The countdown to Christmas has begun, and we know there's a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in. We've put together our favourite festive crafts that look great, but are speedy and simple to make, from Scandi baubles to felt trees that you can set the kids loose on!

 

Patchwork Quilt Baubles

Once you start this project you are never going to want to stop. It is fun to do with a group of people and a great way to use up your old fabric scraps. They are very light and therefore ideal to use in a garland on a staircase and safe for little hands to touch.

You will need

Selection of fabric scraps

Styrofoam balls, 2in. (5cm) in diameter

Baker’s twine

Scissors

Sharp knife

Pins

 

1. Cut up several pieces of fabric. The scraps of fabric can be any size but they look best if you stick to a main colour. You’ll need about 4–5 pieces per bauble.

2. Take a piece of fabric and place it on the bauble. Hold the ball firmly against your work surface and, using the back of a knife, gently press the fabric edges into the ball. You do not need to go in very deep—the Styrofoam will “catch” the fabric. Repeat, adding more patches, until the entire bauble is covered.

3. Cut a piece of baker’s twine about 6 in. (15 cm) long and knot together to make a hanger for the bauble. Push it into the bauble with a pin—your bauble is now ready to hang!

This project is from Scandi Christmas by Christiane Bellstedt Myers.

 

 

Christmas Star

Using a metallic card and some cutting and folding techniques, make your own simple, shiny star to hang around your home:

This project is from Paper Pom-poms and other Party Decorations by Juliet Carr.

 

 

Tin Bird Wreath

Christmas wreaths can decorate the inside as well as the outside of your home, and this beautiful but simple one, entwined with ivy sprigs, is perfect to hang above the fireplace. Little silver tin birds attached to wooden clips sit perched among the foliage and berries. Make a whole flock and clip them to the tree, to gifts, to napkins, or place holders—the possibilities are endless!

 

Materials

Tracing paper

Pencil

Scissors

Small piece of aluminium foil from a disposable roasting tray

Old ballpoint pen

Wooden clothes pins (pegs) or clips Strong double-sided tape or glue

Template

 

For the wreath

Moss from a florist

Wire wreath base

Thin wire

Foliage

Silver leaves and decorations

 

 
1. To make the foil bird clips, copy the bird template and pattern onto tracing paper and cut out the shape.
 
2. Place the bird shape on a piece of foil and draw around it with a ballpoint pen—an old one that has run out of ink is ideal. Press firmly to indent the tin.

 
3. Cut out the bird shape. Take care, as the edges are sharp, and do not use your best fabric scissors as the blades will blunt very easily! Lay the traced template back on the foil bird and trace the patterns with the ballpoint pen, pressing firmly.

 
4. Attach the bird to the front of a wooden clothes pin (peg), using strong double-sided tape or glue. Repeat steps 1–4 to make as many birds as required.

5. To make the wreath, take some moss and start wrapping and pressing it around the wire wreath base. Use thin wire to secure it in place.

 

6. Place the foliage around the wreath by poking it into the moss and securing with wire. Add some silver leaves or strands of small silver decorations for a little sparkle. Clip the foil birds into position amongst the leaves and add a loop of wire to the back to hang.

This project is from Handmade Christmas.

 

 

Felt Cone Christmas Tree

Here's one for the kids! Make miniature Christmas trees decorated with tiny red and green sequins that look like baubles:

This project is from My First Christmas Craft Book.

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