Homemade Christmas decorations

Make Christmas extra-special this year - create these beautiful decorations for your home or as gifts, and send your friends and family a card to remember.

Christmas tree advent calendar

Your children will enjoy receiving a small treat each December day from this eye-catching advent calendar

What you need: Selection of different coloured felt squares (normal or self-adhesive), measuring 22 x 30 cm Green and brown water-based paint All-purpose or fabric glue (preferably with a narrow nozzle) A selection of coloured sequins Gold or silver cord or ribbon Double-sided Velcro™ Scissors Craft knife Cardboard, 3mm thick and measuring at least 27 x 37cm 24 small toys or sweets Tissue paper

To make the felt bags:

Cut a selection of different coloured felt into 8 x 6cm pieces. For a complete advent calendar you will need 24 bags (you can make these bigger or smaller). Take each piece of felt and glue along one of the long edges and the two short sides, using all-purpose or fabric glue. Fold the felt in half and press glued edges together. Leave to dry.

Note: You can also use self-adhesive felt. Lift the backing paper up a little and trim a narrow strip of the backing paper along the three sides, leaving the rest of the paper on the felt to serve as a bag lining. Press the edges together and the felt will stick tightly together.

To decorate the bags:

Using a tube of glue with a narrow nozzle, draw each number (date) on to the bags and stick on sequins. Leave to dry. Attach self-adhesive Velcro™ (approx 3cm x 3cm) to the back of each bag, keeping both pieces of Velcro™ together. Wrap small gifts, such as costume jewellery, marbles, plastic dinosaurs, toy soldiers, single sweets, chocolates or coins, in tissue paper and slip into the bags. Cut gold and silver cord or pieces of ribbon into 20cm strips and tie tightly around the bags.

To make the tree:

Draw the shape of a Christmas tree on a piece of sturdy cardboard. Using a craft knife or sharp scissors, cut out the shape of the tree. Paint the tree on both sides and leave to dry.

To attach the bags:

Evenly space bags numbered 1-12 on one side of the tree. When you are happy with their position, peel the backing off the Velcro™ already attached to the bags and press into position. Repeat on the other side with bags 13-24.

To make the tree pot:

On a piece of 3mm-thick card, draw two identical pot shapes, measuring 16.5cm at the top and 8.5cm at the base, and cut them out. Using the card pot as a template, cut out two pot shapes in felt. Glue the cardboard to the felt and leave to dry. Glue the two shortest sides and bottom of the card together, to form an 'envelope'. Draw the number 25 with glue and attach sequins. Put the tree into its pot 'envelope' and slip in a card or a special Christmas Day message.