Frugal Festive Window Decorations...
that didn’t make it into the Hillary’s Blinds blog.
Over on the Hillary’s window blinds blog we’ve been getting quite excited about Christmas. In fact, it’s been the theme for most of our recent posts and this week will be no exception. We’ve once more given up on discussing the various varieties of wooden blinds and, instead, are suggesting you find something more festive to cover your window. As pleased as we are with our Christmas window dressing guide, I must admit that not all our ideas have been the most frugal. To me, this is a little sad as, since I was small, my favourite Christmas decorations have always been the home made ones that make Christmas feel really personal.
So whilst the Hillary’s blog is a great place to go for inspiration of ways to Christmas-a-tise your window if you’re in a hurry, here I’m going to share three of my favourite window decorating techniques that you can make yourself at home from things you probably already have.
Frosty windows
Painting snow on the edges of your window or stencilling on other Christmassy designs when done with care can actually look really effective; depending on exactly where you are living it’s been a while since there was a proper white Christmas so if you’ve missed them it can be a great way to pretend. However, cans of aerosol snow are not really the most frugal way to do it and one has to wonder what their impact on the environment might be.
Instead, why not try this recipe for making your own fake snow?
Mix about half a can of lager with three or four table spoons of Epsom salts - that's how simple it is! You’ll be left with a snowy looking paste that is safe paint on you windows.
Although it’s not as quick as spraying, in many ways I prefer it, using a brush to paint allows you to produce a lot more accurate details, and if you prefer to stencil you can still do this using a sponge.
When twelfth night comes the snow should come off easily with vinegar and water.
The paper snow flake
If you’re looking for a different way to add snow to your windows, making snowflakes from paper is one of those great children’s Christmas crafts that adults all seem to have forgotten about. Although you can buy these ready made in the shops now, I think the real fun of these is the process of making them and discovering how they turn out.
So, in case you’ve forgotten your primary school art lessons and need a reminder about how to create these, here are step by step instructions.
1. Cut squares of paper to the size you want your snow flake to be
2. Fold diagonally in half making a triangle
3. Fold again to make a smaller triangle
4. Fold in the corners of the triangle making an arrow head shape
5. Use scissors to cut a triangle from the tip of your arrow head
6. Cut a pattern into the sides of your arrow with scissors
If everything went well you should then be able to unfold your arrow revealing a beautiful snowflake; make a few of these and they’ll be great to stick in your window.
Recycle Christmas cards
Consider keeping your Christmas cards from year to year, as a far more fun way to recycle them than just throwing them in the recycling bin is to use them to make brand new Christmas decorations. There are lots of creative ways you can use old Christmas cards, gift tags, paper models or even using them as the base for the paper snowflakes mentioned above are just a few of the options, but my personal favourite is to make a collage by cutting out any characters or particularly exciting pictures. One great place you can then display this collage is, of course, in the window. If you have window blinds this is particularly easy, just roll your blind about a quarter of the way down and attach the collage to the blind itself.
These are just a few of the more frugal Christmas window decorating ideas, you no doubt have many of your own. That’s why homemade Christmas decorations are so great, they are so personal and give everyone a chance to show off some creativity. If you find the time this Christmas, I hope you enjoy making some of your own decorations.
Merry Christmas!
A guest blog for the followers of Frugaldom
NYK Media
www.scottishmultimedia.co.uk
that didn’t make it into the Hillary’s Blinds blog.
Over on the Hillary’s window blinds blog we’ve been getting quite excited about Christmas. In fact, it’s been the theme for most of our recent posts and this week will be no exception. We’ve once more given up on discussing the various varieties of wooden blinds and, instead, are suggesting you find something more festive to cover your window. As pleased as we are with our Christmas window dressing guide, I must admit that not all our ideas have been the most frugal. To me, this is a little sad as, since I was small, my favourite Christmas decorations have always been the home made ones that make Christmas feel really personal.
