A Homemade Christmas. Tina Barseghian

Grow a Holiday Plant

       Go for Garlands

       Make a Snow Globe

       Craft an Advent Calendar

       Get an Earth-Friendly Christmas Tree

       Host a Make-Your-Own-Ornament Party

       Fold an Origami Ornament

       Dazzle Your Neighbors

      Light the candles, hang the garlands, decorate the tree with homemade ornaments. Let everyone know it’s Christmas time!

      By setting the stage for a festive holiday, you’ll create a sense of excitement and anticipation for yourself, your family, and all those who come to visit. Dust off your box of ornaments and detangle last year’s lights. Find your favorite ornaments and make new ones. Hang the wreaths and stockings. Display the holiday cards that have arrived in the mailbox. And, of course, trim the Christmas tree.

      Decorating your home for Christmas is all about creating a mood with festive touches. You may have your favorite trimmings that you like to bring out each year, but it’s also fun to craft new creations. Making and displaying holiday decorations with family members and friends will get everyone in the mood for celebration.

      This chapter contains a wealth of tips and projects for homemade Christmas decorating, both inside and out. Creating a feeling of warm welcome can be as simple as switching off the electric lights in favor of candlelight or adding holiday trimmings around the house to create a festive feeling in every room.

      Traditional crafts, like making wreaths and garlands, can suit any style, budget, and skill level. Try making a simple twig or pinecone wreath, or get the kids and grown-ups together to string popcorn garlands and fold wrapping paper chains for the tree. Those of you who have the time and inclination for more complex projects can make sophisticated wreaths and garlands with fresh and dried herbs, flowers, and berries, or whatever decorative elements suit your style.

      Included here are projects that can be displayed in every corner of the house—your own Advent calendar, opened daily to reveal a surprise, will heighten the anticipation; handmade snow globes add magic to a mantel or centerpiece; a row of handcrafted stockings will cheer up the staircase; a collection of delicate origami crane ornaments are a visual symbol of peace and hope. You’ll also find suggestions for going green with your tree, specific projects to make for trimming the tree, and ideas for outdoor decorating, so you can bring the holiday cheer to the whole neighborhood.

      With all the festive decorations you make and display, your home is sure to convey feelings of warmth and merriment to all, and your homemade creations will become those you cherish the most, hold onto, and pass down from generation to generation.

Light the Candles

      The evocative glow of candlelight creates a warm and festive ambience.

      No fireplace? No problem! With a few cleverly arranged candles, it’s easy to create the effect of a hearth in any room. Whether used solo to evoke a romantic glow or en masse for a lovely blaze, candles go a long way toward creating a homemade Christmas feeling—and using them may save on electricity, too.

      Platter presentation: A cake platter makes a great pedestal for any object you want to show off, including a group of votives. Use votives that are the same size and color, such as short and white, or play with a palette of festive hues, like dark pinks and reds in varying heights. For additional sparkle, wrap the platter in foil. A shimmering collection of candles atop a platter makes a gorgeous centerpiece for a dining table, a kitchen counter, or a sideboard.

      Ribbon bows: A simple gesture like tying a ribbon around a classic votive adds holiday flair. Choose vanilla- or cinnamon-scented candles, tie a neat bow around them, and place in groups or alone on a bedroom bureau, a bathroom counter, or a living room mantel. Mix plain-colored ribbons together (try chocolate brown with red, or bright green and white) for an easy two-toned effect.

      Reflective sconce: If you have a mirrored sconce, place a candle in the holder to achieve dramatic effects. Or place candles on any flat mirror to create a sparkling display.

      Warm welcome: Candlelight will give your entryway a glowing warmth perfect for greeting guests. A pillar candle in a large glass vase or hurricane jar, set on a hall table or a pair flanking your front door (inside or out), creates a welcoming mood.

      Glittering candlelight: Maximize the glow with a little glitter! Pick out an elegant palette of two or three colors of glitter (e.g., gold, silver, and red, or two shades of soft pink paired with gold or silver), spray adhesive on the candles and roll them in the glitter. You can also try mixing the different colors of glitter together. Either way, the final look will be sparkly and fun.

      Mantel drama: Place a series of votives—at least five—of the same height or varying heights in a line along a fireplace mantel, a shelf, or a picture rail. Try weaving a garland or pine tree branches around the candles for added embellishment (see Go For Garlands).

      Fireplace yule log: A fireplace that doesn’t function can still be used as it was originally intended—to host a radiant blaze. Simply place a dozen pillar candles in varying heights in the fireplace, cover with a grate (as a safety precaution), and let it glow. If you don’t have a grate, place the candles in hurricane jars or large glass vases.

      Pillar and snow: Create an outdoorsy Christmas centerpiece by placing three or four pillar candles on a plate with some fake snow, pine branches and pinecones, and a few dried cranberries for a dash of color.

      Don’t forget to take safety precautions when using candles, especially around children and pets. Keep them out of reach and have a fire extinguisher handy as a preventative measure.

      No-drip candles can be expensive; fortunately, you can make tapered candles practically drip-proof with an overnight soak in saltwater. In a plastic container wide enough to hold the candles, dissolve 1/3 cup (100 g) salt in 2 cups (475 ml) warm water. Add the candles, place a can or other weight on top of the candles to keep them submerged, and soak overnight. Let the candles dry completely before using.

Make a Stocking

      “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…”

      — from “The Night Before Christmas”

      Making a homemade stocking is easy, even for a non-crafter. Try one of these simple stockings. This is a great project for children; younger kids will need some help while older children can be set up with the materials and left alone to create their own stocking masterpieces.

      CLASSIC FELT STOCKING

      1. Felt can be found at any craft store, and it comes in a wealth of colors. Choose one you like, and purchase more than you think you’ll need.

      2. Create a template or pattern of a stocking.

      3. Trace the template or pin it to the felt, and cut two pieces.

      4. Line the pieces up and either sew (a whipstitch is easy and decorative), or glue the edges of the two pieces together with fabric glue.