the tree – you’ll be surprised how many tree decorations you can make from items you have lying around the home or are ready for the recycling. Bottle tops and caps, corks, string, lolly sticks, cotton reels, twigs! There’s no such thing as an over-decorated tree.
  • Christmas candles are a personal favourite here at YES. If you already have plain candles around the home, simply pop orange slices and cinnamon sticks around the edge of your glass candle holder to add a festive twist that makes all the difference. Finish with some pretty ribbon tied in a bow to give it a final flourish. You could also use old jam jars rinsed out which look just as eye-catching!

 

Gifts that show you care

  • Everyone by now has their own stock of face masks, but considering how simple they are to make, it’s a quick win for a gift, and you can choose fabric you think your recipient would like. Here’s our easy no-sew guide.
  • Baking is something enjoyable we can all get involved with and there are plenty of seasonal recipes for cookies, gingerbread, fudge and all other sweet treats. Batch up your creations into glass jars or paper gift bags, add a tag and ribbon and you’ve got a delicious gift ready to give.
  • A shadow box makes a thoughtful presents and can be themed however you like. You can collect old photos, toys and clothes for a little time capsule. Or display collections of theatre and cinema tickets. Whatever you like! It is a truly personal gift and there are loads of ideas online.
  • We all take lots of photos but often forget to print them. Why not create a photo gift? A collage, album or scrap book are the traditional options, but you can also get them printed onto just about anything. A way to reminisce about the good times before 2020 happened.
  • Make some vouchers. Free babysitting, an offer of help around the house or garden, a haircut or manicure, a movie night with popcorn, breakfast in bed. Take your skills and inject them in to a handy present.
  • For the person who has everything, a donation to a charity they are fond of is such a thoughtful idea. With the pressure many charities have been under this year they could do with the support.
  • And if making your own gifts just isn’t for you, why not support a local business and buy from them instead.

Happy making!

Do you have anything you can add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.