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Thinking about how to decorate your home this Christmas?

If your old decorations are looking like they've had their day or you fancy a change this year, why not have a go at making your own?

We show you how to make your own festive wreath to welcome your guests, gingerbread garland for your fireplace and tree stockings to put your treats in.

And if you're still stuck for Christmas ideas, see our gift guides, Christmas dinner recipes and more Christmas decorations inspiration.

Easy traditional Christmas wreath

You will need*:

Faux green wreath

Large red bow

Red fake berry garland

Dried cinnamon sticks

Dried oranges

3m of 25mm gold organza ribbon

Scissors

Wire cutters

Glue gun

(Image: Hobbycraft)

Firstly, snip the berry clusters off the garland. Cluster three cinnamon sticks together and tie them with gold ribbon. Push the red berries into the wreath foliage, then arrange your other embellishments around the wreath, and use a glue gun to secure them in place. At the top of the wreath, tie on some gold ribbon for hanging. Finally, place the large red bow in the top centre and

glue or wire in place.

*You can buy all the items you need for this wreath in a bundle from £12, Hobbycraft.

Felt gingerbread garland

(Image: Searchpress.com)

You will need:

Brown felt: 13 x 22cm per gingerbread man (Use different shades if you wish)

6 small beads

30cm of white 6mm ricrac

40cm of 6-9mm wide gingham ribbon

80cm of narrow ribbon or string

Brown and red embroidery cotton

20g of toy filling

Tools:

Paper, fabric, embroidery scissors, felt-tip pen, embroidery needle, beading needle and dressmaking pins

Draw out a gingerbread man template (13cm high and 11cm wide). Cut it out and use this to cut two body pieces per gingerbread man. For each figure, draw the face on one piece (semicircles are great for smiley or sleepy eyes, or small crosses). Embroider the features on using back stitch. Sew three beads down the front of two of your gingerbread men as buttons. Use the ricrac to decorate the other two figures: make cuffs on the arms and legs, or use as the hem of a skirt. Secure in place at the edges with very small stitches. Use the gingham ribbon to make a scarf or a tie. Simply knot it at the front or tie it in a bow. Lay all of the back pieces in a row, right side down, in the order in which they will be strung on the garland and approximately 5cm apart. Lay the ribbon or string across them, level with the ends of the arms. For each figure, place the front piece on top of the back piece, wrong sides facing, and pin them together, making sure that the ribbon is held in place securely. Stitch the first figure together with blanket or overhand stitch, ensuring you stitch around and not through the ribbon at the ends of the arms. This will hold the gingerbread man in place, but still allow him to be moved along the ribbon if necessary. When you get to the ricrac edges, make sure they are folded neatly inside and secure. Leave a small gap for stuffing. Fill your gingerbread man with stuffing and close the seam completely. Repeat for all of the gingerbread men/women.

Tip: Make individual men by attaching a loop of ribbon to their heads before sewing up!

Felt Christmas tree stocking

(Image: Hobbycraft)

You will need:

Red felt stocking

Green and brown felt

Multicol–our sequins

Thread

Silver seed beads

Scissors

Ruler and pencil

Needle

Pins

Cut five different sized triangles from the green felt using the cuff along the top of your stocking as a guide to how big they should be. Take a long thread (with a secure knot in the end) and needle and sew the ‘tree light’ sequins on to the green felt. Starting in the corner of the triangle, push the needle up through the felt. While the needle is still in the felt, add a sequin and a seed bead to it. Pull the needle and thread all the way through (the sequin will now be against the felt), then push the needle back down through the hole in the sequin. The bead will hold it in place. Repeat this process until the tree is covered, then secure and cut the thread at the back. Repeat for all five trees. Cut five strips of brown felt for the tree trunks. Place the trunks at the base of each tree, then sew them on. Arrange the trees on the stocking, pin them in place, then handstitch them on. Now they’re ready to hang on your fireplace.

Traditional wreath and felt stocking from Hobbycraft, visit blog.hobbycraft.co.uk for more craft ideas.

Gingerbread men from Felt Christmas Decorations, by Corinne Lapierre, £4.99, searchpress.com.