Starting to think about what Christmas crafts you are going to do this year? Well good, you are in the right place because we too are in the mood to get crafty and start decorating our homes, like everyone on Instagram seems already to have done.
According to Hobbycraft, the UK’s largest arts and craft retailer, the year ahead is set to be the biggest ‘handmade’ Christmas ever with personalisation, sustainability and mindfulness being the three key topics that shape the trends.
'We anticipate this Christmas is going to be the biggest handmade Christmas ever. The nation embraced all things crafts related during lockdown, and fell back in love with old past times. The festive season is the perfect opportunity for people to put these new found skills to use, and create something filled with love for family and friends' says Katherine Paterson, Customer Director at Hobbycraft.
We’ve sourced our favourite crafters below to show you the Hobbycraft trends so get ready to be inspired to have a go yourself. Then, if you find anything that takes your fancy, you can enjoy a Hobbycraft discount code here.
For more Christmas decoration ideas head over to our gorgeous gallery.
1. Make your own Eco gift wrap
Making your own Christmas wrap is really fun and so much more eco friendly than buying rolls that can’t be popped in the recycling bin after the Christmas Day unwrapping! It’s time to embrace brown kraft or plain white paper and decorate it yourself. Using a potato with a design cut into it has been a childhood idea for decades and so easy to do! Invest in a few paint colours - you could even use some old pots of emulsion - make your potato shape and print out enough wrap for friends and family.
For more Christmas wrapping paper ideas check out our guide.
2. Get into festive calligraphy
Calligraphy has grown so much in the last few years and it’s a lovely mindful craft to do. The flicks and flourishes that need patience and skill help to relax whilst producing stunning results. You could write out beautifully written gift tags for your family, or, if you don’t feel you have a steady hand, calligrapher Mathilda Lundin sells packs of 5 that are calligraphed by hand using a traditional dip pen. You can choose between ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘No Peeking’ or a mixed pack of two.
3. DIY an advent calendar
Who remembers trad style advent calendars with beautiful illustrations as opposed to the chocolate filled ones that are popular today? This charming Advent Christmas Village design from interior stylist and craft designer, Emily Dawe, harks back to those times. There are 25 little festive boxes ready to be cut out and made and then filled with anything you like – chocolate coins, make-up, little keepsakes or pressed flowers. You can choose from two versions - one you print out yourself, or, if you don’t have a printer, you can buy it printed for you. Once made your DIY calendars , you could use them every year but fill them with different pieces, which makes them a fabulously sustainable choice!
4. Work with natural materials
Invoke Christmas memories with festive scents of fir tree and dried oranges. Making up a garland or Christmas bunch with some simple ingredients is a great way to involve the whole family and working with natural materials is very therapeutic. Anna from @littlevintagehare makes these beautiful dried orange rustic decorations that come complete with twine, you can use them as traditional decorations on your tree or use them to tie up a foraged garland for your front door.
If you are after a step by step to how to make a Christmas wreath we have you covered with our guide.
5. Create your own personalised Christmas gifts
There’s nothing lovelier than receiving a personalised gift is there? It’s a trend that has grown and grown recently and we love it! Lousie from @peonyandgrace hand writes on these delightful Scandi style ceramic baubles that make fabulous keepsake gifts, they could be used to celebrate a baby’s first Christmas, or to remember a loved one or simply one for each of the family. Keep them safe and pop them on your tree every year.
6. Teach yourself how to 'knit' Christmas decs
Yarn crafts this Christmas are on the rise as Hobbycraft see searches for yarn and accessories increase by 30 per cent. They have some really cute sets that are ideal for beginners, including How to Make Punch Needle Decorations and How to Make Macrame Baubles , which make it super easy for you to make gorgeous homemade decs.
If you are interested in learning how to macrame (much easier than knitting btw!) then we have a really easy to follow, step by step guide to help you.