Adorn your outside space with these quick and easy CHRISTMAS CREATES
#1 JOLLY BIG FOLIAGE RING
Start your festive glow-up with this simple but sensational whopper that’s sure to out-do your neighbours’ efforts. When you buy your Christmas tree, ask for offcuts – most places will be happy to gift the thick branches lopped to create clean trunks. Lay the branches in a long line on the ground, cut ends all pointing in the same direction and each branch overlapping the last by around two thirds. Wrap wire or twine around the main stems to fix together, then fashion the line of pine into a circle (it’s easier with another pair of hands to help), overlapping as much as needed to create a strong frame, and secure with wire or twine.
#2 GLEAMING ICE-VIBE BOWLS
A collection of these frozen flower lanterns make a fabulous centrepiece on a patio table and they’ll last for ages even if temperatures aren’t freezing, especially if you use LED candles.
Choose a bowl or tin and half-fill with water. Drop in whatever garden treasures you can find, or pull the flowers from a cheap bunch of supermarket blooms. Stand a smaller bowl in the centre, ensuring that at least one sprig or flower is caught underneath it, so there’s a layer of water between the dishes. If needed, put a strip of sticky tape over the top of the lot, from one side of the larger dish to the other, to stop the smaller bowl from floating in the water. Top up with water and freeze overnight.
To release the ice lantern, hold the outer container in warm water for a few seconds, and pour a little warm water into the small bowl as well if needed. Pop in a tealight or three, depending on the size of the lantern (Submersible LED Tealights, £5.80/6, hobbycraft.co.uk).
Christmas SPECIAL
#3 PRETTY PINE-SPRIG SNOWFLAKES
Turn offcuts from your Christmas tree into these moments-to-make snowflakes. Use a hot glue gun (£5, hobbycraft.co.uk) to join three sticks together at the centre and, once set, wrap florists’ reel wire (£1.89, theessentialscompany.co.uk) around the central blob to strengthen. Then simply wire a pine sprig to each stick, and finish by fashioning a hanging loop to push over a nail or screw in your fence.
#4 HO-HO-HO HELLEBORE NEST
TIP Clematis or honeysuckle stems will make a great base too
Your local garden centre will be selling hellebores in bloom now, kept cosy under glass to ensure they flower in time for Christmas. Choose a pot with ple
