Really arty-crafty ideas for Christmas decorations

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Well - in the end I didn't do quite as much as I intended, and none of it was very child-friendly or safe. But it did look lovely and there were enough adults around to prevent accidents or damage.

One problem was with little decorative balls which I had in a glass dish - they were covered in glitter which did tend to come off in hot sticky hands, and the 8-month-old soon had it round (and probably in) her mouth! We're waiting to see if the nappies come out glittery!

Here's a picture of the hall mirror with the banisters reflected in them and the fireplace. (At least I think those are the pictures I've chosen. They're the first pictures I've uploaded. It's rather confusing!)

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A few years ago we made pasta tree decorations. You need a good glue (I used a glue gun), but they are simple and effective.

You could make an effective Christmas display by spraying some long 'twiggy' branches with gold and silver spray paints, they'd look great against the conservatory glass, pine cones work really well too, natural wreaths are fairly light for hanging, if you want something to catch the children's attention maybe get some 'windspinners' in gold/silver foil and some windchimes with a nice light tinkly bell sound, you can't go wrong with draping fairy lights or have them sitting on the mantelpiece, you can wrap them around pretty much anything, good luck hope you have a good one !!

Thanks for the website links. Pinterest wants me to register before I can look properly which I am loathe to do. I loved the Alex Polizzi film - there really was some useful stuff in there.

My main problem is that my lounge doesn't have any walls - part of it is a conservatory - all glass - the rest is either shelves or the fireplace and what is left is roughened plaster (don't know what that's called in English) which can't have nails knocked into it or anything stuck to it.

The ceilings are wood panelled and most things I stick to it fall down over Christmas due to the heat from the fireplace rising and softening the glue.

So I need to have things I can stick to the windows of the conservatory (without unsightly sticky tape everywhere) and stand on the floor, or very very light things to hang from the ceiling.

Please keep the ideas coming! I'm definitely not going to do away with Christmas as it's my first with grandchildren!

Hi there is a web sit www.allfreesewing.com
It's very good gives you lots of free patterns and they are easy to follow I find it very useful

There some ideas for things to make on MN.

Anything glass or breakable (eg baubles) out of reach (obviously)

I have some gingerbread men and women tree decorations made of felt and angels, Santa etc made of fabric.
Things hanging from the ceiling that are glittery but inaccessible!

Perhaps tree lights outside and lights around the front of the house which can be seen from a window but not touched!
A wicker reindeer near the front door?

And of course, notices so that Santa knows that they're at your house and not at home!

www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d02s5_alex-polizzi-s-christmas-fix_lifestyle
You might find some ideas here. It was filmed before Alex's baby boy's first Christmas.

When I first read that Teetime, I thought of hula hoops (edible type)

I knew someone once who took several hula hoops, covered them in tinsel and then hung baubles from them and suspended the whole lot from the ceiling (it was a big room) very effective and not too expensive.

My DGD will also be 18 months at Christmas and I have made her a special tree out of felt stuck onto cardboard. Just a basic tree shape about 3 foot tall which will lean against the wall or can be put flat on the floor. I have made a collection of 'ornaments' also out of felt, which happily sticks to itself. I think she'll have fun arranging and rearranging 'her' tree.

The tree looks similar to one in this months Prima mag. There are also instructions for a wreath made from wooden cotton reels. A metal wreath frame can also be used with "scraps" of Christmasy material to make a festive item. I'd suggest googling magazine sites to see what free patterns they have.

I'm not too familiar with pin interest, but like some of the ideas you've linked to glass. However, quite often there seem to be no actual instructions on how to actuallly make the item shown. I really like this horizontal wall tree - suppose I just have to work it out, but wish they added instructions wit the picture.

www.pinterest.com/pin/564075922053041324/

Some have option to click to another site where sometimes they show you how, but not always.

Have a look on here.

www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=home%20made%20christmas%20decorations&term_meta%5B%5D=home%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=made%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=christmas%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=decorations%7Ctyped