Christmas craft ideas – simple sustainable styles to DIY this December

Tis' the season to embrace homespun charm, and test out all the Christmas craft ideas while sipping mulled wine and watching The Holiday for the 17th time. We are so keen this year to have a more sustainable Christmas and not fill our home with things that will inevitably end up in landfill, so this year we are going to get crafty and go for a more homemade Christmas that won't only look lovely and be full of personality but will be far better for the environment too.

So to practice what we preach, we have pulled together all the festive crafts we will be trying out this year to inspire you to get crafty too. From the classic wreath making to DIY Christmas decorating ideas, there's a craft here for all styles and all abilities. 

Simple Christmas crafts to try out

1. Fill the ceiling with paper stars

Old fashioned paper decs have been a Christmas trend for years now and they just keep getting bigger. They are eco-friendly, filled with nostalgia, and so simple to DIY yourself too. There are plenty of DIY paper decs you could try, from simple cut-out snowflakes to the origami stars that fill the ceiling in this hallway. Whatever style you go for, more is more, what's more inviting than a room filled with paper chains? Or a gorgeous display of snowflakes hanging above the Christmas table. 

So get a festive film on, rope the family in, and sit with just paper and scissors creating some lovely decorations that you can hang up all over the house. And don't be too fussy if they don't turn out perfect, that's all part of the charm.  

2. Create a wreath to suit your style

Making the Christmas wreath is one of our personal favorite Christmas past times, and if you haven't made one yourself before it's surprisingly easier. Plus, it's made even easier when you buy a pre-made willow or metal base, or a moss ring. Then all you have to do is fill it with luscious evergreen foliage, most of which you can find in your garden. 

We spoke with the expert, florist Philippa Craddock, who gave us her top tips for how to make a Christmas wreath, so head to our step-by-step guide for everything you need to know. 

3. DIY a beautiful Christmas centerpiece 

Much like a wreath, making a Christmas centerpiece can often be done from foliage you can forage. And you can really get creative too, making something that reflects your style and suits the vibe you are going for your Christmas table decor, whether that be chic and minimal, or country-style rustic.

There are lots of ways to make a centerpiece, but a really simple one is to fill a compote bowl (essentially a vase with a stem) with soaked floral foam, and then start with some evergreen pieces like fir and box to disguise the foam. Add in some tendrils of ivy, to flow over the sides of the vase. Then incorporate sprigs holly for extra texture and contrast with their nice waxy leaves, and berries for a pop of color. You could create something like this in minutes, just be creative and play around with your arrangement until it looks full and festive. And you can make a collection of these to run down the spine of your table for a really showstopping centerpiece. 

4. Print your own gift wrap

Doesn't this take you back? You might think potato printing is a Christmas craft for kids, but trust Annie Sloan to have made it infinitely more stylish, and prove you can get some really effective, even chic results using a potato. It's a lovely and really easy way to make your own wrapping paper, using just brown paper as a base. Sustainable and cute. 

If you haven't used this ancient printing method before, it's a very fine art that takes years of practice. Of course, we are joking, just get yourself a potato, cut it in half and draw your design onto the potato, and cut it out. Then use a paintbrush to cover the shape with whatever color you like (white looks lovely on brown paper), and simply print it onto your paper. Again, don't worry if it looks a bit shabby, it will look great once you've added some ribbons and they are all pilled together under the tree. 

5. Dry out oranges for wreaths and garlands

Dried oranges are such a versatile decoration, they look lovely just sitting on the branches of a Christmas tree, strung together to make a garland or secured into a wreath. They are so simple to make too and fill the house with the most beautiful festive scent. To make dried oranges, heat your oven to 140C/120C fan and then line a baking tray with baking parchment. Slice your oranges into around 2cm slices and arrange them on the tray. Bake for 45mins to 1hr. Leave them to cool and then use them how you like!

6. Make your own crackers this year

Not only are DIY crackers better for the environment, it means you can fill them with things people would actually want to take home, rather than an oversized plastic paper clip and a joke everyone has heard every Christmas for decades.

To make your own crackers, the easy way is to buy a kit, Etsy sell plenty of simple paper designs that you can really make your own. Fill them with Christmas table gifts that feel personal and will actually mean something to your guests – just don't forget to add the paper hats and write your own jokes!

7. Elevate your table with easy but effective DIY decor

Decorations that float above the Christmas table, really do take it to the next level, adding something more magical than a classic centerpiece. And while they might look incredibly impressive, they can be surprisingly easy to make. Simply find a branch that suits the size of your table, and isn't too weighty as it will need to hang from the ceiling. Then attach your choice of decorations to the branch, which could be anything from baubles on clear wire and paper decorations, to tendrils of ivy or, as seen here, dried orange garlands and greenery.

What the easiest Christmas craft?

The easiest Christmas craft that anyone can take part in is making paper chains. And they can be so versatile too, while they might once have been a bit kitsch if you stick with white paper they can work so well with a rustic or minimalist decorating scheme. The same goes for the classic Christmas craft idea, paper snowflakes, you really can't go wrong with them, group them all together and they'll always look magical.

Making a wreath can be an easy craft too, if you get a head start with a good base like a moss ring or a pre-made fir wreath. Then is just about adding your own greenery and experimenting until you get a look you are happy with.