Christmas

fRom tHe pUbliSHeR of Style At Home,

ideAl Home ANd CoUNtRy HomeS & iNteRioRS

Craft & styling projects to make your festive home unique

6 Christmas themes

e
get CReAtivRAtioNS
witH deCo

WinteR WHiteS folk mAgiC

Simple SCANdi elegAnt gold
RuStic cHARM ClASSiC HigHlANd

Sy
tRy oUR eA eAS
gift id

179

gorgeous
ideas
4.99

NOV/dec 2014
UK recall 02/01/2015

Simple makes
youll love!

dReSS yoUR yle

Home iN St

US $11.50/CAN $11/AUS $12/NZ $12.90/SA R89.90

Home & lifeStyle collection 12 / Make it cHRiStMAS

Make it

Make it Christmas

welcome
This year, make Christmas really special,
thanks to our gorgeous decorating, crafting,
gifting, styling and wrapping ideas. Start
by choosing your look weve six to pick
from: Winter Whites, Simple Scandi, Elegant
Gold, Folk Magic, Rustic Retreat and Classic
Highland, then try our projects for bringing it
to life. Learn simple foliage techniques, have
a go at creative wrapping projects and style
gorgeous place settings that will impress
friends and family as you share your home
at this wonderful time of year. And of course,
if you prefer a project from a different section
to the style or colour youve chosen, all of
our ideas and crafts can be modifed to suit
your own particular scheme. Enjoy your
pre-festive crafting and styling time and
I wish you all a Happy Christmas,

EDITOR

Make it Christmas

contents
13

004

45

Inside

61

six gorgeous
themes for a
super-stylish
christmas

99

121

74

6 Winter Whites
28 Simple Scandi
48 Elegant Gold
68 Folk Magic
88 Rustic Charm
108 Classic Highland
005

Look one

Create a magical look this year with a mix of

snowy white, sparkling metallics and a hint
of crystal. Add texture with faux fur and
shimmering glassware and, for a barely
there colour hit, pick soft mauve and
sage for wrap and ribbons.

006

treat Christmas visitors to

an enchanted welcome with a
wintry forest decal scene on
your front door. Cut your own
from self-adhesive vinyl and
window film or buy one ready
made. if making one, cut your
design in reverse so its the
right way round from the
outside. hang a eucalyptus
wreath artificial or fresh
from a mauve ribbon bow to
complete your magical hallway

Step inSide a winter

give a neutral scheme its own magical look with an injection of

frosty whites, made extra special with shimmering metallics

sparkling
living room
Go for elegance with crisp
whites, touches of glittering silver
and plenty of reflective finishes.
Choose a flocked or snow-dusted
tree rather than a traditional green
one, giving the room an instant
winter-wonderland feel, as if its
just snowed. dress with baubles
in antique gold, white glass and
crystal, and simple Led fairy lights
nestled among the branches.
a simple yet striking star tree
topper is echoed by a larger
version on the console table,
while embellished cushions add
an extra dimension to the sofa.

We love
dressing a fir
garland with
glittering
silver sprigs

twinkling
hallway
Create your own winter
wonderland scene in your hall
by styling side tables with
mini white trees and lanterns,
leading the eye to your hero
Christmas tree (if you have the
space). Stack beautifully
wrapped gifts on a painted chair
and pop underneath the tree.
Twist a ready-made garland
around your banister, leaving
gaps for hands as people go up
and down the stairs, then add
fairy lights and sprigs of
inexpensive gypsophilia sprayed
silver for shimmer. Finally, tie
several hero baubles together
with a delicate white organza
ribbon to dress your newel post.
010

eraTed
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y
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To add
S
T
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ig
l
y
ir
Fa
arland
g
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k
Spar

011

ElEgant
dining room
Style a magical scene for
Christmas Lunch using stars
hung above your table. reflected
in a mirror, just two provide a
great effect, especially when
teamed with woodland-inspired
wallpaper. Drape fairy lights over
the mirror and along your
mantelpiece. on the table, use
crockery with silver edging,
glassware to match and simple
white crackers. Group small
votives on a cake stand for an
easy-to-move centrepiece.

We love
Teaming a flaT
whiTe bed sheeT
wiTh a fesTive
Table runner

000

heMe
C
S
L
a
r
t
U
e
Lift a n
SSorieS
e
C
C
a
h
it
W
SiLver
in CLaSSiC

luxurious dEtails
Show off your wrapping skills with a beautifully presented box of
chocolates nestled among sparkling cushions in a corner of your sofa.
Use small baubles (shatterproof ones are best) attached with florists
wire for a decadent touch, then tuck in a piece of fresh foliage herbs
are ideal and key to our Winter Whites theme. Wrap your box of
chocolates using double sided-tape or Magic tape for a neat finish,
and wait for your guests to discover them after Christmas Lunch.
013

Winter Whites

LiTTLe Touches

Try our craft and styling ideas to introduce this elegant look into your
home. Youll need plenty of fresh foliage, silver accessories and ribbons

decoration

miniature
book tree
Tear The covers off an old
paperback. Fold the first page
diagonally, so the top-right hand
corner sits along the binding.
FoLD again so the diagonal
edge sits against the binding
a point will be created at the
bottom. Fold the point upwards,
in line with the bottom of the
book (the tree stands on this
edge so it needs to be straight).
conTinue The above for all
the remaining pages. Once
finished, bend the binding of the
book back on itself to fan the
pages out. You should end up
with a sturdy, pleated cone.

We love
Trimming The
book Tree wiTh
sTick-on gems
and a sTar

014

Wrapping

sTyLish presenTs
Finish off gifts for special friends with
our easy corsages of rosemary, thyme,
sage and roses. Secure with a rubber
band before tying onto your pressies.

ends
CuT ribbOn
Or v
T
in
O
p
a
O
T
aYing
r
F
p
O
T
s
O
shape T

000

foliage

white rose
wreath
Soak a 20cm foam florists
wreath in water, dry the base and
place on a flat surface. Tie on a
length of raffia, ready for hanging.
cUT a SelecTion of foliage,
fresh herbs and white flowers
so the stems are 8-10cm long.
cover The wreaTh with
greenery fir, ivy, sage, rosemary
and eucalyptus are all ideal. Next,
trim your flowers until there is
just enough stem on each bloom
to hold it in the foam.
PUSh The flowerS into the
ring, spacing them evenly. Tie two
pieces of ribbon into a bow and
wire to the top of your wreath.

d ribboN
e
ir
w
a
e
s
U
Ur bow
To sTop yo g shape
from losiN
016

place setting

Shimmering STack
Pile up crockery at each guests place.
Start with a silver place mat (round
ones will give more space), then add
plates for the main course and starter,
before topping with a dessert bowl.
Finish with a fresh herb corsage.

We love
mixing silver
charger plates
with everyday
white china

000

styling

baubLe Lantern
Use a mix of delicate glass baubles
and battery-operated LEDs to
fill an empty storm lantern or wire
bird cage. Position in front of a
mirror to enhance the effect.

We love
styling with
metallic baubles,
using them to
add shimmer

018

s onto
g
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ip
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s for
n
o
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ib
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c
floun
tags
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atta

cards

twig
display
use either shop-bought twig
wall art (metal or wood is fine) or
spray paint a number of sturdy
twigs, gluing with a hot glue gun
at their base to form a fan shape.
Lean your twig piece

against a wall on a console table

in a hallway is perfect before
clipping on cards with mini silver
pegs. Drape with decorative fairy
lights, choosing ones with
interesting shapes around each
bulb for an extra-magical glow.

Winter Whites

containers
Pick jars, tins and even coffee cups
to make presents extra special

Idea no.

snow globes
Take the lid of a screw-top jar
and sand the inside until rough.
Using a clear-drying epoxy, fix
your tree decorations to the
inside of the lid and leave to dry.
Fill the jar almost to the top with
water, then add a dash each of
glitter and glycerine. Tightly
screw on the lid and finish with a
ribbon bow around the jars neck.

020

Idea no.

Mince pie
filling

We love

Mix up a batch of mincemeat

to your preferred recipe.
While cooling, sterilise clip-top
Kilner jars in the dishwasher. Fill
each one with the mincemeat,
adding a circle of greaseproof
paper to the top before closing
the lid. Tie a fork or spoon onto
each with silver ribbon, then add
a bell or other small decoration.

