The final countdown

DAY 14

Decorate the tree

Whether your tree is living or reusable, perfect symmetry is the name of the game and lights should be your first port of call. Conventional wisdom says you’ll need 200 lights, or 10 metres for every 1.2 metres of tree. Start weaving them from the bottom and close to the trunk upwards. At the top work down and onto the outer branches.

When it comes to decorations, colour themes are enduringly popular. If you’re building up your bauble collection, don’t buy a single ornament. Instead buy three, six or 12 of a kind. Start with your largest ornaments and use a Z-shape when hanging. You can use the least exciting ones closest to the trunk to bulk out the decorations. Keep the most delicate ones for the top part of the tree out of the cat’s way. If you opt for ribbon or garlands, finish by weaving these through.

Disguise the base by wrapping tulle or another fabric around the bottom of the tree.

DAY 13

Make biscuit decorations for the tree

Edible decorations are naturally zero waste and these stained glass Christmas stars are some of the prettiest going.

Stained glass Christmas stars

MAKES 54 biscuits

INGREDIENTS

1 vanilla bean
250g unsalted butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
21/4 cups plain flour
90g individually wrapped sugar-free fruit drops, assorted colours

Split vanilla bean in half lengthways; scrape seeds into a medium bowl with butter, sugar, egg and the water. Beat with an electric