Outdoor Christmas decorations

[AnitaP]

Santa and his reindeer take centre stage in these plywood Christmas decorations for a festive front yard.

• The project
• More Christmas project inspiration
• How to make a timber Christmas tree
• Other ideas for this festive season

The project

This was my very first D.I.Y. project. I always wanted outdoor Christmas decorations but never really found what I was after. So a few Christmases ago I got a jigsaw and sander. I bought the patterns for the sleigh, Santa and reindeers online from The Winfield Collection.

I had no idea how to do anything but it was easy with the pattern. It gives you a list of materials and an actual pattern that you lay over your plywood and trace out.

You can also buy like a carbon paper to go between your paper pattern and plywood to make it easy to mark the plywood.

You simply trace the pattern, cut with a jigsaw, sand, assemble, paint and varnish. I made the mistake of not getting a non-yellowing varnish, so the whites have gone a bit yellow.

 

The sleigh is absolutely awesome and I can put my kids in it for photos.

 

The stocking and candy canes were just simple cut-outs I drew myself.

 

 

I made the mailbox from scratch. First I made the front, back and arch. Then I cut thin strips of plywood and attached them to the front and back with nails.

I screwed the end cap of a poly pipe to the bottom and then attached the pipe. To go into the ground we hammered in a stake and put the pipe over it. The mailman actually started using the mailbox. There is a little door at the back with hinges to open to collect Santa mail.

I found this project to be a really good introduction for me to using some power tools. And also showing me how to and where to screw things to assemble something. Since this my tool collection has grown and it gave me the confidence to do other projects without plans.

More Christmas project inspiration

Bunnings Workshop member sburatto made a budget-friendly plywood Christmas tree.

Workshop member Jess turned a cheap wooden dollhouse into a wintery Christmas cottage.

How to make a timber Christmas tree

Create your own timber tree that will look great and last years with these step-by-step instructions: How to make a timber Christmas tree and How to make a dowel Christmas tree.

Other ideas for this festive season

Whatever your skill level, we can help with D.I.Y. projects to bring a personal touch to your Christmas decorating. Check out Bunnings D.I.Y. expert Mitchell's round-up of simple D.I.Y. decorations for the festive season or get expert advice from Adam Woodhams about How to install outdoor string lighting.

You'll also find plenty of inspiration in our collection of Bunnings Workshop members' own Festive decoration ideas.

Let us know if you need a hand with your own project. Start a discussion and tell us what you need.