Tying a cUTe
decoraTion onTo
edible giFTs
To keeP

Idea no.

sewing jar
Draw around your jar lid onto
card and cut out. Cut a circle of
fabric 5cm larger. Tack around
the edge and pull to create a
pouch. Stuff, then add your card
circle and pull the thread tightly.
Stitch to secure. Glue to the jar
lid and finish with a ribbon band.

jAr
FiniSh your
iF CuT
WiTh A MoT iC
FroM FAbr
Idea no.
Idea no.

biscuit tin
for cooks
Make up a batch of your
favourite shortbread biscuits
and stack them on a piece of
greaseproof paper in a silver
cake tin with a lid. Add a set
of shaped cookie cutters, a
sugar shaker and the recipe
for the biscuits, written out
by hand. Pop the tin lid on
and add a bow and gift tag.

chocolate
truffle cup
Either make or buy a dozen
delicious chocolate truffles.
Decant them into a ribbed
paper cup, handling them
as little as possible to stop
them melting. Sit the cup
in the centre of a cellophane
square. Pull up each of the
corners and secure with natural
string or twine for a rustic touch.
021

felt parcels
pre-cut white felt squares
are ideal for wrapping small
boxes and books. Use pins
to temporarily secure the felt
around the gift before tying
with white ribbon. remove
the pins and tie on a brown
luggage label, stamped with
your christmas message,
to the centre of the bow.

We love
Using pieces of
inexpensive felt
for christmas
crafting

000

Winter Whites

wrap
ideas
Use tactile fabrics, shiny foils and
pages from a book as wrap

faux-fur
stockings
Draw a stocking shape
h60cm x W30cm on paper
and use to cut two from fur
fabric. pin, with right sides
together, and machine stitch
around, then turn. repeat to
make a white stocking,
adding a fur cuff to the top.

recycled
paper wrap
Tear out pages from books
picked up at charity shops,
then trim the torn edges with
scissors. Tape together to make
large pieces of gift wrap. Once
your present is wrapped, finish
by cutting strips from the pages
of the book and looping to form
a rosette for the top of your gift.

gift crackers
Wrap small gifts in delicate tissue
paper then make your cracker
as per the kit instructions, leaving
one end open. Pop your gift inside,
before securing the end with ribbon.
Curl the ribbon ends using scissors.

wall display ideas

try these easy festive makes for your walls
remove the glass

from a box frame and

discard safely. Cut a piece
of wrapping paper to fit
the frames backing board
and glue in place. spray
wooden letters with white
paint. once dry, glue them
onto the backing board.

traCe the star template

on page 128. glue thin card
onto the back of a piece of
wallpaper then, using the
template, cut out five star
points. take one piece and
fold to make a point, fixing
with double-sided tape.
repeat, then tape together.

023

ring
Use shimme
r qUick
votives fo ements
ang
floral arr

Set a Sparkly tree or sprayed

branches in a silver planter or

ceramic vase using plaster of
paris. Style in front of a large
distressed white-painted mirror
to highlight the effect

Sparkle

& Shimmer
Mirror faux fur
metallic toucheS

snowy
trees

glass decorations

025

Promotion

Christmas delivered
From show-stopping trees and beautiful decorations, to fabulous
gifts and decadent food treats, youll fnd everything you need to
make this years Christmas really special (and easy) at Dobbies

fab foliage
Create a stylish display on
a dresser by weaving fresh
fir, holly, moss and berries
in among containers with
snowflake and deer motifs.
Gaultheria pot, 9.99; Mini
Christmas tree, 3.99; Nordic
pot with Rose, from 6.99;
Weaved Christmas basket,
from 12.99; all Dobbies

We love
takING the kIDs
to Meet FatheR
ChRIstMas
at DobbIes

wreath
traditions
Use a mix of cinnamon
sticks, dried oranges
and berries to decorate a
plain wreath it will smell
wonderful and evoke the
spirit of Christmas past.
Fresh wreath, from 9.99;
pack of dried oranges,
3.99; pack of three
cinnamon stick bundles; pack
of three decoration berries;
both 1.99 each; all Dobbies

present
stockings
dress your mantelpiece with
a fir garland and vibrant red
berries before hanging up
stockings, ready to be filled.
Rosehip swag, 19.99; Red
knitted stockings with fur
trim, 11.99 each; all Dobbies

hero
baubles
decorate with red, gold
and hints of tartan for a
traditional yet smart tree.
Red tartan glass bauble,
2.99; Gold acorn bauble,
2.99; both Dobbies

wendy mackenzie, head of christmas, dobbies

more information

metalliC glamoUr
Ideas to make your home sparkle, from Dobbies
1 tie metalliC decorations

2 PoP yoUr gUests place

together with ribbon and

hang from a picture rail.
Diamant star, 3.99; Glass
baubles, from 2.99 each

settings for Christmas lunch

under a metallic bird ornament
for a fun yet stylish touch.
Gold bird, from 1.50

000
027
124

one-stoP shoP Pick up everything you need for

a special Christmas, from trees to gifts, at Dobbies.
disCover even more online Visit
dobbies.com/christmas for ideas and
tips on how to create the look and shop
a selection of the Christmas range.
get involved! Pop along to
Ladies Night at Dobbies on 27
November 2014 for canaps, a
glass of fizz, competitions and
much more. Tickets cost 1.

Look two

Go for cheerful reds, mid blues and white to

give your home a splash of Nordic Christmas
charm. This is a great look for lovers of
modern country style, allowing you to mix
wicker and natural wood with knits
in classic Scandi patterns.

000
028

put up a painted peg rail

in your hallway to provide

invaluable extra space for
guests winter coats and
scarves, and use it to hang
baskets of presents and
scandi-style stars. either
look for wooden stars
or make your own from
cardboard, painting first
with cream emulsion then
grey for a distressed feel

EmbracE a modErn

Snowfakes and stars, Dala horses, natural woods and Scandi-style

knits all give a neutral scheme plenty of Christmas character

charming
family room
Keep things calm and
understated with elements of a
Scandi christmas brought into
your living or family space.
choose twig-style trees, which
take up less space than their fir
equivalents, placing a smaller
one on a sideboard and a
floor-standing one by the side
of a sofa. add twinke with fairy
lights and hand-made felt
decorations in red and white
(make your own using a cookie
cutter as a template). dress the
fireplace with a simple garland
and more magical fairy lights,
wooden trees, dala horses and
candlesticks lined up along the
mantel shelf. Finally, style your
sofas with ticking-style cushions
in off-white and red and add
a cosy faux-fur throw.

We love
uSing pre-lit
faux-twig treeS
DreSSeD with
felt StarS

light & airy

kitchen
Give a simple painted kitchen
Nordic style with crisp table
linens, everyday white crockery
and touches of red. Spray-paint
a few twigs and pop in a white
vase for a simple counter-top
tree, which you can dress with
cookie-cutter stars, hung from
narrow red ribbon. Use knitted
mini stockings to house a knife,
fork and spoon at each place
setting and pile up sweet treats
on cake stands. Make a decorative
chair back from large pine cones
tied together with invisible nylon
thread, which can be looped
through the back rest.

wiTh
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A
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ir
A
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dreSS C
de froM
A
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S
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e
v
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oweLS
LiNeN TeA T

We love
cutting jam jar
covers from
gingham fabric
remnants

festive larder
Line a glazed kitchen cabinet with delicious treats, ready for a
Scandi-influenced Christmas. Start by trimming the edges of your
shelves with wide red and white braid look for an embroidered design
for a pattern hit using double-sided tape at the corners to hold in
place. Then line some of the shelves with jam jars filled with biscuits,
sweets and savoury nibbles, and stack festive crockery on others.
Add a decorative Nordic heart to the handle of the cabinet.
000
033

or an
Look out f
junk
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ig
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s
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rkets
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scenic hallway
dress your stairs with red faux-berry garlands for a shot of cheerful
colour, then arrange a few large statement houses on top of a natural
sisal or coir rug. if the lights are mains powered, hide any cables to avoid
spoiling the overall effect. if using candles, battery-operated ones are
best for safety. if you are lucky enough to own (or find) a vintage sleigh,
then pile it with beautifully wrapped gifts in photo-image gift paper
featuring berries and leaves, on top of a faux-fur throw.
034

relaxing
bedroom
Bring scandi style into your
guest bedroom with white bed
linen (if you have a lace-trimmed
sheet, so much the better),
layering with snug blankets and
throws. pop a pair of red
patterned oxford pillowcases
under white ones for extra
definition. dress the windowsill
with a dala horse, a natural
wooden tree and wicker stars,
plus a posey of roses and berries
on the bedside table. finally, lay
a welcoming tea tray filled with
treats ready for guests to enjoy.

