Get down to your local material shop, lots and lots on local streets. Often they have haberdashery sections with all the tools that you could dream of. Pinking Shears (great name), a staple gun that is essential for homespun designs and every curtain rope, ribbon and sticking tape that you could ask for. Of course Peter Jones Haberdashery dept will be the answer to all your prayers.

It is essential to have a picture of the Nativity scene at hand for inspiration, you'll need quite alot of time and patience. Good luck.

1. Angel

Piece of stiff cardboard to cut out into wings. Need to remember they should be bigger than you imagine, feathers from a feather boa, cheap from Primark or Claire's Accessories. Any fluffy snow-like shawl can be cut up and stuck on. Sprinkle on glitter where the glue from sticking the feathers is still wet. Need strong curtain rope (from haberdashery), or think ribbon. Make it like a rucksack, not just round the waist, but over the shoulders to make sure they stay on.

Bought option: Tiger Tiger has wonderful wings, and they are dirt cheap!

2. King

Choose any bright shiny material from a cloth shop, cheap as chips and wonderfully silky. double it up with a contrasting colour and get ribbon to tie round the neck. Good idea to make a tunic aswell to go under the cloak so it is easier to stay on.

Don't forget about any old clothes that you don't need anymore. Old scarves for a turban, old jewellery that can be stuck onto a crown.

Also, there are lots of fake fur stoles in Primark this time of year that could be useful, or even try charity shops for the real thing.

Bought option - never managed to find anything that great as a home-made king, but costumes for wizards and magicians make good double ups.

3.  Joseph and Shepherds and Innkeepers

They really just need a pillowcase with a hole cut in the head and armholes, tie round the waist with an old tie or a piece of curtain rope, then the essential teatowel as a headress, or baby's muslin is even better.

If you had an old beach shirt/ or a man's shirt even better, cut off the sleves, put a belt around and wear pyjamas underneath. You can't get better than that.

No better bought option than the above for Shepherd or Joseph and they all look ADORABLE with the wonky muslin over the head.

4. Stars

Well you can really go to town with the star costume if you want to. Gold tights, gold t-shirt and anything and everything that you can find with a sparkle in it. Cut out a big cardboard star and they can either have one either side attached across the shoulders or one on the back. 

Hair spray is fun for this, Gold and glittery hair spray. The kids will be so excited to use it. Probably filled with toxic dreadfulness, but it looks fun.

5. Cows/ Oxen/donkey

Well you've definitely drawn rather a short straw. These are a little less straighforward, and far more calling for creativity. 

Cows - white leggings white t-shirt with brown splodges on. Add some felt brown ears stuck onto a hairband.

Lambs - anything white and furry that you can get your hands on. Cotton wool works or an old towel. Add a pair of white felt ears stuck on to a hairband. 

Donkey - someone mentioned a grey duffle coat, if you had one handy. Otherwise grey school trousers, grey sock, grey jumper and a pair of floppy grey felt ears stuck on to a hairband.

For all the animals: Paint on a black nose. and stick on a tail made out of nyton tights filled with other tights or cotton wool.

Bought option: There are quite a few good animal costumes around. Check out our dressing up section.