Hessian, burlap or jute: 10 amazing ideas to create wonderful, DIY Christmas decorations

Christmas parties are the best excuse to spend more time with the family and to decorate our homes for the magical day. Christmas decorations can be made with many different materials: plastic, felt, cloth, wood, paper and much more. With a bit of imagination, many materials we have at home can be recycled to make Christmas decorations.

Among the most used of materials is jute or hessian or burlap (which is often used for packaging of agricultural products). Instead of throwing away the hessian bags away, keep them to one side: you can reuse them to make magnificent decorations for Christmas! Let's check out 10 amazing ideas together:

1. Christmas tree decorations

This first idea is very simple: in fact, you just need to cut out some shapes from cardboard and use them as a template to cut up the hessian. Add a hook to hang them with using string, and embellish them with seasonal sprigs of pine and/or berries.

2. Lavender gnome diffusers

This is an excellent gift idea and makes a fragrant Christmas decoration. You can make this by cutting out a jute circle and creating a small bag into which you can insert dried lavender. Close the bag with the string and complete the gnome: for a hat, you can use a scrap of cloth (tartan would be best), rolled into a cone and sewn closed; for the nose, you can use a pearl, a button, a marble or a ball of fabric or polystyrene; finally, the beard can be easily made using a little cotton or wool, (or by cutting off the fringes of an old mop).

3. Hessian birds

To make these hessian birds, we advise you first create a template from cardboard, which will be you guide when you cut the hessian. Make two identical bird shapes and sew them together, stuffing them with cotton wool. For the eyes, use small beads; for the beak and wings, you can use the scales from pine cones. Place the birds on a sprig of pine and add a loop of string to hang them up by.

4. Outdoor wreaths

Make a wonderful, welcoming outdoor wreath using hessian. Cut out a cardboard circle in the size you want the wreath to be and use it as a base onto which you will glue the hessian (softly folded onto itself). Embellish the wreat with bows, Christmas decorations and sprigs of pine, berries and pine cones. The result will be wonderful to behold.

5. Table centerpiece

To decorate your meal tables, make a centerpiece using hessian and a glass vase. For the base, you can use a piece of wood or cut out some thick cardboard. Glue the glass vase to the center of the base and surround it with hessian bows. Add berries, pine twigs, pine cones or small colored balls for decoration. With a scented candle placed in the jar, your table centerpiece will be a hit.

6. Candle holders

Candles are a must for Christmas: you can make a candle holder from a base in wood, cork, cardboard (or an old saucer), then just add hessian, twine and cloth bows, Christmas decorations and beads. Your candle holders will be truly spectacular.

7. Hessian bows

If you love simplicity, these hessian bows are for you. You can decorate them by adding a pine sprig, pine cones and perhaps spraying them gold and silver (and/or adding fake, spray snow).

8. Small Christmas trees

Aren't these little Christmas trees beautiful? Making them with your children will be a breeze! Cut out the hessian using a cardboard template, sew two identical shapes together, then stuff them with cotton wool. Glue buttons  on to represent decorations. Add a piece of string to hang them with and you're done! 

9. Hessian angels

Angels are another icon of Christmas. To make these little angels, you just need to take two pieces of hessian, fold them into an accordion and staple them in the middle. The top area will become the wings; the bottom will be the gown . Add a bead or a marble to make the head and your home will be "visited" by angels.

10. The Nativity

Why not use hessian to make the nativity scene? You can cover corks with colored hessian to make the characters, enhancing them using and pieces of wood.

Are you ready to start project? This year, Christmas will be even more magical!