We love
making guests
feel welcome
with gifts left
in bedrooms

Simple Scandi

little toucheS

Keep your Christmas look simple yet stylish with our easy makes and
fnishing touches for your home, using plenty of classic Scandi red

Wrapping

Stamped bagS
Use a large snowflake stamp to
decorate brown kraft paper bags,
adding a butchers twine tie and gift
tag held in place with washi tape.

We love
adding a few
traditional
baubles to a
scandi look

000
036

decoration

scrapbook
paper baubles
cut two StripS of patterned
paper 30cm x 2.5cm and two
strips 29cm x 2.5cm. Punch a
hole at both ends of each strip.
take one of the shorter strips
and loop to form a circle, holding
at the punched ends; loop the
second shorter strip around the
first. Repeat with the two longer
strips. Secure together through
the punched holes with a split pin.
cut a piece of ribbon double
the finished hanging length
required and snip a hole halfway,
slip over the split pin and tie the
ends together. Finish by gluing
on a ribbon bow.

to a
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rs
on baniste

foliage

natural
wreath
Pick uP florists wire and a
fir wreath (at least 40cm in
diameter) from your local florist.
start by adding additional
foliage, such as ivy and berries,
using the wire to secure in place.
Keep checking you have
distributed evenly dividing your
wreath into thirds often helps.
Wire on large natural decs,
such as apples and pine cones.
For the apples, bend a piece of
wire in half and poke the looped
end (slightly separated) through
the apple from the stem; twist
through your wreath and secure.

000
038

We love
dipping the
base of pine
cones into
acrylic paint

place setting

decorative cones
Choose large pine cones with relatively
flat bases. Tie with grossgrain ribbon, as if
wrapping a gift. Finish with a mini decoration.

cards

washi tape
card tree
Stick a length of masking
tape to your wall or door. Fix a
piece of double-sided tape to the
centre of this and peel off the
backing. Place a piece of wide
ribbon on this and press in place.
Working from the ribbon
out and around 5cm from the
bottom, start to arrange your
cards into a tree shape, using
washi tape to hold each in place.
Start and finiSh the next
row shorter than the previous
one as you work your way up
the ribbon. Finally, add a felt
snowflake to the top of your tree.

to your
n
o
s
d
r
a
c
Fix
o or
w
t
h
it
w

e
tre
F taPe
o
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ie
P
e
thre

000
040

styling

berry lantern
Pop a small tumbler inside a large
glass vase, then surround with
berries. Add a pillar candle, before
finishing with a ribbon bow.

We love
raiding the
ribbon box to
find the perfect
trimming

Simple Scandi

foliage

Use fr, ivy, eucalyptus and even fruit

to create Scandi-style arrangements

Idea no.

apple holders
Half-core four reddish-green
apples, choosing ones that
sit fairly flat. Force a candle
holder into each, before adding
a tall candle, ensuring that it
is secure. Pop on a windowsill
then wind lengths of fresh ivy
around the apples. Never leave
burning candles unattended.

We love
MakiNg a
CHristiNgle FroM
oraNges aNd
Cloves

000
042

Idea no.

Berry
corsage
Use the offcuts of berries
bought for larger arrangements,
such as your wreath, to
add decorative touches
to cupboards. Simply
hold in place with washi
tape in red and white
Scandi-style patterns.

Idea no.

door dec
take a large
piece of fir, add
in eucalyptus
and thistle heads,
binding together
with florists wire. attach
a pair of mittens, pine
cones and bells, a larger star
decoration at the bottom for
weight, plus a red/white ribbon.
Wire onto your doors handle.

ree or
Save any t
mingS
im
r
t
h
t
a
e
wr
ojectS
r
p
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l
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Idea no.

name Blocks
Idea no.

Drill a small hole in the top of

a number of pine offcuts and
sand the edges smooth. add
a drop of wood glue into each
hole before fixing a small sprig
of fir (cut from your christmas
tree) in place. finally, stamp
your guests initials on all sides
of the block using letter stamps
and a blue ink pad, to make
rustic place markers.

fancy knocker
wire on a large fir branch (sold
separately at your local florist)
to your door knocker, adding a
bow of red ribbon. then dress
with lightweight decorations in
Scandi red and white felt ones
are ideal but avoid glass designs.
000
043

We love
uSing layerS of
reD anD white
tiSSue inSiDe
gift bagS

sweet bags
fold over the top of a brown
paper gift bag and punch a
hole through the fold and the
bag. Pop in hand-made sweets
before tying red and white
striped ribbon through all four
layers to secure. hand-stamp a
message onto a luggage label,
leaving space to write your
name for a personal touch.

Simple Scandi

craFt
ideas

advent bags
With a medium-width
artists paintbrush, paint
even freehand stripes onto
mini gift bags or envelopes
using red poster paint.
Allow to dry before clipping
to a twig of a faux tree,
adding a small gift to each
as an Advent countdown.

Style a Nordic Christmas with our

tricks using decorative papers

3d tree cards
Cut three squares of craft paper, 6cm, 5cm and 4cm.
fold diagonally with wrong sides together. open and
fold across other diagonal. open, push sides together
to form a triangle; crease. with the top point of the
triangle at the top, fold in the left side to an imaginary
central line. repeat with the right side. form a tree
shape by tucking the point of the large tree under
the base of the medium one, then under the base
of the small tree. glue, add a trunk, fix to the card.

date wrap
Set a date stamp to 25 Dec
2014 and, using a red ink
pad, stamp to form squares
of pattern on plain white
paper. Use butchers twine
threaded with letter beads
to secure and label parcels.

cake stand ideas

Display gifts and edible treats Scandi style
First, wraP GiFts in red
and white paper choose
a variety of different-sized
boxes. tie two large ones
together with ribbon, pop
on a christmas cake stand,
then arrange smaller boxes
in front. Finish with a
scandi-inspired decoration.

Use a simPle tiered

cake stand for after-dinner
biscuits or sweet treats.
choose ones wrapped in
red and white paper and
nestle mini red baubles
among each. serve with a
boozy christmas coffee or
tea in red and white mugs.

000
045
124

hang up a
itted
row of kn a
for
stockings
feel
g
in
m
o
c
l
e
w

look for red

and white knitted
stockings with
heart, tree and star
patterns, and fill
with small gifts
000

knitted

pattern
Cheerful StarS
scarlet & white

dala
horses

000
047
124

Look three

Embrace full-on glamour with rich gold for this

years Christmas look. Glistening and decadent
with a nod to the 1920s, gold is perfect
for adding opulence to every room.
Introduce copper and amber tones
for extra warmth and depth.

