The Christmas madness is upon us and the decoration arms race has begun. If you want to fill your home with festive cheer, but don’t have the cash to splash, your solution lies in three simple letters: D-I-Y.

Homemade decorations are not only a cheaper way to go, but they can be great fun to make, especially when you craft with friends. Oh, and wine. Let’s also not forget the main perk: homemade stuff banks you serious likes on Instagram.

So this Christmas, why not invite a few friends round for an afternoon of arts and crafts – a “crafternoon”, if you will. Pair it with a few glasses of mulled wine and you’ve got yourself a very merry time indeed. Remember, it doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive to be beautiful. Gorgeous decorations can come from just a few simple items…

Pom-Pom Garland

Because who doesn’t love a good homemade pompom? Follow these step-by-step instructions and make your own yuletide adornment. You can hang them from the Christmas tree individually or string a selection together as a quirky garland.

Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

Sure, it’s a little bit more tedious than our other DIY options, but you can’t deny how gorgeous this felt Christmas tree ornament is. Amy Christie of thisheartofmine blog has set out the exact dimensions you need. Don’t worry, it’s actually easier to make than you think.

Advent Calendar

Here’s an advent calendar to get excited about, and all it requires is these sweet little muslin bags, some string and a few choccies. Each bag is big enough to be filled with treats and there’s no end to the possibilities of where you can hang them; across your fireplace, down your staircase, on your Christmas tree, or across a gorgeous vintage ladder (if you have one). Wherever you put this DIY calendar, make sure it’s somewhere people can see!

Table Centrepiece

It’s hard to feel anything but merry when you’re sitting in a room decorated with hand-crafted mini Christmas trees. Fill a teacup, jam jar or little container with oasis foam and then stick in your boxwood clippings to form an itsy-bitsy tree. Sprinkle with icing sugar for an additional winter wonderland effect.

Popcorn & Cranberry Garland

Stale popcorn? As a Christmas decoration?! We had our initial reservations about this American classic, too. A decoration that takes dedication, you should set aside an hour for this one as you have to string each piece of popcorn and cranberry along ordinary thread, and that takes a little time. But trust us when we say that the level of quirky chirpiness that it’ll add to your home makes it totally worth the effort. (Top tip: make sure you use stale popcorn, as the fresh stuff will break.)

Scrabble Ornament

People love board games at Christmas, but did you ever think of all the other ways you could use those scrabble squares? All that’s needed is some good glue, string and a bit of material to stick it on for support – simples!

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