A Homemade Christmas

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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 (#litres_trial_promo)).

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.

5. Embellish with more felt, ribbons, beads, buttons, patches, or glitter. Add a name to personalize it.

Felt isn’t the only fabric that is great for a stocking. Any fabric that can be sewn can be turned into a lovely sock. Just turn the two cut-out pieces of fabric inside out and sew the pieces together with a sewing machine or with a very secure hand stitch. Then, hem the edge of the open top. Turn your stocking right side out, and it’s ready to go.

SWEATER SLEEVE STOCKING

1. Choose a sweater that you don’t wear anymore and cut off the sleeve.

2. Sew one end of the sleeve together securely, so it can hold all of the goodies.

3. Pick out a contrasting or complementary yarn and whipstitch a decorative edge that will also prevent any unraveling.

4. Embellish as you wish.

Hang an Alternative Stocking

In lieu of the classic felt or knit stocking, try mixing it up with these fun alternatives.

Refresh the tradition of the Christmas stocking by choosing an unconventional container for your stocking stuffers. You might be inspired by different cultural traditions, decorating themes, or personal enthusiasms. Just as you would a traditional stocking, hang them from the mantel, a stairway, window ledge, or doorframe; or place them on a side table.

Red silk slippers: This exotic option can be found in most Chinatown shops or on the Internet. Simply sew a loop around the heel end of the slipper, hang it with a ribbon or some twine, and fill with goodies.

Striped athletic socks: For the sporty family, here’s a clever substitute. Choose white socks with red or green stripes to match the holiday décor.

Oven mitts: Perfect for any cooking enthusiast, an oven mitt is sturdy, colorful, and roomy enough to hold a lot of Christmas loot. The large thumb slot is also a great place to hide that small yet special gift.

Christmas tights: Red-and-white striped tights will look especially cute when the feet are filled with bulging goodies. Children’s sizes should have plenty of room for stretch.

Rubber boots: Most colorful galoshes have hooks at the top, so they should be easy enough to hang. Just don’t feel pressured to fill the entire boot with treats!

Clogs: It is believed that the Dutch actually started the “stocking” tradition by leaving their clogs—stuffed with carrots and straw for the reindeer—by the hearth for Santa Claus to fill with treats. Why not go Dutch and set out clogs?

Decorate with Leaves and Branches

Let nature decorate your home during the holidays with leaves and branches.

The sculptured shapes of bare branches, artfully arranged in your home, can make a stunning display. Leafy evergreen boughs bring the outdoors in—and smell delightful.