My Castaway Christmas - Over 20 Gorgeous Creations to Inspire

Having been very inspired this Christmas by all the wonderful creations out there that people have handmade, my Christmas decorating took a slightly different path this year to what I had originally planned.

You see I had full creative intentions of going tropical in the spirit of Oceania Island Living and this would fit quite nicely as it's summer at Christmas in Australia.

However, we've had a mixed bag on the weather front and it's made me pine a little for an English Christmas, plus with all the Christmas cooking shows on TV at the moment courtesy of Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson etc. and the quirky crafty country girl Kirstie Allsopp I've been inspired to return to a white Christmas with a good splash of vintage, ample helpings of Scandi and festive glittering crystal galore.

So I've weaved my own Nostalgic, English & Coastal roots through my Christmas decorating this year and these are the results. I'm three quarters done so the final sparkle still awaits - I hope these ideas inspire you this Christmas - you'll also see I've been a very busy little elf this year.

These are angel wings I bought from a dressing up shop. I added bits and pieces in neutral colours and hung it up. It needed something more so I added the raw MDF word and now it feels complete as a beautiful ethereal Christmas artwork adorning the dining room wall.

These are so easy to make. I ended up having 2 different Christmas looks in the house due to the insistence of my 7 yr old for colour.

So in the lounge we have a very elegant white Christmas theme and in the family/dining/kitchen we have a colourful look.

Both looks have a vintage coastal theme running through them to connect the decor.

Here I've used blue, green & silver on a back drop of white to keep things fresh, modern & summery.

Simply hot glue magnets to the back of Christmas baubles - they really look great.

I'm not a big fan of Christmas cards scattered all around, so I like to group them. This year I had some fun with my daughter and we created a collage of Christmas cards within a frame and put it on an easel to display. This sits in her play room as it delivers a good dose of cheery Christmas colour.

I fell in love with Crabtree & Evelyn's Noel scent 3 years ago. To me it's the perfect essence of Christmas. It largely smells of pine and when you take a sniff it magically transports you to a Narnia snow covered forest.

I bought this Noel candle last year in the Jan sales and have been waiting for whole year to light it.

I love the porcelain container & the mirrored lid - it is so magical, so its the star of the show on my Christmas tray-escape on the coffee table.

Another detail from the tray-escape.

I really think hand painted white Moroccan tea glasses are so festive, so I've added one to the tray, it's so beautiful I want more of them for next year.

These are 2 wood carved decorative pineapples and my link back to the tropical style I love.

Their royal crowns remind my of star bursts and add a regal touch to the festivities.

 I've taken India Hicks printers tray concept a step further. I found a small wood jewellery box, stained it in walnut colour and added beachcomber finds and some vintage Christmas inspired items - it's so cute and sits on the coffee table in the family room for all to admire.

The beauty of this is that you can use it all year round and fill it with whatever you want - so it's not just for Christmas.

 I found these little metal angel wings last year in Villeroy & Boch. They have spikes on them so you can stick them into candles to create little illuminated angels - aren't they delightful?

In the family room I have a large white cubed open bookshelf. Each cube has its own little vignette, and I've added a couple of Christmas ones to add to the festive spirit.

Here I've played with coastal blues with a small Nordic inspired laser cut Christmas tree - I love these colours.

Insider collectors tip - crystal/glass decanters are now becoming collectible. I've always loved them, like large cologne bottles they sit so pretty on a silver tray adding a nostalgic yesteryear touch to a decor scheme. Crystal always makes an appearance in my home at Christmas time. I love its sparkling, twinkliness at this time of the year - its very magical.

Do watch out for these Ranleigh stainless steel trays too. You can pick them up for a song at the moment in op shops. They have a such a wonderful art deco look and as you can see work really well as a display item.

This is the only red & green festive display vignette, but I do love it. The jug & book where finds from op shops in Wollongong NSW (very cool place for vintage gems).

To create coastal inspired Christmas decor simplicity to the best way forward. Here the bowl in filled with silver baubles and only 1 seashell nests in this glittering display - you can see how effective just a little touch can be.

My Christmas tree this year was bought from Bunnings (hardware shop) and is a tomato trellis covered in willow. It can be used time again and lends itself to many different looks.

Here it is in full. I've elevated it off the floor onto my Z table.

I have boxes of precious vintage finds waiting to be released (this will happen when we finally get around to renovating the kitchen).

Here a vintage tea strainer has been upcycled as a quirky and rather unexpected Christmas decoration - I love it.

I've always said that starfish make the best Christmas decorations.

