Celebrate Christmas without breaking the bank

Christmas time usually calls for fancy decorations, expensive presents and all the other fa la la la’s that are expected during the festive season.

Owner of the One of a Kind store at Burnedale and creative brain for the Christmas Fair Fund, Michelle Blake shows how a little money and a good dose of creativity can make an equally beautiful and more wholesome Christmas.

“For me, this time of year is about capturing the innocence of children and creating magical family memories, which you can do without spending a lot of money,” said Blake, who is the mother of two beautiful children.

Blake’s five favourite inexpesive, DIY Christmas decor ideas:

1. Advent calendar filled with activities

Take a frame, remove the backing and the glass and tie some string or twine across the frame. Mark 25 small, brown paper packets from number one to 25. Cut out stars, hearts or any other shapes from white paper, colour it if you want and use it to decorate the packets. Instead of adding sweets, add activities. Blake suggests star gazing on the lawn, braaing marshmellows over a fire or baking biscuits for the nearby old age home.

2. Metallic pine cones

Go on a family outing to collect pine cones. Metallics are trendy this Christmas, so spray-paint them gold, rose gold or silver and hang them with metallic baubles from a branch above your dinner table or on the patio. Another simple, yet elegant decor idea is to put them in a big, glass vase and use it as a centre piece.

3. Christmas tree canvas

For a modern take on a Christmas tree, get a large canvas and collect some drift wood on the beach. Stick the driftwood on the canvas horizontally, starting with the longest piece at the bottom, working your way up to the smallest piece to create a Christmas tree shape. Zigzag some copper lighting, which you can buy at a craft store or @Home store for about R50, from piece to piece and hide the battery pack behind the canvas. Switch it on and voila, you have a Christmas tree art piece for the evenings.

4. Plant some candy cane

Tictac has brought out a Christmas edition with little candy canes on each tictac. Plant the tictacs in a bowl of sugar with your children and watch it grow as Christmas approaches. While they are sleeping, sneak in a mini candy cane, followed by a medium sized one a few days later until there is a large one on Christmas day.

5. Ruscus and bows

Tie some wire into a circle and twirl the ruscus around the wire. Add the ruscus until you are happy with the look, but remember to leave a space for the bow. Tie a red bow around it and hang it on your front door.

Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.