Make Christmas Decorations

Coin Envelope Advent Calendar

Count down the days until Christmas with little paper envelopes, sized to hold all sorts of surprises: candy, tickets, tiny toys. Use rubber stamps to ink the dates on the envelopes. You can also embellish them by adding tags, string, and washi tape. Then, simply pin the envelopes on a pretty corkboard.

Edible ornaments

Particularly suited to kitchen countertop trees, edible ornaments will add a homespun charm to a room. A seasonal option for this is citrus fruits: simply bake some orange slices for an hour to dry them out, then display on your tree with cinnamon sticks for a delicious, spiced waft. Alternatively, string the segments along some twine to create a fragrant garland.

Salt Dough Ornaments

These handmade ornaments will take you right back to Grandma's house. To make your own, combine 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 1/2 cups of warm water in a mixing bowl. Knead until the dough is firm and smooth. Roll out dough and cut desired shapes (use a straw to poke a hole for hanging). Bake at 300°F until dry, approximately 1 hour; cool completely.

DIY Dried Citrus Wreath

Magnolia leaves and greenery pair for simple, natural swag, while dried oranges and pine cones add just a little colour and texture. Understated burlap ribbon bundles the bunch with a happily humble bow.

DIY Citrus Garland

To make: You'll need navel and blood oranges, parchment paper, two cookie sheets, jute or natural twine, a skewer or nail, and decorative hooks.

1. Preheat oven to 250°F.

2. Cut oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch slices (four oranges make a six-foot garland).

3. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Pat orange slices dry with paper towels, and place them on cookie sheets in a single layer.

4. Bake for approximately 3 hours or until dry. (To ensure the slices dry flat, turn them over at the midway mark.) Remove from oven.

5. Using a skewer or nail, poke two holes into the top of each orange slice.

6. Thread twine through each hole, evenly spacing the oranges on the garland. Tie off each end with a loop, and hang from hooks.

DIY Jingle Bell Runner Table Decorations

To make: Cut holly leaves from dark and light green card stock. Use a bone folder or wooden skewer to indent veins in leaves, then trace indents with a green coloured pencil. Place on a cloth runner down the centre of the table and lay red jingle bells throughout.

Shiny Brite Curtain Tiebacks

Add instant and easy flair to curtains by simply threading ribbons through the loops of a few Shiny Brites and tying them around your curtain tiebacks.