Four ways to give your home a festive feel for free from foraging

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GET the family out for a walk and you can find wayside treats to give your home a festive feel for free. Pick up pine cones, twigs, holly and pretty foliage, but steer clear of private property and forage responsibly. Here’s how .

. . HAPPY PLACE: Make pretty place settings to put on your festive table .



When you’re out for a walk gather sprigs of different types of greenery, such as ivy and holly. Bind them together with natural string and place at the side of each dining place for a lovely rustic look. READ MORE ON SUN SAVERS CONE CREATIONS: Pine cones are a seasonal favourite.

Painting them gold or silver will give them an instant festive feel. You can also dab on glue to the end of each “branch” and in a few little nooks and add mini pom poms or beads. Once dry, thread ribbon through the cone to dangle from your tree or hang them from a vase filled with twigs and foraged greenery.

Most read in Money TREE-T TIME: Gather thin twigs of differ-ent lengths or cut them down so you have a selection from short to long. Glue the twigs on to a lolly stick, putting the shortest near the top and the longest at the bottom, so you create a triangular “tree” shape. Leave a gap at the top for a star and at the base for the “trunk”.

Add a homemade star or stick a star anise (find a jar in the supermarket spice aisle) at the top. Dab with white paint for a “snowy” finishing touch. Glue a loop of string to the back of the lolly stick to hang it from your tree.

TWIGGY PUDDING: Make Christmas “trees” or “stars” from twigs you find on your walk. Use twigs that are as thick as a chunky pencil and, if you have one, use a glue gun to stick the pieces together into a star or triangular tree shape. Wind coloured string or raffia twine around the decoration in random directions to create a kind of net.

Decorate with pom poms, paper stars or whatever gives you that festive feeling. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

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