Is your doll's house in need of a festive make-over?

Not sure how to start?

Here are some simple ways to make a quick transformation.

First, print out this page of decorations and cut out the pieces. You'll be using them soon.

Egg-box Christmas tree

You will need:

• A cork (not a plastic one)
• Cocktail stick
• Egg box
• Green and brown paint (we used acrylic)
• A star from the printable

How to make it:

1. First carefully cut out the cone shape in the middle of the egg carton, then paint it green and leave to dry. 2. Then grab your cork and paint it brown and leave this to dry too.
2. Carefully cut out the big star from our print out from our last post (or draw your own) and glue it onto thick corrugated cardboard.
3. Once the paint has dried, carefully make hole at the top of the tree for with your cocktail stick.
4. Then take the cocktail stick out and press it into the top of the cork.
5. Next thread the cone onto your stick.
6. Finally put some glue on the top of the cocktail stick and slide on the star using the corrugated cardboard to thread it on.

 

Mini paper chains

1. Colour in the grid found on the printable. Use as many different colours as you like. These will be the colours of your paper chain.
2. Cut out the little strips and fold the first one over to make a link. Glue the two ends together. 
3. Add one link at a time until your chain is complete.

The pieces are small so this is a fiddly job. One for older children or an adult. If you have a preschooler, perhaps she can make her own full-sized chain alongside you as you work on the miniature version?

 

Stockings and wreaths

This one's easy. Cut out and colour in. Fix to the wall with glue dots or blu-tac. The impact is immediate!

Matchbox presents

Wrap matchboxes in brown paper, using PVA glue to stick the ends down. Finish with twine. A great fine motor workout for a dextrous preschooler with a satisfyingly realistic result. For added pizzaz, use shiny paper. Christmas colours, like gold and silver - and metallic red and green - work best.

If you don't have matchboxes, pieces of Lego or Duplo work just fine.

See more Christmas craft ideas.