Home-made Christmas tree decorations - love them or loathe them, if you're a parent you're practically guaranteed to find your Christmas tree groaning under the weight of decorations made by your children.
And of course a Christmas tree decoration isn't complete to a child unless it looks like something exploded in a glue, glitter and and shiny paper factory.
Like Gremlins, those festive kid-creations seem to multiply every year. While some mums treasure the decorations lovingly made by their children, I know of at least one mum who lets her children have miniature Christmas trees in their bedrooms - expressly so that she doesn't have to tolerate what she calls 'the tat they make at school' cluttering up her achingly chic Christmas tree.
Well - here's an alternative. Last year my son's school hosted a fabulous family Christmas craft day, where we learned how to make these classy Christmas fairies. There is some dispute as to whether they're angels or fairies but the point is they're incredibly easy to make AND they actually look beautiful hanging on a tree, sparkling in among the fairy lights. When we put our Christmas decorations away last year I couldn't bring myself to pack these away so they've spent all year hanging in the kitchen window, twinkling in the sunlight.
Here's how to make your own:
You will need:
1 pipe cleaner
Cotton thread
10cm wire-edged ribbon
1 bead
Crepe paper (about 10cm x 10cm)
Sellotape
Bend one end of the pipe cleaner to make a small circle. This will be your angel's halo.
Thread your bead onto the other end of the pipe cleaner and push it up to just beneath the halo. This is your angel's head. Teardrop-shaped beads work especially well.
Take your wire-edged ribbon and tie it around the pipe cleaner just beneath the bead. This makes the angel's wings and also helps keep your bead in place.
Next, wrap your crepe paper around the pipe cleaner, scrunching it up tightly so that it looks like the angel's dress. Use a small piece of sellotape or thread to secure the dress if necessary.
Bend the bottom of the pipe cleaner a little to help keep everything in place.
Lastly, loop some thread through the halo and tie it tightly, then hang your Christmas angel on the tree!
These fairies / angels are bound to put a smile on Granny's face as a little festive gift, and if you make several in different colours they look very pretty as a set of tree decorations.
Check out these places for beads:
For more ideas on Christmas preparations with your kids, have a look here.
We'd love to print photos of your favourite children's Christmas tree decorations. Email tamsin.kelly@teamaol.com or log on to our Facebook page.