How to make your own Christmas tree decorations and how to decorate your tree with homemade festive baubles

Whatever your festive style, we've got the ultimate guide on how to make Christmas baubles and decorate your tree with your own homemade decorations

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Getting into the Christmas spirit already and thinking about how to decorate your home this year?

Add a little personal touch to your tree this year with these easy-to-make baubles and lights. Personalise them to fit your theme or give to a friend as a cute stocking filler. You can do your bit for the environment as well, by upcycling the decorations you already have.

And if you're still stuck for present ideas, see our gift guides , Christmas dinner tips and more Christmas decorations inspiration.

Retro tree lights

Upcycle old lightbulbs to make these personalised penguins.

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You will need:

• An old lightbulb
• Sand paper
• Black, white, red, orange and green acrylic paint
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• An old fluffy glove
• Pencil

1. Carefully sand the lightbulb to make the surface rough so the paint will stick, then apply a thick coat of white paint. When that has completely dried, paint the back and sides with black paint, leaving the penguin’s face and stomach white.
2. Tie a piece of ribbon around the silver end of the bulb to hang the ornament, and secure with a blob of hot glue.
3. Cut the tip off the thumb or finger from the fluffy glove and use this as a hat. Pierce a hole in the top, so the ribbon can poke though, and secure in place with hot glue.
4. With a pencil, draw on the penguin’s features, the wreath and name. Once you are happy with your design, go over it with paint.
5. Finally, paint the penguin’s wings in black, then leave to dry.

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Rustic tree baubles

Natural colours mixed with traditional red and green will give your tree a homely feel.

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You will need:

• Polystyrene balls in various sizes
• A large ball of brown string
• Ribbon, lace and paper flowers to decorate
• Polystyrene glue
• A few long pins

1. Cover the top half of each ball with a drizzle of glue.
2. Pin the end of the string to the top of the ball, and start to wind the string around, being careful not to let any of the polystyrene show through. You may find it easier to let it dry in stages, pinning the string as you go.
3. Continue gluing and winding the string until you reach the bottom, then leave the whole piece to dry completely.
4. Remove the pins and glue a loop of string to the top to hang.
5. Glue a little bow to the top of the bauble, and a strip of lace and ribbon around the middle.
6. Then add flowers, bead, string or anything else that takes your fancy.

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Frosty icicle droplets

Cover your branches with icicle droplets.

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You will need:

• 0.8mm silver-plated wire
• Round-nose pliers
• A few pearls, crystals and metallic beads in graduated sizes
• Filigree caps
• Bead glue

1. Cut 15cm of the wire and make a tiny loop at one end with the pliers. From the loop, coil the end round by hand to make a 1.5cm circle. Bend the tail of the wire at a right angle next to the coil.
2. Add the beads, starting with the biggest pearls and filigree caps and ending with the smallest crystal.
3. Trim the wire flush with the crystal, then remove it briefly while you add a dab of bead glue, before putting it back on. Leave to dry, then hang the loop on a tree branch.

Penguin baubles from Ladywiththeredrocker.com .

String baubles from Half Yard Christmas by Debbie Shore, £11.99, Searchpress.com .

Icicles from Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading, £12.99, Stitchcraftcreate.co.uk .