Trimming the tree is a quintessential Christmas activity. Whether you’ve splurged on a fragrant Monterey Pine, are putting up your trusty artificial fir or are simply hanging baubles on your backyard pohutukawa, these sweet homemade Christmas decorations will have you feeling even more festive.
And the best thing is most are grandkid approved which means you can spend quality Christmas time with your little ones.
We fell head over heels for these pretty pohutukawa paper ornaments that will bring a touch of Kiwi pride to any Christmas tree. If you’re really feeling creative, you could even string them into a festive garland.
Cinnamon stars
Oh so easy, all you need is a bundle of cinnamon sticks, a tube of wood glue and a bit of metallic paint. Simply create a star using five cinnamon sticks, then glue each tip into place. Wait for the glue to dry before decorating with metallic paint. They look adorable and smell amazing.
One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to trim your tree is with simple glass baubles jazzed up with a little DIY flair. We love these ideas from Michaels, one of North America’s most popular craft stores. Kids will love the pom-pom version, while older girls will swoon over the feathers. You can even head out into the garden and pick up leaves, flowers and whatever else you can find.
Paint by numbers paper baubles
We love this one as it will keep the older kids entertained for hours. Simply pick up a paint by numbers set from your local craft store and follow the steps on the PDF. You can go for whatever’s available. Punch a hole, tie a loop of metallic ribbon and you’ll have a beautiful set of hand painted baubles for pennies.
Who knew it was so easy to mould and decorate your own Christmas clay ornaments? This one’s so simple and is suitable for kids of all ages. We love the idea of using smaller decorations as personalised gift tags.
Clove and orange pomanders
Not only do these clove and orange pomanders look festive but they also smell incredible. Plus, they’ll keep for years which means you can bring them out next Christmas, and the one after that. Kids will love making patterns with the cloves. You can display them in a bowl or wrap ribbons around them and create scented tree decorations.
Salt dough is a kid-friendly Christmas classic, and as far as we’re concerned it’s never going to lose its appeal. Amazingly easy, this recipe calls for just few simple ingredients. To make them extra festive why not add a few tablespoons of cinnamon for a wonderful scent?
Planning on trimming your tree? We’d love to hear your DIY Christmas decoration tips!