For many of us, the next few weeks means dusting off the old box of Christmas Tree decorations, hanging a wreath on the door and thinking about ways to add festive cheer around the house. 

After the year we have all had, festive cheer on a budget is uppermost in my mind! I always like to make Christmas Tree decorations with the kids, and slowly, every year, our tree gets fuller and heavier. My sister prefers a sparser more ‘architectural’ tree, whereas my neighbour likes to set a new colour scheme each year. 

Whatever your style preference, there are loads of clever environmentally-conscious ideas for decorations using common household objects. Christmas can become a circular economy in all ways – we all just need to think before we buy things. Here are a couple of ideas to get your Christmas ball rolling... 

IDEA #1: Dried Oranges make eco-friendly tree, candle and wreath decorations. 
• Cut oranges crosswise into 5mm slices (any thicker and you will need to cook for twice as long!). 
• Pat dry on paper towel. Place slices on paperlined trays. Dry in low oven at 120°C. Bake for 3 - 4 hours or until dried. Turn slices over half way to ensure even drying. 
• On sunny days I dry slices on an outdoor table under a mosquito net to deter fruit fly and possums. [You can dry tomatoes and apples this way too.] 
• Once dry, poke a small hole in top and tie twine/ natural string/thin wire to create a tie. 
• A cute option is to sew or glue a button either side of the orange’s centre. I also glue on dried flowers, star anise or cinnamon sticks for spice aromas. 
• I make my wreaths from the hedge trimmings, weedy vines and long grasses along my street. Simply wrap into a circle and entwine the ends into the wrap. 

IDEA #2: Icecream lids, thin cardboard and the foil covers from dips and butters make shapes to hang from tree. 
• Cut star shapes from foil and wrap a larger star around a smaller star to firm the edges up. Tape/staple a loop of string to the back. 
• Cut thin cardboard from cereal packets (or similar) into Christmas-themed shapes (trees, stars, balls, candy canes) and wrap in foil. Decorate with textas. 
• Glue a foil patty case (think mince pies) to a cardboard circle on both sides and wrap the edge in ribbon – Voila! A silver bauble! Plastic bottle lids can be glued as decoration to centres. 
• Circular ice-cream lids make an instant frame for smaller objects and drawings.