Deck the Halls

If you’re tired of pulling up the same boxes of holiday décor, and don’t exactly want to spend an arm and a leg on brand new Christmas accessories, it’s easy to take inspiration and go the DIY route without breaking your back (or the bank). Put on your decorator’s hat, whip out your arts and crafts toolbox and be inspired by these one-off ideas that can turn your home into a holiday wonderland.

Scroll Garlands
You’re probably familiar with the sweeping festoons and sparkly foil garlands that usually decorate classrooms, offices, and other mundane spots. These DIY garlands take the same idea but add a bit more charm to them. All you need is to cut strips of paper (stick to one color for a muted, monochromatic palette; or go slightly psychedelic by mixing hues) and glue them to a single “stem” in varying curlicues, circles, and shapes. Hang these vertical garlands to create a Christmas curtain over a window or a bare wall.

Paper Tree
Paper does come from trees, so why not skip out on the usual fake, plastic tree (or overpriced fresh pine) and opt instead for something handmade and fashioned out of paper. This will take some extra time, work and scissors, so enlist the help of your kids, partner or coworkers. Mill through your stack of scrap paper and stack them organically pile upon pile, fanning them out in circles to create tiers of makeshift leaves over a clay pot. Group your papers into decreasing sizes. Top your tree off with a cardboard star, and your look is done in a jiffy.

Chalk Art
Nothing spells modern and crafty more than some fancy calligraphy done in old-fashioned chalk. Chalkboards do come cheap in your neighborhood bookstore, or if you’re thinking of decorating entire walls, then invest in some chalkboard paint (available at most hardware stores), have a couple of boxes of dustless chalk handy and let everyone have a go at making Pinterest-worthy scribbles of their favorite quotes from holiday movies, lyrics from Christmas songs, and the like. Kids and kids at heart will always have a good time, when given the chance to make larger than life doodles.

The Blue Leaf Filipinas offers guests a new venue to host parties, corporate events and intimate get-togethers for friends and family. With our modern take on classic Filipino traditions, we can help you forge new bonds and create new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Filipinas at 632-9188 or visit filipinas.theblueleaf.com.ph for more information