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1. Toilet roll stars & angels
Toilet rolls
Scissors
Craft glue or hot glue and a glue gun
Pegs and twine
STARS
For each star, you’ll need one toilet paper roll. To start, simply flatten the roll. Then cut into 6 rings of equal width (ours were about 1.5cm wide). Add a small dab of glue to one end of each flattened ring and glue the points of the tube to one another, to form the star shape. While they dry, clamp the rings together with small pegs. If you’re feeling extra crafty, add more cardboard embellishments between each star point. To finish, add twine.
ANGELS
Each angel requires two rolls. Once both rolls are flattened, cut one into 6 equal rings that are about 1.5cm wide. First, make the wings by pinching 3 rings together in the centre and then gluing at the join and to each other. Then make the skirt by gluing the point of three rings (like making half a star). Glue the top of the skirt to the wings and secure with pegs until dry. Make your angel’s head from the second roll. Cut a 1.5cm ring and then cut in half. Fold one half into a circle and glue to the top of your angel’s wings, using a peg to hold until dry.
2. Air-dry clay ornaments
Baking paper
Air-dry terracotta clay (250g makes about 6)
Rolling pin
Crochet doily or textured lace fabric
Cookie cutter shapes
Drinking straw
Drying rack
Scissors
Wooden beads
Suede cording, twine or ribbon
Roll out some baking paper to create a non-stick surface to work on and knead your clay to soften and get rid of air bubbles. Roll out a slab of clay to just under 5mm thickness.
Lay your lacy fabric over the clay and use your rolling pin to firmly press the fabric into the clay to create a pattern.
Carefully remove the lace to reveal the design that has now imprinted in the terracotta clay.
Using a cookie cutter, carefully cut out shapes from the patterned clay.
With a drinking straw, cut out a small hole at the top of the clay shape for easy threading later.
Leave your ornament to dry for 24-48 hours. Drying time will depend on the weather – ours took two days to dry fully and we flipped them occasionally for even drying.
To make a tag or hang your ornament, cut a length of suede cord (or ribbon or twine) to about 32cm and thread one end through hole. Thread both ends of cord through a wooden bead, and slip the bead down close to the clay shape. Knot cord ends to secure.
Create bunting
String clay stars onto twine using a tapestry needle, knotting them about 10cm apart to secure. Tie off ends to make loops for hanging.
How to dye coffee filters
A twist on garlands, nailing this crafting step will allow you to create some seriously dreamy decorations. To start, dilute about 1-2 tablespoons of acrylic paint in 1 cup of water in a shallow bowl. Keep in mind the colour will lighten on drying. Next, dip a pile of about 20 basket-style paper filters in the paint solution until the colour absorbs, then squeeze out any excess liquid and lay them out to dry. Once dry, separate filters and get ready to craft!
3. Dreamy garland
We chose a palette of soft pinks and peach shades for our garland, but neutral shades would also look gorgeous against twinkling lights and sparkling decorations. Once your coffee filters are ready, simply thread kitchen twine onto a tapestry needle and string filters together by piercing the centre of each one with the needle. Continue until you reach your desired length, then secure the ends with knots and hanging loops. When you’re ready to decorate, scrunch, fluff and shape the filters with your hands.
4. Filter flowers
Ideal for decorating presents or a polystyrene wreath, to begin, stack 3-4 filters, fold them in half and cut out the centre. Then open up and cut outer ring open. With the centre pieces, twist in the middle to create a petal and press onto a strip of masking tape to make flower centre. Pleat the outer ring pieces and stick to the edge of the tape until you have a long strip of ruffly-looking paper. To finish, roll the tape from the centre to create your flower.
5. Coffee filter Christmas trees
Create festive cheer in every corner of your home with these whimsical trees. To begin, cut a centre circle out of the dyed coffee filters (save for later) leaving a ring that is about 4cm wide. Cut the ring open to make a long ruffle. Now, working from the base of a styrofoam or cardboard cone (ours were 20cm and 25cm tall), pleat the ruffle and hot glue it to the cone. Work your way up until you reach the top. We used 6-7 filters per tree. To finish, take one of those reserved circles, pinch into a little cone and glue to the top of your tree.
For the kids
Festive craft projects add charm and playfulness to the presents under your tree.
6. Simple stamps
Start saving your wine corks for this easy activity. Simply cut craft foam into festive shapes or letters. Then afix to the top of your cork, which is the perfect size for little hands to grab and dip in paint to create colourful patterns. We decorated our Christmas cards with large circle stamps, and added extra embellishments (such as the snowman’s buttons and arms) once dry.
7. DIY wrapping paper
Create your own signature wrapping paper using nothing more than your imagination, some paint and a few potatoes. Starting with brown craft or white paper rolls, cut your potato into simple shapes. We made trees, stars and even snowflakes. A great shortcut is to use a cookie cutter to press shapes into your cut potatoes. Next, paint the flat surface and firmly stamp, repeat, then stamp again. Don’t forget to print off the edges of your page to create a continuous pattern.
