Merry Craft-mas

Tabletop tree

What you need

• 1 cup cement
• 1 cup water
• 50mm paint scraper
• 5mm x 915mm balsa wood dowel
• Fast-setting adhesive (we used Parfix ‘Super Glue')
• Handsaw
• Measuring tape and pencil
• Safety equipment
• Small pail
• Small plastic container

Method

1. Measure and mark dowel to lengths of 450mm for trunk, 205mm for the lowest branch, 155mm for the centre and 105mm for the top. Cut using a handsaw.
2. Work on a flat surface and use fast-setting adhesive to attach branches to trunk, measuring up from the base to position them at about 190mm, 300mm and 400mm. Leave to dry for 20 minutes.
3. Wearing safety glasses, waterproof gloves and a mask, gradually combine cement with approximately equal parts water in a pail, mixing with scraper to a toothpaste-like consistency. Pour into plastic container to a depth of 70mm.
4. Position base of tree in centre of tub. Prop it against a wall to stand straight and leave to dry overnight. Remove tub and style with lightweight decorations.

Rustic wreath

What you need

• 1m cotton webbing
• 350mm D.I.Y. wire wreath in green (from craft stores and floristry suppliers)
• Combination pliers
• Hardy foliage (we used eucalyptus leaves, gumnuts and olive branches)
• Secateurs
• Tie wire (we used Whites ‘Wire-pak' 0.7mm galvanised tie wire)

Method

1. Select the largest pieces of foliage  as the base greenery, trimming ends neatly with secateurs before positioning them in a clockwise direction around  the wreath, bending the stems to thread through the wire.
2. Position smaller sprigs of foliage around top, trimming and bending stems to thread through wreath.
3. At back of wreath, secure the stems with 150mm lengths of tie wire, cut with pliers, looping the tie wire through the wreath and twisting ends together.
4. Loop a length of cotton webbing around top of wreath, tie and hang over a screw or hook, trimming stray foliage with secateurs.
5. Pro tip: cut webbing to length so the wreath hangs just below eye level.

Timber star

What you need

• 15mm x 915mm balsa wood dowel (x3)
• Handsaw
• Jute twine
• Measuring tape and pencil
• Protractor
• Safety equipment

Method

1. To make the star, measure and cut the lengths of dowel in half with a handsaw, keeping five pieces and discarding one.
2. Position the pieces on a flat surface, arranging and layering them into a five-pointed star shape as pictured above, with internal angles of 36° at each point.
3. Bind the pieces together at the points with 200mm lengths of jute twine, tying knots to finish and trimming the excess with scissors.

Clay tree decorations

What you need

• Christmas tree cookie cutter
• Craft clay (we used Boyle air drying clay in White)
• Interior wall paint (we used Taubmans Silky Blue)
• Jute twine
• Rolling pin
• Size 12 craft paintbrush

Method

1. With clean hands and work area, knead the clay until soft and smooth. Spread out with rolling pin to 5mm thick.
2. Press the cookie cutter into clay, agitate it slightly to cut through, remove the tree shape and position it flat, repeating to make more shapes.
3. Make a hanging hole through top of each tree, using handle end of paintbrush. Leave to dry for 24 hours.
4. Paint trees using paintbrush, applying two coats. Leave to dry.
5. Thread 200mm lengths of jute twine through holes to hang.

Place cards

What you need

• Adhesive (we used Parfix PVA wood glue)
• Blank craft coasters (we used Boyle 5 point star and round coasters)
• Craft paint brushes
• Interior wall paint (we used Taubmans Silky Blue and Brilliant White)
• Wooden craft letters (we used Boyle 81 piece alphabet wood kit)

Method

1. Set out the coasters and letters to paint in contrasting colours, applying two coats and leaving to dry. Mix white in the colour to create tones of the same shade and leave some pieces natural.
2. Arrange the letters on the star and coasters and apply dabs of adhesive to secure them. For a fun touch, you could use abbreviations and nicknames for guests' place cards.