Why not get creative this year and try some homemade Christmas decoration ideas? These ideas are simple, cheap and fun to make with your family.

Paper snowflakes

Making paper snowflakes are a simple and time-honoured tradition. It is one of the easiest ways to transform your house into a Christmas wonderland for next to nothing – and it should keep any kids occupied for an hour or two.

You will need

  • A4  paper
  • Scissors

Method

  • Cut an A4 sheet of paper into a square by folding one corner over into a right-angled triangle shape and cutting off the excess rectangle
  • Fold the triangle in half to make a smaller triangle
  • Keeping the open end of the triangle to your left and the main fold on your right, visually divide the triangle into thirds, folding the right hand third down so the bottom corner pokes down below the bottom of the triangle
  • Fold the left side over the top of the other side so that the paper resembles an arrow head
  • Turn over and cut along the bottom line to even the shape off, cutting off the 2 smaller triangles on the bottom
  • Cut shapes and patterns into both sides of the triangle and unfold to reveal your festive snowflake

Paper baubles

These paper baubles look great in any home, and once you’ve got the hand of the fiddly bits they are super easy. Great for hanging from the ceiling or mantelpiece, these patterned baubles are sure to brighten up any home!

You will need

  • A4 coloured or patterned card of your choice
  • Scissors
  • A long pin
  • Paper fasteners
  • A ruler

Method

  • Measure and cut your card into 15 big strips, measuring 1 inch by 8 inch
  • Using a pin, poke holes into either end of each strip, about ¼ inch from each edge
  • One by one, push the strips onto two paper fasteners, so that there are 15 strips on top of each other bound by fasteners either end
  • Twist the bottom strip round, pivoting it on the fasteners, continuing this with each individual strip until you have a ball-like shape

Stained glass biscuit decorations

These biscuits are a fun (and edible!) way of bringing a bit of colour and sparkle into your home. A simple shortbread recipe and a bag of boiled sweets are the key to these lovely homemade treats which have a glowing, stained glass effect.

You will need

  • A bag of boiled sweets
  • Ribbon
  • Star shaped cutters, one smaller than the other

For the shortbread

  • 175g unsalted butter, softened
  • 75g golden caster sugar
  • 200g plain flour
  • 50g cornflour
  • White caster sugar

Method

  • Separate boiled sweets into your desired colours and crush them
  • Cut butter into pieces and mix in food processor until pale and fluffy
  • Add flour and cornflour and mix until all the mixture has come together
  • Wrap the mixture in clingfilm and chill for 20 minutes
  • Roll out the dough to around 1cm thickness
  • Using the larger cutter, cut your biscuit shapes
  • Create a shape inside the biscuit by using the smaller cutter and removing the pastry from the middle
  • Place shortbread shapes on a baking tray lined with parchment, piercing small holes in the top of all the shapes for hanging them later
  • Fill the centres with crushed sweets and bake for 15 mins, or until golden
  • Allow biscuits to cool and harden before threading a ribbon through