BRIGHT IDEA TO CUT THE COST OF CHRISTMAS!

Mum creates a fantastic festive display – and it didn’t cost her a single penny!

A CRAFTY mum has reused and recycled to create a jaw-dropping Christmas display – and it didn’t cost her a penny.

Katie Whitehurst wanted to give her Stoke-on-trent home the ‘wow factor’.

But after seeing door garlands costing more than £300 online, Katie asked friends to donate any items destined for the dump.

She collected old trees, chicken wire and lights to create an eyecatching free display.

The 38-year-old says she can even reuse her creations year after year.

The mum-of-five, right, an NHS team leader from Stoke-on-trent, told Latestdeals: “I came up with the idea as I really wanted a wow factor outside my house, but after looking around the cost was way out of my price range.

“I had an old tree heading for the tip and thought ‘I wonder if I could make something with this myself ’.

“My friend gave me some chicken wire that she had no use for and it was just in her way.

“I made the top at first and then thought ‘I need more trees to carry this on around the whole door’.

“So I asked around if anyone was throwing old trees away and I got another three.

“I attached the chicken wire to my wall with wire clips, and then cut the trees up with wire cutters and weaved the branches through the wire.

“To finish, I had an old set of lights I had no use for that I added to it.

“I was absolutely thrilled to not only have saved myself a huge amount of money, but also that I’d saved these items from ending up in a landfill. It was a win-win all round.

“I really enjoyed the time and love I put into making it, and how proud I felt at the end result.

“I love it – it’s just the wow factor I was trying to achieve.

“The best bit is that I took it all down and it’s all waiting for me to put back up again this year, so it is something that can be reused each year.”

Tom Church, co-founder of the money-saving Black Friday app, said: “The amount of waste sent to landfill sites is a very serious problem, so I applaud Katie for this amazing festive effort.

“Not only has she saved herself hundreds of pounds thanks to not buying a brand new display, but she’s also reused materials in a very clever way to avoid adding to the landfill problem.

“Plus, it’s great that everything is reusable, so she can keep pulling out these beautiful decorations year after year.”