D.I.Y.

Wreaths

Wreaths are the height of fashion. And I’m not talking Martha Stewart’s gold pine cone “creations”.  Today’s florists are taking cues from fashion (think Anna Sui, Boudicca, McQueen) and movies like  Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette  to create  modern wreaths that are completely in step with trends. Fiona MacKenzie-Jenkin, owner of boutique florist, Black Tulip explains, “Our generation don’t do wreaths, unless they’re in a style that we understand.” She mixes antique brooches with feathers and black ivy.  The effect is extraordinary, historical and a bit like a McQueen head-dress. Hip northern florist, Adam Prest meanwhile takes a “cut and paste” approach  mixing net, roses and pompoms. “You really can use anything,” says Prest, clutching chandelier droplets and neon ribbon (which, incidentally he mixes to great effect). Rock photographer Roger Sargent would agree — he came home one night to find girlfriend Kerry had strung Polaroids of Roger’s shoot with Dirty Pretty Things, The Libertines and Babyshambles together into a wreath for their door.

Try it!

Mini wreaths

Making a wreath is superbly easy — for miniature wreaths (which look gorgeous hanging on branches as Christmas Tree decorations ) I created a hoop from a piece of medium weight garden wire and attached  ivy, holly, berries and faux cherry blossom using thinner florists’ wire. The ivy and holly (from my garden) are spray painted black (in keeping with the current trend for all things gothic, darling).

Larger Wreaths

For a larger wreath to use either as a centrepiece or to decorate your door, buy  by a piece of Oasis (available  from any florist). Run it quickly under the tap so it is damp, but not soaking, then gather tons of foliage, which you can literally “spike” in to the oasis.
It’s worth also being a little adventurous with materials  Pearl Lowe uses scraps of vintage lace while Joanna Berryman, owner of designer boutique Jezebel, clusters miniature porcelain horses in hers.

Garden wire, £2.99, Homebase, (0845 300 1768) Oasis, feathers and florists wire, from a selection at Hobbycraft (0800 027 2387), Cherry blossom, £11 per sprig, Eccentricities 0207 359 5633. Black gloss spray paint, £5.99, 01223 836400; www.plastikote.co.uk )

If all that sounds like too much hassle

There are some fab florists that will do the handiwork for you:

Black Tulip, based in London is the florist du jour, supplying the top designers, Tate Modern. owner Fiona MacKenzie-Jenkin worked in event management  and fashion preceding floristry, so there’s real drama to her displays and as the shop name suggests, historic references. Expect: uber glam, peacock feathers (a Victorian favourite) and black crystals.  (0207 689 0068)

Whippetgrey do wonderful metal laser-cut wreaths depicting silhouette of flowers, woodland creatures and lucky charms, in berry and lime, for something really low maintenance . (01494 890400)

Adam Prest is the North’s hippest florist, designing for footballers wives and all the stately homes. He’ll create anything from modern wreaths bursting with pompoms to chic classics, generally while discussing celebrity outfits pictured in Grazia or Vogue with you. Expect: a wonderfully entertaining experience  and real art pieces. (07748595151 adam@adamprest.co.uk)

Gisela Graham creates timeless classics and supplies wreaths to Liberty’s Christmas shop. She includes cute reindeer and bird figurines, feathers, beaded berries, jaunty twigs and flame coloured foliage. Expect: Top end traditional (020 7708 4956 www.giselagraham.co.uk

Other ideas for the elsewhere in the garden

There’s tons you can to do elsewhere to create an enchanting garden, and I’m not talking energy sapping fairy lights (they’re so pre-Gore). “To get shine without lights hang metallic decorations in trees, they reflect moonlight,” says designer Emily Readett-Bayley. She makes big stars and metallic letters that are perfect for spelling messages in trees. How impressed would you be to see “Ho! Ho! Ho!” or “Get your dancing shoes on!” flickering in the moonlight  leading up to a party?  The effect is much more romantic than last year’s fairy-lit blingathon.

