The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year, full of festive parties, family gatherings and plenty of bustle. Prettifying one's house for the season becomes a full-time job, from decking the halls to wrapping the tree in tinsel. Creating Christmas crafts is the perfect way to take an artistic (and brief!) respite from the mad dash and keep up with that endless decorating to-do list. We've rounded up our favourite Christmas crafts for you to try this weekend.
Time to hang your stockings by the chimney with care! While there are plenty of stylish, ready-to-buy options to place on the hearth, a stocking of your own making may just be the most special and stylish of all. Let textile expert and Selvedge founder Polly Leonard teach you how.
While we're already a week into Christmas, there's still plenty of time to count down until the 25th and creating your own advent calendar is the perfect way to do it! Why not make it a household affair: each family member or housemate can craft an advent calendar and fill each parcel with a secret present and swap it! Don't know where to begin? Follow decorative painter Amy Balfour's wonderful step-by-step tutorial to create an advent calendar garland or craft your very own crescent-shaped calendar, following interior designer Patrick Williams' advice.
We've all crafted a macaroni ornament or two in primary school (and it's still probably stashed away in the Christmas decoration box in your family home) – why not bring out your inner child again and craft some more baubles for your Christmas tree?
Mexican pressed-tin ornaments add a cheerful sparkle to the room. Create your own twinkling tin tree following House & Garden Creative Director Gabby Deeming's advice.
Paper more your speed? Why not fashion floating paper lanterns and snowflakes, as instructed by artist Ruby Kean. Alternatively, paper garlands or streamers are a simple craft that everyone can construct (not to mention make any room extra festive) – follow House & Garden's Decorations Editor Ruth Sleightholme's ace advice.
Have extra bits and scraps of textiles lying around? Upcycle them into gorgeous ornaments; photographer Eva Nemeth advises how to turn them into paper stars that are ready to hang on the tree!
During the holidays, nothing says ‘welcome home!’ more than a Christmas wreath. Wonderful, festive and smelling of sweet pine, they are a lovely addition to any front door. While there are plenty of options both evergreen and artificial for sale, fashioning your own is a special experience guaranteed to get you in the Christmas mood. Royal florist Philippa Craddock shared a useful, simple step-by-step guide on making your own festive wreath.
For vintage lovers (or those who wish they were born in a different era), why not fashion some wonderfully kitsch Christmas crafts featured in House & Garden's December issue from 1956? Follow the beautifully-illustrated instructions to create everything from homemade Christmas crackers to paper mâché palanquins.
