I never need an excuse to get creative and neither do you.

And at an expensive time of year, in a year where people are particularly cost-conscious due to the economic situation, this is a good opportunity to get creative with your Christmas decorations.

So here are a few ideas for simple Christmas tree and table decorations. Some of the ideas use natural materials, many of which you could find and gather while out for a walk. Have fun making these with the kids and ensure that your decorations are original, unique and have their own story to tell in future years.

• Gather some brightly coloured leaves and ones with interesting shapes. Make sure the leaves are dry and then wax them. Or paint or spray them. Scatter a few as table ornaments, fill a bowl or decorative dish or add them to the Christmas tree with a ribbon tie.
• Collect together pinecones, pine sprigs, acorns, nuts, twigs, small branches, pebbles, gravel, etc. See what you can find lying around while you’re out for a walk. Spray them in gold, silver, white, etc. Or use glittery paint. Add a brightly coloured or sparkly tie or bow. Hang them on the tree or make a decoration for a window or door. Create a table centrepiece adding a selection of items to a pretty bowl or dish. Or create place holders.
• Tie bundles of cinnamon sticks together with pretty ribbon. You can add these around the house, hang them on the tree, or use them to create your table decoration.
• Spray bare branches with white or silver paint and place in a large vase to create a lovely display. Or use spray-on snow. Removable spray-on snow can also be used with stencils to add snowflakes and icicles to windows.
• Trim fresh evergreen branches from a tree and place them across the mantelpiece. Add some pinecones or other elements (see previous ideas) to the greenery. Entwine some gorgeous, textured ribbon or garland through the display. Add some height to the display by placing sprayed branches or twigs with red berries in vases or votives of different sizes. Or fill clear vases or  bowls with spray-painted nuts and pebbles or glass beads.
• If you want to create a display that has a snow effect use white and silver. Line the mantelpiece or surface with scrunched tulle or other suitable white or silvery fabric. Add clear vases filled with silver glass ornaments and clear votives with white candles. Use glitter and paint to add the illusion of freshly fallen, sparking flakes.
• And don’t forget to think about how to use fairy lights (safely) in your decorative creations.

I hope that these suggestions have sparked some creative ideas.

Feel free to add your own suggestions for homemade Christmas decorations in the comments section.