Another idea worth pursuing is a sculptural “statement” piece. Remember the topiary rabbit in the Big brother garden? I got a little carried away moulding a life size reindeer, from chickenwire  and  attaching poinsettias — which incidentally are all the rage — did you see Antibodi’s poinsettia print chaise lounge, not to mention Dutch designers Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe’s work at the Milan Furniture Fair, daaaahling?

Posh Graffiti letters and decoration, from Emily Readett-Bayley  (01400 281 563)
Poinsettas from DZD (0207 388 7488)

Download these instructions as a pdf here.

Flower Power Reindeer Christmas Decorations

These cute Liberty-print reindeer are the Paul Smith of Christmas decorations — traditional “with a twist”. With their cute googly eyes and rhinestone antlers, they’re bound to bring a smile to even your most cynical guests’ faces. 

The process is something the children will easily be able to follow.

You will need: card, glue, scissors, fabric or wrapping paper, googly eyes, crystals, glitter and feathers.

Cut out reindeer shapes in card, using a cookie cutter as a stencil (available from Jane Asher).

Apply a thin layer of craft glue to the card and press a piece of fabric or wrapping paper firmly over the top. In this instance a small Liberty-style print will look best and suit the scale of the piece. Anything bigger and the pattern will be lost. Repeat on the other side then leave your flowery reindeer shape to dry.

Now for the fun bit. Roll your sleeves up and get the glitter and googly eyes out. You can buy these in any craft shop, such as Hobbycraft. Feathers are a cute idea for the reindeers’ tails, and pompoms make funny noses — both can be bought from craft shops.

Glue a googly eye on each side, then snip slithers of feathers for  the tails. Either glitter or crystals look great highlighting the antlers.

Try making a few in different materials for a mix and match herds.

Pierce a small hole in the top of each reindeer’s back and attach to the tree with florists’ wire or fishing twine.

Leather Stars

Keep it chic.

If you haven’t managed to shake off the minimal  vibe at home, don’t bother -  it’s a great backdrop for metallic leather, or wool stars.

These are superbly simple to make, so do a stack at a time. They will look stunning with free-hanging DIY snowflakes — or on the tree with plain matt baubles.

You will need
Card
Scissors
Glue
Fabric — either leather or wool looks great
A selections of glitters, sequins and crystals

Use a cookie cutter as a stencil and cut five or six star shapes in card.

Glue metallic paper, fabric or offcuts of leather (which looks especially good — buy them on ebay) to the shape and trim them down.

Add dots of glue on top and sprinkle with glitter, crystals and sequins.

Leave for 20 minutes, or until the glue is dry then shake off the excess glitter.

That’s it. I almost want to apologise because they’re so easy!

Either nestle them within the branches of your tree or hang using fishing twine.

Pom poms

Pom poms are a huge trend in fashion and a hip DIY alternative to boring baubles. Pick punky neon or textured yarns and add in other materials like plastic or wire.

Messing with scale and making a few huge poms to hang from ceilings, is a great way to make a statement,  too. The process is easy and children will love it.

Draw a large circle on a piece of card — about 8cm should do.

Draw a smaller circle inside about 3.5cm in the centre.

Cut out around the larger circle and then the smaller one out of the middle so that you have a shape that looks like a donut.

Do the above twice — you need two “donut” rings to make each pom.

Holding the two donut shapes together , start winding yarn around the edge and through the middle. It’s a good idea to wind five or six arms lengths of  time as this will mean you will get round your donut shape five or six times quicker. Keep winding around the card ring until you have covered it, then continue until the central hole is nearly  filled.

Slip the point of a pair of sharp scissors through the yarn loops and between  the two cardboard rings.

Cut all the way around the perimeter, prise the rings open — just a little so you can see the yarns between them and tie another piece of yarn tightly between the card rings, to “belt” the yarns together.

Now rip away the card, fluff out your pompom and trim down and rogue yarns. Presto! You’re done. Now think about what innovative new materials you can try.

To download these instructions in a pdf click here.