Inspired by a Nordic Christmas.

I found this in Spotlight (Haberdashery store) I think it makes a cool little decoration.

This white carved wood Christmas tree was bought from Freedom Furniture about 5 years ago. It hasn't dated a bit and I love the cockatoo on it - very Aussie. The decorations are from Freedom this year (on sale so be quick to get some). Aqua glass baubles look so beautiful on this white tree. I have it perched onto some white covered books on top of an old bar stool I spray painted red - it looks so Christmassie.

If you do see things like this go grab them. I always look at decorations in the Jan sales to add to my collection - you'll thank yourself when you rediscover them the following Christmas.

Christmas decorations do not have to cost a fortune.

Keep it simple and it can look a million dollars.

And finally whilst I was tinkering around creating all these wonderful visual festive delights my little puppy Charlie was busy creating his own festive delights in the garden.

This is a photo of a busted puppy, yes he's been digging up the garden again and yet he's so happy with his creative work that Santa just has to put him on the good list this year - right?

So whilst I go fill up the holes in my lawn, do let me know how you've all got on with creating your own gorgeous festive endeavours around the home.

(All images & Styling by Zoe Milburn for Oceania Island Living. The term 'tray-escape' is credited to Zoe Milburn and is copyrighted).

Merry Christmas Island Styling.

Castaway Christmas - Adornments

Castaway Christmas, part 2.

The Victorians loved their Christmas adornments. Originally made from food, then later glass and paper.

Today the humble bauble has a multitude of variances from material to placement throughout the home, but the premise is still with us.

These delightful trinkets add the glitz & glamour to our homes and start the layering process of Christmas decorating.

Castaway Christmas focuses on the coastal inspired bauble, including the recently popular 'natures own' baubles of late.

Here's just a few ideas to help get you inspired this year as the handmade Christmas theme runs through in a bid to create the unique, the beautiful and the wow in our homes.

Lets take a look at the baubles themselves first.

A sisal covered bauble, this can work for a coastal or country Christmas scheme.

Fabric covered baubles these really remind me of French Provincial style.

Newspaper covered baubles with glitter.

I love the aged feel of these, vintage and a little shabby.

So simple, just add the string of your choice for a nautical take.

I've seen a lot of these pinwheel fans this Christmas.

So easy to make, I like these ones make from old music sheets.

I like the muffin tray used as bauble storage - how clever.

These are made from tooth picks and remind me of sea urchins.

A trend that's starting to appear this Christmas, tribal inspired baubles

for a wild Christmas look.

(Pier 1)

So sweet and easy to make. Mother of Pearl buttons threaded onto

wire and shaped into a heart.

I featured these last year, made from beautiful Paua shell.

For those who love turquoise, these glitzy creations are featured in all

major stores this year. Birds have been a popular theme in decorating and

are still with us this Christmas.

Beach in a bauble.

Handmade shell star bauble.

Glass terrariums make beautiful baubles.

Coral bauble.

(Boho Beach)

White feathers and pearl bauble.

(Boho Beach)

A new take on the monkey fist knot  - a nautical bauble.

I like these sea urchin inspired glass baubles. I'm currently trialing

a DIY take on these - will keep you posted.

(Isola Bella)

I quite like the tropical leaf behind this bauble - it really pops.

Starfish make naturally beautiful Christmas ornaments.

(My Island Home)

Interesting take on the icicle - crystal quartz.

Maps are big in decorating at the moment, and it's no surprise to see them pop

up at Christmas - so inspiring.

So simple to do, but really elegant. Take a glass bauble and decorate with a letter

transfer. I think this is a fantastic idea for family, where everyone has a bauble with their

initial on it.

(Pottery Barn)

I so love Humming birds at the moment. They are so cute, I first saw them

in the Caribbean and found watching them to be quite mesmerising.

(Domayne)

Pearl cluster bauble.

(Domayne)

The other beauty of baubles is placement. Today there are many different styling options, here's a few to inspire.

I like the textures in this wreath and the black front door is gorgeous, so reminds me of London.

Hung from driftwood, simple but so effective. I also like the improvised cake stand.

A bauble chandelier, I love this cluster effect.

There are some great glass vessels now, vases all shapes and sizes - apothecary jars.

Baubles really make a statement in these containers.

I'm trying this one for sure.

How effective, choose your baubles and glue on some magnets - easy peasy.

I'm showing this because I also adore the colour combo.

Chocolate brown and gold what a gorgeous colour scheme for Christmas.

(all images Pinterest, unless stated)

Happy Island Styling.