It’s no secret that Christmas can be costly; from filling up stockings, festive nights out and feeding the extended family. Buying decorations can feel like another expense to add to the list, but there are things you can do to make your home festive while still being frugal. DIY decorations are easy to do, look great, and are a brilliant cost-cutting. It’s also a fun way of keeping the kids entertained on a rainy day in the run-up to Christmas. Just don’t spill too much glitter…

Glitter Branches

Sparkly branches look great in a vase or candle holder around your home, and larger ones in a plant pot, secured with Styrofoam to keep in place. These are perfect way to make use of any stray twigs – cleaning up the garden and making your home Christmassy in one fell swoop. All you need are branches, white spray paint, glue and Epsom Salts.

Step 1: Find a branch that meets your requirements, then use pruning shears from your garden shed to cut and shape.

Step 2: Spray with white spray paint – you can get this from your local crafts store.

Step 3: Once dry, spray the branch with spray glue or adhesive. Make sure it is completely covered.

Step 4: Head outside for this step, otherwise you’ll be treading in glitter for weeks to come! Place some baking paper on the floor and sprinkle glitter onto the branches. Reuse any excess that falls onto the paper.

Step 5:  To create a frosted look, spread white glue in a few spots along the branch.

Step 6: Clear away any excess glitter from the baking paper and sprinkle Epsom Salts onto the glue for a snowy finish, and clear beads for a sparkly one.

Festive bunting

This festive bunting is a welcome addition to any mirror, tree or fire place, and all for little more than the cost of a bag of pasta from your local supermarket. All you need is farfalle pasta shapes, string, clear glue, a paintbrush and glitter.

Step 1: Lay down a sheet of baking paper on a flat surface. Brush clear glue onto a pasta shape.

Step 2: Before the glue dries, brush gold glitter onto the shape (you will most likely want a second brush for this to keep things tidy). Leave to dry. Repeat this step until you have as many shapes as you require.
 

Step 3: Tie the shapes onto a gold piece of string, and secure on the mantelpiece for a jazzy look.

Light bulb snowman

Hold off on throwing away your old lightbulbs just yet – they are just the perfect shape for a snowman. These decorations can be fastened to your tree for a pop of colour, and all you need is paint, wire, a piece of fabric, spray adhesive and optional glitter.

 Step 1: Place the lightbulb on a toilet roll tube and paint the glass white. Choose a brighter, solid colour for the metal part.

Step 2: When the pain has dried, draw on the eyes, buttons and mouth with a marker pen.

Step 3: Wrap a small piece of fabric around the neck area for the scarf, securing with adhesive if necessary.

Step 4: To top it off, give it a dusting of spray adhesive and add glitter to the scarf and hat.

Step 5: To hang on a tree, take a piece of wire and twist around the head. For best results, paint the same colour. Et voila – you can make multiple decorations, and still have change from a fiver.