Merry & Bright

Create a little extra-personal Christmas cheer with our easy DIY decorations.

NATIVE CHANDELIER
You will need

• 4 branches or pieces of wood (2 x long, of similar length, and 2 x short, of similar length)
• Thin garden wire
• Secateurs
• Rope or thick string
• 2 removable ceiling hooks
• Foliage and flowers
• Battery-powered fairy lights with battery
• Assorted hanging Christmas decorations

1 Place four branches in a rectangle shape on the floor with ends of branches overlapping to create the chandelier frame. Wire each corner together tightly and twist wire to secure.

2 Cut two equal lengths of rope or thick string to hang the chandelier. Tie one piece of rope to the top left corner of the rectangle, then tie the other end to the bottom left corner to form a loop between one of the short sides of the rectangle. Repeat on the other side of the rectangle with second piece of rope. Tie securely.

3 Follow the instructions for attaching ceiling hooks.

4 Hang rope loops from ceiling hooks.

5 Wire small bunches of foliage and flowers onto frame.

6 Wire or tape the battery to the frame; wrap fairy lights around the chandelier and hang decorations.

DAMPER DECORATIONS
You will need

• 4 cups plain flour
• Large mixing bowl
• 1 cup salt
• 1½ cups lukewarm water
• Rolling pin
• Baking paper
• Cookie cutters or knife
• Chopstick
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Paint and brush or marker pen (optional)