000
048

turn a neutral dining

room into a lavish space

by introducing plenty
of gold touches. Cut a
circular tablecloth from
shimmering gold fabric,
hemming the edge. dress
your tree with lots of
gold baubles, adding
wrapped gifts to the base
(tied with oversized wired
ribbons in golden hues)

000

We love
adding a touch
of vintage style
with cream
flowers

introduce a dramatic

make your home extra-special this year with plenty of

gilded touches, guaranteed to create wow in every room

golden
living room
already a fan of using warm
neutrals in your decorating
schemes? then youll have the
perfect backdrop for adding
shimmer choose a sparkling
white or white-flocked tree,
traditional gold glass baubles and
fairy lights (avoid any with a
blue-white hue). Look for festive
ornaments to create a stylish
mantelpiece display stags, mini
trees and lanterns in yellow-gold
will soon add a feeling of grandeur
to your look. Finally, dress your
sofa with glitzy gold cushions.

wide
f
o
l
e
e
r
a
BUy
lassic
c
in
n
o
B
iB
r
Ure trim
t
a
n
ig
s
a
s
gold a

ribbon card
holder
display elegant christmas cards
down the side of your hearth, hung
from a piece of wide gold ribbon
away from the fire. Use a small
piece of double-sided tape to
hold each card to the ribbon,
then secure the top of the ribbon
under the mantle shelf. Prop up
cards with elaborate candles and
votives which, when lit, will add
to the golden glow of the room.
choose a signature festive scent
for your home fragrance that will
flow from room to room.
052

present
corner
make a feature of your gifts
wrapped in metallic high-shine
paper by stacking them under a
gold-branch tree. Pop a smart
tailored armchair by the side of
the tree for a stylish way to hand
out gifts to your friends and
family. Keep the look as sparkling
as possible and enhance the
twinkle of fairy lights and candles
by choosing clear glass or acrylic
baubles with just a hint of gold.

We love
swapping a fir
tree for a gold
one with glass
baubles

s oF
Ip
t
e
h
t
y
a
r
sp
d For
L
o
G
s
e
n
o
pIne C
repIeCe
t
n
e
C
k
IC
U
aq

sophisticated table
Let the beauty of a rich, dark-wood table shine through in a gold dining
room, which will allow crisp white restaurant-style crockery to stand
out. Look for charger plates in on-trend copper to echo your other
stylists touches, such as a bauble favour for your guests and, of course,
plenty of votives. Finish your Christmas table with glasses that have
gold or copper detail, such as coloured stems, swirls or even block
colour, channelling the glamour and decadence of the 1920s.
054

hotel-style
dining room
Give your entertaining space a
new focal point for Christmas
with a trio of rich gold wreaths
hung from wide ribbon, then
trail a laser-cut leaf garland along
the mantelpiece for a delicate
touch. Use accent lighting and
amber votive candles to add to
the warm glow. If youre using a
green faux-fir Christmas tree in
a gold scheme, choose large
high-shine baubles to ensure it
looks as glittering as possible.

We love
pinning a gold
star to the back
of upholstered
dining chairs

Elegant Gold

little touChes

Golden fabric and ribbon silk, chiffon and organza are ideal for our
easy Christmas projects, and will lend that special luxurious touch

decoration

gold dolly
peg fairy
fold two tuile wedding
favours into quarters. Cut a hole at
the point, poke a dolly peg through
and fix with double-sided tape.
Cut a pieCe of gold crepe paper
20cm x 8cm, gather and stick to
the skirts waistband. Cut gold
braid for the bodice and stick
above the skirt; add a ribbon belt.
Glue on a glitter butterfly for wings.
Brush the head with PVA glue
and wind wool around to create
hair, then glue a sequin to the top.
Finally, draw a face on the peg.

ld
CliP on Go
rFlies
e
t
t
u
b
r
e
t
Glit
AnChes
r
b
e
e
r
t
o
t

000
056

Wrapping

sCarf presents
Use scarves to wrap gifts, making them part
of the present. Place your scarf pattern-side
down with the gift in the middle, then pull up
pairs of diagonally opposite corners and tie.

We love
Stamping a
plain Scarf
with metallic
fabric paint

000

foliage

newel garland
Take a few long pieces of greenery, such as
fir and eucalyptus, and bend into a figure
of eight shape, securing with florists wire.
Hook the top over your newel post, then
wire on gold decorations and pine cones.

We love
choosing
silvery foliage
to balance
gold decs

000
058

place setting

flouncy
napkins
measure and cut pieces of
chiffon or organza fabric into
40cm x 40cm squares, one for
each Christmas dinner guest.
Fold over a hem of 5cm then
5cm again. Pin and press, making
sure the corners are neat.
machine stitch around the four
sides. Press again, then fold into a
concertina, securing the middle
with a piece of narrow ribbon and
a miniature gold decoration.

riCs
b
a
f
r
e
e
h
s
Cut
shears
g
in
k
in
P
h
wit
mming
e
h
id
o
v
a
to

cards

hamper display
Tie two gold ribbons over the lid of
your hamper, then tuck Christmas
cards behind these. Layer the base
of the hamper with more cards.

We love
finding a
creative solution
for showing
off cards

000
060

oDen
DRess a wo k with
chaiR bac
ouches
t
D
l
o
g
m
a
gl
styling

glitter bird
chair back
Gather several long pieces

of sprayed gold and copper

foliage into a bunch and secure
with an elastic band.
tie a wide black ribbon bow
around the back of your chair,
then tie on your sprayed foliage
with a wide gold wired ribbon.
trim the ends of your foliage
if needed, tucking under the
ribbon tails, then clip on a
decorative gold bird decoration.
Repeat for the other dining chairs.

Elegant Gold

candles

Add extra shimmer to your gold

Christmas look with our stylish ideas

Idea no.

taper cubes
Take three glass cube vases
and mask off a band around
1cm down from the top edge
of each. Protect the inside of
the vases with scrunched up
newspaper, spray the band
with gold paint and leave to
dry. Half-fill each cube with
white candle sand then stand
five tapered candles in each.

Idea no.

We love

candle wreath
Make an easy centrepiece by
taking a ready-made sparkling
gold wreath and laying on top of
a large charger plate (in gold of
course!). Next, arrange several
different-height pillar candles
on a small gold candle plate and
place in the middle of the wreath.
Bend the leaves and baubles
into shape for added height.
062

PoPPing
gold-wraPPed
cHocolaTes
inTo disHes

Idea no.

hurricane
centrepiece
Bring shimmering light into
your scheme by using a silvered
hurricane lamp with a pillar
candle popped inside. Place
the lamp on a mock-croc gold
place mat then twist a sparkling
gold and jewelled garland
around the bottom of the
lamp to form a mini wreath.

e lit
Never leAv
AtteNed
N
u
s
e
l
d
N
A
C
uGHt
or iN A drA
Idea no.

Metallic
tables
Give your magical candles
somewhere special to sit
for the Christmas period.
Group three small side
tables next to your sofa
if you dont have an
existing nest of tables, try
spray painting the tops
of second-hand ones in
gold and copper shades.

Idea no.

floating
candles
Combine water and fire in
a bowl of floating festive
gold candles. Half-fill a
shallow bowl then add gold
floating candles, before
sprinkling over small pieces
of edible gold leaf for a
glamorous finishing touch.
000
063

We love
usiNg hiddeN
adhesive hooks
To haNg a
wreaTh

sprayed
foliage
give a shop-bought wreath
an extra dimension by adding
sprayed foliage. Lay your foliage
pieces on newspaper and lightly
spray with gold and copper
paint. Leave to dry, before
trimming the stems and fixing
to the wreath with florists wire.

Elegant Gold

golden fruit

paint
ideas

Create a striking centrepiece for a gold

table by spray-painting fruit, either ceramic
or real. Apply one coat and leave to dry
before adding a second for a high-shine
finish. Group several on a gold cake stand.

Use gold paint to update everyday

pieces and foliage in a fash

twig wreath
start to form a wreath shape
with several willow or twig
pieces, then secure the top and
bottom with florists wire. add a
few loose pieces to your wreath
base then place on newspaper
and spray with gold paint.
Leave to dry then spray the
underside. hang with ribbon.

starry
crockery
Spray stencil mount adhesive
onto the reverse of a small star
stencil and position on a white
plate. Apply gold ceramic paint
with a brush, first dappling off
the excess onto kitchen paper.
Remove the stencil, reapply and
repeat. Bake the crockery in the
oven as per the ceramic paint
manufacturers instructions.

bauble ideas
Need a quick gold rush? Try these ideas
turn a glass hurricane

vase into an eye-catching

display using gold baubles,
shimmering sequin trim
and pine cones. layer up
gradually to avoid any
big gaps, checking you
are happy with what will
be the front of your display.

be ready for guests

with a glitzy metallic tray
laid with small dishes for
savoury snacks, adding a
hero gold bauble or two
for a festive touch. stick
a piece of double-sided
tape under each bauble
to prevent them rolling.

