Do It Yourself Country Christmas Decorations

A country Christmas brings to mind thoughts of warm comfortable rooms, a fragrant tree and a traditional celebration. Decorations create the cozy atmosphere of the country home. You can create do-it-yourself country Christmas decorations with easily gathered natural items, craft items, kitchen goodies and things that you have on hand. Does this Spark an idea?

Natural Decorations

Evergreen wreaths and floral arrangements add beauty and fragrance to your country home at Christmastime. Combinations of pods, berry-laden twigs, holly and pine cones can be tucked into antique metal or ceramic pitchers filled with native greens or white pine branches. A cedar and fir wreath or swag decorated with dried flowers and a bow will be hung on the front door to welcome guests. A basket of cones or white birch firewood set by the fireplace is decorative and useful, as the wood pieces are used for fire starters. Top the center of a crossed pair of snowshoes with a cluster of cones and cedar bough tips for a fragrant wall hanging. Use cones, berries and bird nests with artificial red cardinals to adorn the tree.

Fabric Touches

A comfortable and cozy atmosphere is created with patchwork pillows on the sofa, a quilted or knit throw on your favorite chair and a braided rug underfoot. Use pieces of tartan cloth or grosgrain ribbon to tie back curtains in the dining or living room. A burlap sack filled with gifts for friends and drop-in guests sets the scene in the entryway with a runner sled from your childhood. Edge the base of the tree with a hand quilted, appliqued tree skirt or a recycled plaid woolen skirt. Candlelight reflects off of the gold threads running through a red and green plaid table runner that flows down the length of the table. Wrap gifts in muslin or holiday print fabrics tied with rich ribbon bows in place of throwaway papers.

Crafts

Decorate your country home with handmade crafts at Christmastime. Patchwork potholders, a gingham Christmas apron and an embroidered tablecloth will add a touch of the holiday to the kitchen. A collection of handmade stuffed felt snowmen, homespun cloth animals or crocheted angels snuggle in various nooks throughout the house. Hang felt or knit stockings from the mantle and fill them with sprigs of fresh greens and dried flowers until Christmas Eve. A hand carved wooden Nativity and stable or Christmas countdown tree will add a conversation piece to any flat surface in your country home. Fashion raffia bows, small bouquets of dried Christmas colored flowers, and pinecone tips dipped in glitter glue for quick decorations to place in a room.

The Tree

Make country style decorations from felt cut outs that are stuffed and blanket stitched with embroidery thread to create garlands and individual hanging ornaments for your tree. String garlands of popcorn and cranberries for old-fashioned country tree trimmings. Set battery operated candles mixed with strings of white lights onto the tree for a country cabin atmosphere. Small nosegays of baby's breath, dried hydrangea and ribbon bows add an airy appeal to tree branches. Use your baking and crafting skills to add cellophane wrapped cookies, painted wooden cutouts and clay characters to the traditional ornament collection.