HANG CARDS FROM RIBBON
Remnants of ribbon leftover from past Christmases and birthdays are ideal for creating a striking and affordable greetings card display. A handy idea if space is tight, simply cut ribbon in a variety of colours and different lengths and hang on the wall using small tacks. Attach your cards to the ribbon using mini pegs to secure them in place. A decorative bauble, bell or trinket tied at the end of each length will weigh the ribbon down and add a finishing flourish. Leave gaps between the cards so the display doesn’t look crowded.
7 Dress the table with handmade crackers
Save money on your festive spend this year by forgoing shop-bought Christmas crackers. Make your own bang-free versions and fill them with personalised gifts that will make your fellow diners feel extra special. Simply place a treat inside a cardboard loo roll, wrap crepe paper around and tie the ends with ribbon. You could even write your own jokes to put inside!
‘KEEP THE BUDGET DOWN FURTHER BY MAKING YOUR OWN GIFT WRAP. YOU COULD HAVE A GO AT AN OLD CHILDHOOD FAVOURITE: POTATO PRINTING’
9 Dry fruit to make tree decorations
You can’t get much more cost-effective than oven-dried fruits for tree decorations. Clementines are a Christmas classic, due to the much-loved festive scent and cheerful colour. Simply slice cuts around the outside and pop in the oven to dry – the incisions will help the fruit dry out quicker and emit more of its sweet fragrance. Thread with wire, make a loop and hang on the tree. As an alternative, try making your own citrus slices to hang, using orange, lemon or lime slices dried in the oven.
‘SAVE MONEY BY MAKING GINGERBREAD DECS CUT INTO FESTIVE SHAPES. MAKE A HOLE FOR HANGING BEFORE BAKING AND THREAD WITH RIBBON’
12 Fashion a stylish centrepiece
Every Christmas table needs a centrepiece and adding extra height helps to make it more of a showstopper. Rather than forking out for a pricey floral display, have a go at making your own with tableware and festive decorations that you already have to hand. A tiered cake stand is perfect for giving your arrangement some height and can be easily lifted out of the way if you need more table space when food is served. Alternatively, try layering a couple of single-tier stands together to create a similar effect. Add colour by lining your stand with foraged sprigs of fir and holly, baubles, pine cones and citrus slices for festive aroma.
Blow the budget with these top picks
Large ceramic shell vase in Ochre, Little Deer