000
065

 of
swap the o wreath
Noel for a h touch
is
for a styl

Turn a hall console table

into the perfect gold statement.
Move anything non-gold away
and restyle with oversized gold
letters, foliage, candles, votives
and plenty of gifts wrapped
in gold paper. a row of gold
wreaths provides extra drama

sprayed

foliage

art dEco decadent

sequins & beads
sparkling
glitter
candlelight

067

Look four

Step away from the more traditional Christmas

shades and use a folk-inspired colour palette
for a fun, uplifting feel this year. Choose teal,
pink, purple and blue and complete the
look with plenty of natural foliage
and just a hint of metallics.

000
068

give an empty fireplace

whimsical charm with a

simple willow wreath
and a mountain of baubles
displayed in a large wicker
basket. fill the basket
almost to the top with
logs or a blanket so you
dont need quite so many
baubles, then add a knitted
stocking and a garland
made from more willow

Step inSide a ChriStmaS

Bring the folk look to life with plenty of foliage,

vibrant jewel colours and quirky touches

Magical
feast
put together your own forestinspired centrepiece by placing
a moss wreath in the middle of
your table and adding three tall
candles. then fill metal troughs
with berries and ivy, sitting on
a bed of moss (available from
florists). mix and match plain
white and coloured china at each
place setting, adding emeraldgreen glassware and baubles.
Keep chairs simple either
painted or left natural then finish
by hanging a rosehip wreath
high above the table as a festive
alternative to a pendant light.

We love
Displaying large
glass Bottles &
vases, styleD
with Berries

xTerior
Dress an e
or sheD
L
L
a
w
k
iC
r
b
sTars
L
a
iC
g
a
m
wiTh

outdoor
charm
Create a fairytale scene outside
too, making use of garden
furniture for a delightfully styled
corner. Pop white or silversprayed twigs into weighted pots
or buckets, adding shatterproof
baubles around the stems in
pretty folk colours. Look out for
metal or button stars to dress
your twig trees, making sure they
are wired on securely. Finally,
dot apple candle holders (these
can be shop-bought faux designs
or carved from real ones) on the
table top. Then cross your
fingers for a fine flurry of snow!
072

beautiful
fir tree
Disguise your trees pot in a
planter, then dress the tree with
twinkling fairy lights (youll need
at least three strands for a
magical glow). add rosy red with
simple paper bunting. Cut each
flag as a diamond shape, then
fold in half to make a triangle,
sandwiching string between each
layer, before gluing. a patchwork
chair (or even just a throw) adds
to the folksy look, while presents
wrapped in brown paper and
trimmed with plain velvet or satin
ribbon can be stacked around
the tree, ready to be discovered.

We love
Unrolling a rUg
to encoUrage
kids to sit next
to the tree

chriStmaS
traditionS

aking
Have fUn b
treats
,
s
t
e
e
W
s
e
Mak
HoUses
d
a
e
r
b
r
e
g
and gin

000

set aside a prep area in your

kitchen or dining room where
you can get organised. from
wrapping presents to finishing off
cakes and bakes, youll feel much
more in control if you have a
dedicated space. but dont think
that you cant style this area to
work the folk look too hang
paper stars from the window,
making for a cheerful view as you
wrap presents and sort essentials
like glassware and crockery. keep
all of your Christmas kit the
scissors, ribbon, washi tape and
wrap close to hand in a drawer.

We love
using the same
paper bunting in
each room for
continuity

Starry landing
Use ribbon and drawing pins or tacks to create a fun star, which can
be used to display Christmas cards. Choose a contrasting colour to
your walls, so the star shape really pops. Mask your star on the wall
first then follow the lines with the ribbon, adding pins to secure
in place, before hanging or pegging on your cards. Wind ivy and
other festive foliage around the banisters, allowing a few
pieces to spring loose for a natural, relaxed touch.
075

Folk Magic

little toucheS

Try these quirky projects that will make your home really special for
Christmas, using a colour palette of rich purples, teals, pinks and ruby red
Wrapping

Stamped preSentS
Use franked postage stamps to
decorate parcels and cards (or
arrange new ones in tree shapes) for
a package thats bound to excite.

We love
stamping
parcels with
festive motifs
then posting

076

foliage

purple
flower ball
Soak a 20cm-diameter ball
of florists foam overnight. Cut
a piece of ribbon long enough
to wrap around your ball and to
be usd for hanging. Tie around
the ball and secure with pins
at the knot (on the bottom) and
the top at the hanging loop.
Start by adding your
greenery, which should be
trimmed to around 5cm in
length (this may feel short,
but it will stay in place). Try
to space a flowerhead apart.
Fill in the gapS with purple
peonies or carnations, keeping to
the shape of the foam. Finally,
dot evenly with red berry clusters.

LasTiC
Look For p T Can be
berries Tha To Come
ears
y
r
o
F
d
e
s
u

000

styling

lAtes
O
C
O
h
C
P
O
P
xes And
in white bO er
FlOw
trim with A

078

tissue paper
flowers
Take six a4 sheeTs of purple
tissue paper and lay in a stack.
Fold together into a concertina
(2.5cm wide), across the width.
cuT zigzags at each short
end to give pointed edges. Fold
your concertina in half, then
unfold this last fold. On this fold
line, cut two small triangle
notches in the centre on each
side, so that the point of the
triangle sits on that central line.
Wrap a piece of florists wire
around the centre of the
concertina over the notches,
twisting carefully to secure. Cut
down each fold on one of the
long edges to about 1cm from
the centre at both ends.
fan ouT your flower and
gently unfold each layer of
tissue up towards the centre.
Attach to ribbon or a paper band
wrapped around your gifts.

decoration

gliTTer baubles
Jazz up coloured plain-glass baubles
with gold glitter. Apply PVA glue in
bands, then roll your bauble in a tray
of gold glitter and leave to dry.

We love
revamping
baubles with
new ribbon
and trims

000

place setting

doily
decoration
Take six small circular
white paper doilies and fold
each in half, with wrong sides
together, to create semi circles.
Thread a needle with white
cotton and place two doilies
back-to-back, folded edges
down. Halfway along the curved
edge, sew through one of the
pre-cut holes and the matching
one behind to join the doilies.
repeaT To join the remaining
doilies into pairs, then sew the
three pairs together to make a
star shape. Fan out the folded
sides and top with a decoration.

e witH
use Foliag
For
berries on k style
quick Fol

080

cards

phoTo card display

Using a colour printer, print out
festive family snaps onto pieces of
paper 7cm x 14cm, adding a black
border to each. Peg onto ribbon with
a Christmas message for each
guest written on the reverse.

We love
playing guess
who with snaps
of christmases
gone by

000

Folk Magic

paper

Finish special gifts with a hand-made

touch theyre almost too good to open!

Idea no.

gift boxes
Trace and cut out the template
on page 128. Draw around the
shape onto coloured card and
cut out. Score around the central
square (the base of the box)
using a ruler and scissors. Place
your gift on this square. Fold up
the two sides with the curved
handle, then fold together the
slotted handles. Push through
the slots, bending back to secure.
Decorate with a festive stamp,
glue on a flower and add a tag.

We love
uSing PreTTy
carDboarD wiTh
PaTTernS on
boTh SiDeS

082

Idea no.

crackers
Cut a piece of crepe paper three
times the length and two times
the width of a cardboard tube.
Roll the paper around the tube
and secure with tape. Push the
gift inside the tube and pinch
the paper together at each end.
Carefully tie with twine, then
decorate with a band of gift
wrap, more twine and buttons.

Idea no.

stocking
Cut out two pieces of thick
brown paper in a stocking
shape. Cut one piece of brightly
coloured fabric for the toe
and another for the heel. Glue
these in place before machine
stitching around your stocking.
Carefully fold over the top by
6cm. Trim with two bands of
ribbon. Finish with a paper
heart and pompoms.

Idea no.

e And
O
T
e
h
T
T
u
C
eS wiTh
h
C
T
A
P
l
e
e
h
ARS
PinkinG She

Idea no.

voucher card
envelopes

patterned
gift boxes

Open out a small square

envelope and use as a template
to draw around onto a piece of
patterned paper. Cut this out.
Fold into shape and pop your
gift card inside, before securing
with tape. Cut a length of ribbon
and wrap around the envelope
(top to bottom), leaving an
overlap so you can hang it up.
Secure with decorative tape or a
hot wax seal just below the flap.

Cut squares of scrapbook

paper into a selection of
different-sized pieces. Apply
to the outside of cardboard
shoe boxes using PVA glue,
overlapping the pieces
slightly. Allow to dry before
adding strips of washi tape
to disguise any paper seams.

083

posh jams
& pickles
turn homemade chutney or
jam into a delightful gift thanks
to a quick jar makeover. cut a
circle of paper or fabric twice
the diameter of the jars lid and
pop on, using an elastic band
to secure. snip the overlapping
edge to resemble fringing, then
decorate with ribbon, twine and
stickers. add a plastic spoon.

We love
preserving
& pickling in
autumn, ready
for giving

Folk Magic

plant present

gift
ideas

turn a nursery or shop-bought plant

into a special gift by wrapping with
a few sheets of co-ordinating tissue
paper and tying with narrow ribbon.

Need a last-minute present?

Give these speedy solutions a try

indulgent
body scrub
Fill a medium-sized Kilner jar
with 150g granulated sugar,
then tip into a mixing bowl.
Add 120ml of cold-pressed
extra-virgin olive oil, six drops of
lavender essential oil, four drops
of rosemary essential oil and a
few dried lavender flowers. Mix
well with a wooden spoon and
pour back into the jar. Close and
seal. Trim with ribbon and a tag.

trinket teacup
For a pretty folk-style gift without the
price tag, place trinkets or jewellery
into a vintage teacup and saucer and
wrap with cellophane. Gather it at
the top of the cup and secure with
ribbon, adding a flower and gift tag.

fabric bag ideas

try our super-easy yet stylish gift projects
cut two squares of

Print your own digital

fabric 15cm x 15cm. with

right sides facing, machine
stitch three-and-a-half
sides, then turn. Half-fill
with dried lavender, before
hand stitching the opening
closed. stack several
together; tie with ribbon.

design or monogram in
colour onto digital transfer
paper, using your computer.
then iron the design onto
a plain canvas bag to
transfer, following the
instructions provided
with the transfer paper.

085

TurN aN olD picture frame

into a folk-inspired bauble

display. remove any glass
and discard, then cover the
backing board with velvet.
Hang on the wall, tie on
decorative baubles and
birds with varying lengths
of velvet ribbon and
suspend as a group from a
nail just above the one that
your frame hangs from

ble
hang a bau inst
a
cluster ag uble
do
a mirror to t
the effec

brigHT natural
Foliage
baubles

purple, piNk & Teal

quirky
patterns

birds

000
087
124

Look five

Bring the outdoors in this Christmas with a

home full of natural textures, fresh foliage and
rustic fnishing touches. Keep colours to a
minimum, allowing the beauty of holly and
fr green, earthy wood and wicker and
natural creams to shine.

000
088

DrEss Your homE

with natural elements
for a welcoming, homely
christmas. use plenty
of foliage not just in
wreaths and garlands,
but also to add rustic
charm to baskets of
presents. Pop a few twigs
in a tall galvanised vase,
adding several homespun
hero decorations for an
ideal hallway display.
Dress the console it sits
on with wooden buildings
and twinkling lanterns

bring in the beauty of

take inspiration from the best the countryside

has to offer at this festive time and include pine
cones, fr and ivy in a natural christmas scheme

We love
stringing
together pine
cones to trim
a tree

cosy country
living room
escape to a rustic retreat without
leaving home by introducing
plenty of natural touches. this
look is all about texture, so start
with the biggest, fullest real
Christmas tree that will fit in your
space, (choose a norway Spruce,
known for its scent and bushy
appearance), then layer up sofas
with chunky knits and cushions
in creams. Wrap gifts with kraft
paper, dressing every surface
with fresh foliage (do this the day
before Christmas eve to ensure
it lasts), then add pine cone
wreaths and fairy lights to finish.

farmhouse
dining room
avoid the temptation to cover a
country-style table with a festive
tablecloth use one or two grey
runners down its length instead,
allowing the natural wood to
shine. next, place key christmas
must-haves, such as your cake
stand (ready for your pudding),
empty decanters and glasses
along the runner, before winding
fresh foliage between them.
these can then be removed
easily for serving and popped
back among the foilage later.
brown gift boxes replace crackers,
while rustic brown ceramics and
pillar candles give the mantelpiece
a dose of homespun style.

to the
PoP gifts in holder
hymn book irs
cha
of chaPel

We love
softening
a look with
fluffy cotton
decorations

twiggy stair garland

draw attention to any country-charm elements in your home by adding
plenty of fresh foliage. here, craggy willow and cotton bolls provide a
softer alternative to holly and fir, ideal for an attic bedroom staircase.
Use fluffy creatures, such as owls, to give your garland a fun twist, and
buy or make simple sheepskin or faux-fur stockings. for wrapping,
it has to be brown paper, but try trimming with dried orange slices
(placed directly on the oven rack and baked at 130c for 2-3 hours).
000
093

KingS
hang StoC
REady
S
t
S
E
u
g
R
o
f
giftS
iR
E
h
t
in
p
to po

visitors rustic retreat

Ensure a warm welcome to a guest bedroom by dressing a traditional
metal bedstead with rustic decorations. Start by making an inexpensive
garland by pegging brown luggage labels onto a length of twine then
adding small pine cones. Keep bedroom essentials for your guests
tucked in a vintage-style suitcase and ensure the best Christmas Eve
nights sleep with brushed chambray cotton bed linen. Replace a
picture with three mini wreaths to continue the modern country feel.
094

pine cone
display

We love
buying pine
cone candles
to add to
a display

Create a rustic corner with an

abundance of pine cones
collect and save from one year
to the next. Start by filling a
lantern with cones, lightly
spraying some with frosting,
glitter or metallic paint. this will
give your arrangement height.
Stand on a flat tray or board,
then arrange bark-effect and
bird house candles and votives
in front, gradually reducing in
height, before finishing with both
real and wax pine cones. dont
leave lit candles unattended.

Rustic Charm

little touCheS

Bring a natural scheme to life with our makes and styling ideas for
around your home, using existing accessories and plenty of foliage

wrapping

place setting
favours
Cover a Coloured gift boxs
base and lid with brown kraft
paper (or buy a ready-made one).
Pop in your gift, nestled among
white or cream tissue paper.
SeCure the box with a wide
white satin ribbon, taping the two
ends to the box on its underside.
tie a raffia bow, cutting the
ends equally. Glue a pine cone, fir
offcut and cinnamon stick to the
raffia, or attach with florists wire.
Finally, glue your rustic corsage
on top of the white ribbon band.

ones
Give Pine c
diPPinG in
y
B
e
l
k
r
a
sP
Glitter
n
e
h
t
e
u
l
Pva G

000
096

We love
giving a wreath
bulk in a flash
with clusters
of roses

foliage

roSe & pine Cone wreath

Wire on pine cones to a moss frame,
available from florists, working
around in the same direction. Then
add white roses and sprigs of foliage.

place setting

stamped
napkins
wash and press white linen
or cotton napkins. Lay one flat on
a protective surface, marking the
middle of the napkin with a pin.
pour a little gold fabric
paint into a saucer and apply to
your stamp we used a butterfly.
lightly press the stamp
down onto a piece of kitchen
paper to remove the excess paint.
Press down onto your napkin,
using your pin as a guide. Leave
to dry, before pressing under a
clean cloth to set the fabric paint.
Repeat to make a set.

bLe with
a
t
R
u
o
y
y
PRead
a
s
L
d
e
b
R
o
t
uiL
a vintage q of a cLoth
instead

000
098

We love
keeping silver
and gold plant
pots to reuse
next year

decoration

easy centrepiece
Buy three mini conifers at a garden
centre and pop in silver flowerpots.
Stand on a silver mat or charger.

cards

special
delivery
Stamp gold SnowflakeS

onto a folded grey card then

add a paper doily to one corner.
mount a pHoto using
brown paper photo corners,
adding a strip of washi tape
and a stick-on decoration.
Stamp gift tagS and glue to
the front of cards decorated with
washi tape. Use a wax seal for an
authentic country-style touch.
glue a folded paper
decoration to the inside of a
folded piece of card a bell or
bauble is ideal, adding a bow.
draw lineS onto a white card
to make a tree shape. Machine
stitch each line with gold thread.
Glue on a star to top your tree.

with
s
d
r
a
c
G
n
ha
n peGs
e
d
o
o
w
i
in
M
tic charM
s
U
r
y
s
a
e
for

000
100

styling

decoration diSplay
Empty your typesetters tray and
restyle with baubles and other festive
trinkets, keeping colours muted.

We love
Turning a
TypeseTTers Tray
inTo a fesTive
sTaTemenT

000

Rustic Charm

outside
Create a snowy, natural feel for
guests to admire as they arrive

Idea no.

mistletoe
streamers
String together pieces of fresh
mistletoe and lightweight paper
decorations with invisible thread.
Repeat to make enough strands
to hang across your window.
Hang from adhesive hooks on
the inside of your window lintel.

Idea no.

snow angels
Fold a piece of A4 card in half
then draw on a simple angel
shape using the template on
page 128, with the head/body
to the fold. Cut out and trace
around it to make enough
angels from white A4 paper to
fit one in each windowpane. Fix
in place with double-sided tape.
102

We love
Adding A
sprinkle of fAke
snow to tree
BrAnChes

Idea no.

candle
display
Trim pieces of foliage to 8cm in
length. Using florists tape, fix to
the bottom third of your candle.
Cut a circle of green cellophane
around 20cm in diameter. Stand
your candle in the middle of the
cellophane and pull up the edges
(keeping them clear of the wick).
Secure with an elastic band
before tying with string or ribbon.

Idea no.

button
decorations
Take a 15cm-length piece of
thick craft wire and loop over
one end. Thread through green
plastic buttons and beads to
make a ring shape (youll need
around 30 buttons or beads
per decoration). Twist the wire
ends together fairly tightly and
shape to form a circle. Add a
wire or ribbon loop to hang
from your outdoor tree.

Idea no.

lace votives
Cut wire three times the
circumference of your jar. Bend
one end to a loop, then wrap the
rest around the neck of the jar,
passing the end through the loop;
tighten. Create a handle from the
wire, wrapping the unlooped end
around the neck. Add a lace trim.

TmAS
BUy A CHRiS T THAT
TRee in A po
yeARS
R
o
F
e
S
U
n
yoU CA
103

Bags of love
Make your own gift bags with a
rustic feel, using a mix of paper,
felt and hessian. for a simple
envelope, cut a piece of fabric
or paper two-and-a-third times
the height of the item you are
wrapping and slightly wider
(use scalloped-edge scissors
for a fancy look). fold up the
bottom to the height of the gift,
and fold over the top edge to
just overlap this. Machine stitch
the two short sides and add a
fastening. for the newsprint
and doily bags, wrap a cereal
box (not too tightly), covering
the base and two sides, then
slide off. Pop your gift inside
before adding a trim to seal.

We love
giving a softer
edge to rUstic
decorations
with doilies

Rustic Charm

styling
ideas
Display your wrapped gifts, ready
for Christmas Day, in rustic fashion

gift slippers
Use furry boots or chunky
slipper socks to keep small
presents contained attractively.
Stuff tissue right down into the
toe to prevent tiny parcels from
getting lost, then fill, making
sure your most beautifully
wrapped gifts are at the top.

delivery
Basket

WindoW display
start by wrapping your gifts with a mix of
rustic-inspired wrap, including plain matt
gold and brown paper. add simple ribbon
cuffs rather than fussy bows, then stack
your wrapped boxes into piles, adding
more decorative trims to the ones on top.

garland ideas
Use natural materials for a relaxed fnish
either buy an advent
garland with 24 mini
buckets ready attached, or
tie on your own to a length
of twine. string up under
your mantelpiece, then
punch a hole in the corner
of Christmas cards and
suspend from the twine.

tie on pine Cones and

other rustic decorations,
such as wooden leaves
and wicker balls, to a length
of twine (dont worry about
spacing these equally, its
all part of the charm). hang
the garland across a door
frame in a gentle swag.

105

Pop parcels in wicker

shopping bags and
baskets that are all for
the same lucky person or
family, adding a gift tag.
Give the presents in the
basket, either with a note
inside for it to be returned
after Christmas, or make
the basket part of the gift
that way, every time it
gets used, it will bring
back festive memories.
Line up the baskets or
bags in your hallway under
a console, or stack on a
wicker footstool until
theyre ready to be given.

Leave savoury and sweet

nibble dishes or bowls around
your living room, ready for
guests to help themselves.
Choose a shallow wooden
bowl to really work the rustic
look and position on a tray
with room for glasses, making
it easy to carry back and forth
from the kitchen. Dont forget
the napkins and nut crackers

le
Top up nibb larly
u
dishes reg
e day
h
T
T
u
o
h
g
Throu

paper
DeCorations
pine Cones
evergreen Leaves
logs Cosy Country
bare wood

000
107
124

Look six

Invite Scottish style into your home for

Christmas and Hogmanay with decorations
in bold red, vibrant green, crisp white and,
of course, tartan, plus faux-fur accessories.
This look will create a cosy, welcoming
family Christmas youll love.

108

start your highland

welcome outside with a

potted tree and decorate with
shatterproof baubles, candy
canes and outdoor fairy lights.
if the weathers dry, pop a few
wrapped and weighted empty
boxes under the tree. a wooden
sleigh provides the perfect
prop for photo opportunities
000

We love
updating the
highland look
with oversized
white stars

EscapE to a scottish

think remote castles, roaring fres, pine trees and

classic tartan designs as the inspiration for
a hearty, welcoming look this Christmas

rich & warm

living room
a crackling fire, real tree and
wood panel-effect wallpaper
provide the perfect backdrop
for an inviting space that guests
will love spending a relaxing,
highland-inspired christmas in.
add texture with red woollen
throws, velvet tree decorations,
a real fir and cotton wreath and
practical sisal flooring underfoot.
serve traditional christmas cake
with a glass of whisky, port or
sherry, with small chocolate
treats for the children.

Casual
k
o
o
l
e
H
t
keeP
Mats
e
C
a
l
P
t
l
e
witH F
sswaRe
a
l
G
D
e
R
u
anD Colo

112

cosy dining
corner
Go for warm reds and greys in
your dining room, introducing a
tartan curtain for the perfect
Highland hideaway dining space.
Make a simple eyelet design to
replace your usual curtains,
creating a bold, snug space the
family will love for a Christmas
Day feast. Red felt place mats
give protection to a cloth-less
table and provide a shot of
colour that looks smart when
topped with your everyday white
china. Pine cones are the perfect
table-top decorations for this
look go for wax candle designs
or real ones. Finally, introduce
a potted red amaryllis and tall
decorated candles to give your
table setting height.
113

inviting
tartan snug
Buy or reupholster a traditional
wing-backed armchair in bold
red and cream tartan to create
a comfy corner for escaping
to during the festivities. Wool
curtains and a deep-pile rug add
to the cocooning feel, and keep a
warm blanket close to hand, ready
to pop over your lap for a quick
post-Christmas Lunch snooze.
For two smaller projects, cover a
footstool with tartan fabric, using
a staple gun or brass upholstery
tacks to hold it in place, then
have a go making a plain red
lampshade for an existing base.

We love
laying a rug to
sink toes into
after a long
winter walk

LAnkeT
B
n
A
T
r
A
T
Turn A
r CurTAin
o
o
d
A
o
T
in
CoLd ouT
e
H
T
p
e
e
k
To

traditional textures
Show off an impressive collection of tartan and check wool blankets by
draping them over a vintage wooden ladder. Turn everyday items into
stylists props scarves, mittens, sheepskin coats, hats and boots can
all be put to good use to give your hallway Highland style in a flash.
A welcoming hot water bottle for cold Christmas nights is an easy
project, just use an existing cover as a guide to cut and stitch your
new one from an offcut of tartan or an old blanket.
115

Classic Highland

little touches

Give our creative yet easy ideas a try and bring a touch of Highland
character to your decorating, foliage, gifting, cards and styling this year
Wrapping

two-paper presents
Wrap your box with one type of paper,
then fold a second contrasting square
into a triangle and cover half the box,
folding and taping where needed. Tie
with string and add pheasant feathers.

We love
tying parcels
with simple
twine in red
and white

116

CArds
e
s
e
H
t
e
iv
G
tHer
A
r
,
s
e
x
o
b
in smAll
lopes
e
v
n
e
n
A
H
t

cards

foliage
sprig card
Gather a selection of
festive foliage, such as pine
leaves, cotoneaster and rosemary.
Cut to around 8-10cm in length,
removing the lower leaves.
arranGe into a mini sprig or
bouquet and secure with a thin
elastic band. Fan into shape.
wind red thread around the
bottom of the sprigs, covering at
least 3cm of the stalks. Glue your
finished mini bouquets onto the
front of a folded piece of white
A4 card with a hot glue gun.

000

We love
using quirky
decorations to
trim a foliage
wreath

foliage

ski-inspireD wreath
Buy a ready-made wreath from your
local florist and wire on ski decorations,
cotton seedheads and a tartan bird.
118

place setting

Table
Terrarium
Fill a glass terrarium with
winter foliage, planted flowering
bulbs and cut flowers. Look out
for early narcissi and paperwhites
in pots for a quick display.
Decorate with baubles
nestled among the vases and
pots (avoid using candles as
the glass isnt heat resistant).
sit on a plain red table
runner, adding a robin decoration
to the top. Finally, use Scrabble
letters to spell out guests names,
sitting them on the letter holders.

apkinS
Look For n
hero
r
u
o
y
h
it
w
e a robin
ik
L
,
n
o
iF
t
mo

styling

present dip
Turn a basket into a lucky present dip,
with beautifully wrapped gifts inside.
Fix a numbered tag (say between one
and 10) to each and ask your guests to
choose a number for a surprise gift.

We love
making the
present giving
last with
fun ideas

120

PAPer
e
u
s
is
t
e
s
u
fAbric
in PlAce of
e look
t
A
ic
l
e
d
A
for

decoration

dcoupage
baubles
Cut red and white patterned
fabrics into small pieces, around
5cm in size (they dont have to
be exactly the same size), using
a sharp pair of fabric scissors.
Cover your bauble (either
an old one in need of a new
look or a polystyrene one) with
a layer of PVA glue, then stick on
your fabric pieces, overlapping
them to cover the whole bauble.
onCe your bauble is
completely dry, tie on a piece of
narrow red ribbon for hanging.

000

Classic Highland

tartan

Work a Scottish vibe with

must-have tartan accessories

Idea no.

fabric wreath
Either buy a tartan wreath or
create your own by covering
a polystyrene ring with tartan
ribbon. If youre making one, cut
2.5cm-wide tartan ribbon into
8cm strips (youll need around
100-150 in total). Fold each strip
in half and pin the raw edge side
to the wreath, working in rows to
cover and overlapping each row.

122

Idea no.

of
Add sPrigs
eCorATe
d
o
T
r
e
H
T
HeA
oCking
T
s
n
A
T
r
A
T
yoUr

velvet-trim
stocking
Cut two stocking shapes from
tartan, plus a velvet cuff. Hem
and trim the cuff with lace.
Machine stitch the tartan pieces
together, with right sides facing.
Turn; add the cuff to the top.

Idea no.

Idea no.

easy table
textiles

Use clean tartan and checked

bed linen for a relaxed Highland
table setting. Pop on a tartan
blanket to start, then use a single
duvet cover with a mitred tartan
border in place of a tablecloth.
Lastly, lay folded pillowcases
widthways as place mats.

beautiful
bed linen
Add an instant Highland feel
to your guest bedroom with
a red and white patchwork
duvet and a plain red cable-knit
throw. Choose tactile brushed
cotton to boost the cosy factor.

Idea no.

domed place
setting

We love
GoInG all-out
WIth StrIkInG
rEd tartan
WallpapEr

Pile up tartan-patterned
crockery at each guests
place setting, then turn
the soup bowl upside
down to make the
ideal display surface
for a glass scene
bauble, featuring an
on-trend Highland stag.

123

initial
cushion
cut two pieces of cream floral
fabric 52cm x 42cm and a red
piece 20cm x 20cm. add bias
binding to the edges of the red
square. hand stitch the initial,
using grossgrain ribbon, to the
centre of this square, then sew
it to the middle of one cream
piece. Pin both cream pieces
together, with right sides facing,
and machine stitch around four
sides, leaving a 15cm gap. turn,
add a 50cm x 40cm cushion pad
then slip stitch the gap closed.

We love
making initial
cushions for
newlyweds
as gifts

Classic Highland

scented bags
Cut two fabric pieces 12cm x 10cm with
pinking shears. Pin, with wrong sides facing,
and machine stitch 5mm down the two
longer sides and across the bottom. Add
lavender, then tie the bags neck with wool.

fabric
ideas
Spend an afternoon crafting,
making special gifts for friends

festive slippers
using existing slippers as a template, cut two
felt and one wadding upper and two fabric
and one wadding sole. layer the three soles
together and bind the raw edges. now layer
the uppers, binding the straight edge. Pin the
upper to the sole and machine stitch about
1.5cm in from the edge. hand stitch around
the upper, 1cm in from the edge. repeat.

gift crackers
Pop your gift in a 4cm cube box.
Cut a 20cm x 20cm piece of
fabric, a 22cm x 22cm piece of
cellophane and two 20cm pieces
of ribbon. Using transfer letters,
write the recipients name on
the cellophane. Lay it face down,
with the fabric face down on top,
then centre the gift box in the
middle. Roll to form a cracker,
tying each end with the ribbon.

suitcase ideas
Be creative with beautiful storage
fill leather and tartan
suitcases with everyday
unsightly clutter over the
christmas period and stack
to make a feature. sit the
full cases on a folded tartan
blanket, with a checked
cushion and toys on top
for a stylish display.

PoP wraPPed gifts in a

vintage case, rather than
a stocking, and leave at the
end of a childs bed. use
internal pockets for sweets
and small toys. the case can
also be used to hide gifts
in the run-up to christmas
before you wrap them.

000
124
125

set up a bar area

on a sideboard, with a
Christmas punch taking
centre stage below a
stags head. Line up
clean glasses, bottle
openers and coasters,
ready for guests to
help themselves

s into
it
ir
p
s
r
u
o
p
canters
e
d
s
s
a
l
g
cut
label
a
d
d
a
d
n
a

fir
hoLLy& trees
berries
red, white & green

stags
hot toddies

127

Make it Christmas

templates
Youll need paper and a pencil to
trace each of the templates below

Page no. 82
paper gift box

trace and enlarge

to suit the gift you
want to box up

Page no. 102

window angel

trace and enlarge

to the desired size

Page no. 23
3d paper star

trace and enlarge

for one point of
our five-point star

000
128

EvEryday stylE

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monthly
style
fix

Looking for more stylish ideas, inspiring

projects and easy makes for your home?
Check out Style at Home magazine every month,
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visit magazinesdirect.com or
housetohome.co.uk/digital-editions.
000

Make it

ChriStMaS
Editorial
Editor Jennifer Morgan
art director Jo Elston
Chief Sub-Editor Emily Pointer
publiShing
assistant publisher Harriet Dixon
publishers Belinda Cooper & Jenny Young
publishing director Yvonne Ramsden
Managing director, lifestyle Fiona Dent
advErtiSing
advertisement director Joanne OHara
MarkEting
Marketing Manager Alison Watson
CirCulation
Circulation Manager Paul Burden
issn 2052-5478
produCtion
Editorial production Manager Clare Willetts
art production Manager Gabriel Moroney
production Manager Alan Taylor
CrEditS
all photographS: timeincukcontent.com. With thanks to Country Homes & Interiors, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home
LivingEtc & Style at Home and the following photographers: Andrew Woods, Ania Wawtzkowicz, Annaick Guiitteny,
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Max Attenborough, Michelle Garratt, Myles new, Oliver Gordon, Peter Cassidy, Polly Eltes, Rachel Whiting, sean Myers,
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Make it

Christmas
Craft & styling projects to make your festive home unique

from the publisher of style at home,

ideal home and country homes & interiors