How to Make Christmas Decorations and Cards

Christmas decorations and cards can work out very expensive! Why not make your own this Christmas, saving money whilst adding a personal touch to the festive celebrations?

Here are some simple step-by-step guides to making baubles, a wreath, Christmas cards and an Xmas Star, courtesy of Dremel.

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS BAUBLES

Home made Christmas Baubles

Step One

Cut a length of ribbon long enough to fit around the bauble adding a little extra to overlap the ends. Glue it around the bauble. Cut two lengths of braid and glue them along both edges of the ribbon on the bauble.

Step Two

Work in small sections at a time so that the glue does not dry before the ribbon has been pressed onto it. Alternatively, glue one strip of braid along the middle of the ribbon.

Step Three

Apply dots of glue along the ribbon to decorate it, adding sequins and gems for extra embellishment. Make small dots of glue above and below the ribbon decoration for a more glittery bauble.

Materials required:

Plain baubles
Selection of ribbons and braids
Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
Sequins
Small glittery gems

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS WREATH

Home made Christmas Wreath

Step One

Apply glue to the bottom of a pine cone and stick it onto the wreath base. Glue cones around this one, angling them slightly for an uneven look. It is a good idea to tie a length of ribbon onto the wreath base at this stage if needed to hang the wreath to the door when it is finished.

Step Two

Continue to glue pinecones onto the wreath, covering the entire surface so that it cannot be seen. Select smaller cones and glue them on top of this first layer to create a little depth.

Step Three

Using glitter glue sticks, apply small dabs of the glitter glue onto the pinecones to give them a gentle shimmer. Tie two large bows and glue them together to form a double bow. Glue this to the top of the wreath using the glue gun.

Materials required:

Wreath base – use a plastic wreath base available from florists’ suppliers or try twiggy wreath bases available from flower shops and garden centres
Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
Pine cones
Ribbon to hang the wreath
Wired ribbon for the bow

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Step One

Measure and draw four strips of paper measuring 17cm by 1cm using a ruler and pencil. Cut them out with scissors

Step Two

Lay the strips over each other in a star shape, gluing each one down at the middle. Apply a dab of glue to the centre of the star shape (on the back) and stick the end of one of the strips onto it. Continue with the remaining seven strips to form a 3-D shape.

Step Three

Cut a square of paper and stick the star onto it. Decorate the star with a button and sequin attached with a large blob of glitter glue. Stick the square of paper onto paper of a different colour or pattern and then glue them onto a piece of silver card that has been folded in half to form the greetings card. Apply spots of glue around the edge of one of the squares and add extra glitter on the stars and patterned papers using the glitter glue.

Materials required:

Selection of patterned papers
Silver card
Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
Scissors, pen and ruler
Buttons and sequins

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS TREE STAR

Step One

Take two lengths of wire and glue them together to form a cross shape using the glue gun and glitter glue sticks. Lay two more wires across the first two to make a star shape and glue them together in the middle.

Step Two

Start to thread beads onto the wire, using the same arrangement of bead shapes and sizes on each arm of the wire star. Continue until the star is complete and you are happy with the arrangement.

Step Three

Apply small dots of glue between the beads to hold them in place and form extra decoration. Trim the ends of the wires with wire cutters if necessary. Using green glitter glue, add dots to the centre of the star, fixing a bead in the middle. Twist a length of wire around the middle of the star to use as a fixing to hold the star in place on the top of the tree.

Materials required:

Florists wire (four lengths)
Dremel Glue Gun and glitter sticks
Pearl beads in different shapes and sizes
Wire cutters

The Dremel Glue Gun Hobby Set including 12 glitter sticks in 6 different colours plus 10 glue sticks costs just £24.99 this Christmas from DIY shops or online from http://www.dremel-direct.com or http://www.tool-shop.co.uk/

Sears Canada Christmas Wish Lists

The Sears Wish Book(R) marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Canada when it lands on the doorsteps of over 4.5 million homes this month. For more than 55 years, Canadians have waited in anticipation for the Sears Wish Book, which has become an icon evoking a sense of nostalgia from childhood days gone by. Dog eared pages, torn-out wish items left for Santa, the Sears Wish Book still sends tingles of excitement for children when it arrives.

“The Sears Christmas Wish Book has been a staple of the Holiday season in Canadian homes for decades and has contributed to the magic of the holidays by making wishes come true for children young and old,” said Dene Rogers, President & CEO, Sears Canada Inc. ”

This year, there are more than 150 pages of toys and games featuring popular items from Hannah Montana, Disney’s High School Musical and Cars. New this year, Polly Pocket’s latest series, Lego Batman Sets and the Dark Knight Adventure Toys, based on this year’s hit blockbuster. Back this year and in high demand are Rock Band 2, XBOX 360 and Playstation 2 & 3.