Christmas has come, bringing with it a need for gifts and good food. But not all gifts have to be purchased. So, at Homescapes we’ve put our heads together to bring you some DIY top tips for the best Christmas yet!
Top Tip 1: Cushion Pads!
Products such as our feather cushion inserts or microfibre pads have been used in many projects on Instagram and Facebook. They’ve been paired with Christmas fabrics to make a themed gift or used as the insert for crochet cushions.
Phyllis in the UK sent us pictures of her crafty creations, saying: “I love Homescapes’ duck feather cushions for all my quilting work. [There are] so many sizes to choose from and the cushion pads snuggle beautifully into the corners of my cushions. Love the firmness of them and the warmth too.”
There’s the feeling of giving in the air though, as Rose also sent us images of her cushion covers saying: “I crocheted these cushion covers to sell to raise money for the UK Boston Terrier Rescue Charity. The cushion pads are just amazing! [They] fit perfectly and are soft and poufy. Thanks, Homescapes, they are perfect!” So, if you’re good with the crochet kit and on a budget this festive season, cushions may be the way to go.
Top Tip 2: DIY Tablecloths
Dressing up your table for Christmas is a tradition – but why buy a tablecloth for just one day? Melissa at @mydiyplaybook seemed to have the same thought, as she promptly turned her pink gingham throw into a table cloth instead! This makes it easy to clean, as when the meal has finished, it can just be popped into the washing machine as needed. It also gives the item a new lease of life when you’re done, as it can be used in the bedroom or living space as a pop of colour.
Charlotte from @wiltshirewonderland also took initiative when she purchased our pink striped fabric instead. This fabric was first used as a table cloth, before being reused to rejuvenate an old lampshade. The applications for fabric are endless, from clothing to curtains and a whole lot more. The only limit is your imagination!
Top Tip 3: Clothing
Does Homescapes sell clothing? Not quite! However, @sarah_lu_creative turned our amazing tartan fabric into a suit fit for a queen! So, get into the Christmas spirit, and give the gift of tailored clothes this year! Or, you could simply make that all-important Christmas party outfit yourself. All you need is a sewing machine and a good pattern.
Top Tip 4: Napkin Folding
Looking for a way to make your Christmas party stand out? Napkin art is the way to go! From Christmas trees to cutlery holders, the team at Homescapes have come up with some party-inspired ways to decorate your table. For a step by step guide, we have a whole blog dedicated to Christmas table decorations.
Top Tip 5: DIY Paper Decorations
Now we know what you’re thinking – paper decorations are something your child comes home with from school. Right? Apparently not! Melissa came up with a tutorial on how to make DIY paper trees – perfect for making your windowsills a little more Christmassy! You can watch the full video here.
You will need:
- Crepe paper in any colour
- Wooden slices
- Skewer sticks
- Glue or a glue gun
- Scissors
- Drill
- Small drill bit
Step 1: Cut a strip of crepe paper so that it has one straight and one pointy edge. You can do these strips between 40-70cm long to get different size trees.
Step 2: Make small snips along one side to give your crepe paper a fringe.
Step 3: Use small amounts of glue on the skewer stick and wrap the crepe paper around it. Start from the bottom and add more glue along the stick as needed.
Step 4: Trim the stick down, so the stick end meets the end of your crepe paper. Leave enough stick at the bottom of the design to act as a tree trunk.
Step 5: Drill a small hole in the centre of each wooden slice. Don’t drill too big or too deep, though! You’ll need the stick to be a tight fit to keep your DIY trees upright.
Step 6: Slot the crepe tree into the drilled hole. You can always add more glue if it doesn’t stand upright. Then, you’re done!
For more of Melissa’s handy tips and tricks, check out her Instagram page.