So whilst the Hillary’s blog is a great place to go for inspiration of ways to Christmas-a-tise your window if you’re in a hurry, here I’m going to share three of my favourite window decorating techniques that you can make yourself at home from things you probably already have.
Frosty windows
Instead, why not try this recipe for making your own fake snow?
Mix about half a can of lager with three or four table spoons of Epsom salts - that's how simple it is! You’ll be left with a snowy looking paste that is safe paint on you windows.
Although it’s not as quick as spraying, in many ways I prefer it, using a brush to paint allows you to produce a lot more accurate details, and if you prefer to stencil you can still do this using a sponge.
When twelfth night comes the snow should come off easily with vinegar and water.
The paper snow flake
So, in case you’ve forgotten your primary school art lessons and need a reminder about how to create these, here are step by step instructions.
1. Cut squares of paper to the size you want your snow flake to be
2. Fold diagonally in half making a triangle
3. Fold again to make a smaller triangle
4. Fold in the corners of the triangle making an arrow head shape
5. Use scissors to cut a triangle from the tip of your arrow head
6. Cut a pattern into the sides of your arrow with scissors
If everything went well you should then be able to unfold your arrow revealing a beautiful snowflake; make a few of these and they’ll be great to stick in your window.
Recycle Christmas cards
Consider keeping your Christmas cards from year to year, as a far more fun way to recycle them than just throwing them in the recycling bin is to use them to make brand new Christmas decorations. There are lots of creative ways you can use old Christmas cards, gift tags, paper models or even using them as the base for the paper snowflakes mentioned above are just a few of the options, but my personal favourite is to make a collage by cutting out any characters or particularly exciting pictures. One great place you can then display this collage is, of course, in the window. If you have window blinds this is particularly easy, just roll your blind about a quarter of the way down and attach the collage to the blind itself.
These are just a few of the more frugal Christmas window decorating ideas, you no doubt have many of your own. That’s why homemade Christmas decorations are so great, they are so personal and give everyone a chance to show off some creativity. If you find the time this Christmas, I hope you enjoy making some of your own decorations.
Merry Christmas!
A guest blog for the followers of Frugaldom
NYK Media
www.scottishmultimedia.co.uk
Another recycling Christmas cards idea is to make a bauble from them. From the cards, cut out 21 same-sized circles (trace around the base of a jar).
ReplyDeleteOn one circle, draw an equilateral triangle, ensuring each point touches the circle’s edge, and cut out.
Trace that triangle onto the back of all remaining circles and fold along all lines.
Glue the flaps of five circles together (meeting at a central point) to form the top of the bauble; repeat with the next five circles to form the bottom of the bauble.
Glue the remaining ten circles together so that they form a long line, then glue the ends together – this will be the bauble’s middle ring.
Glue the top and bottom to the middle ring. Pierce the bauble with a needle and thread through a thin ribbon or string. Hang up, stand back and admire your handiwork.
Instructions from Country Living magazine. Credit where credit's due!
There's always the standby of Chinese Lanterns made from recycled cards, tiny for the tree [do NOT use with candles or lights!] or, made from either large cards or sheets of card made up of recycled bits of card collaged together.
Then there's paper chains from anything to hand.
Baubles can also be made very simply by sticking a piece of wrapping paper to the back of a recycled card front, cutting two circles and snipping a single cut across to the centre of both. Then slot the two together. Hang and admire your frugality!
Tea balls make lovely permanent decorations and gifts from the tree too - fill with tea for a homely and lovely tree/room perfume as well. They can be given to visitors to take home, if you feel so inclined. They can sometimes be obtained cheaply enough to make this worthwhile.
Doilies make very pretty snowflakes, either cut as above or simply hung as they are.
A Snowstorm effect can be obtained by threading cottonwool balls onto black or white cotton thread and hanging them from the ceilling - this could also be done with marshmallows both large and tiny but I don't think I could resist them long enough!
Hoping this helps :)
Look at that - another 4 years gone!
DeleteAnd I'm still wondering if I'll ever have enough Christmas cards to make that 21 card bauble! :-D Happy Christmas, Nyk!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete