Christmas 2010 at Hobbycraft

If you loved Kirstie Allsopp’s Homemade Christmas, then why not be inspired with these tips and images from HobbyCraft, designed to help you imagine, make and create your most magical homemade Christmas too!

Home is a place to fill with the things you treasure and love, and whether it’s a
Christmas card, a handmade gift or festive decorations, your reward will be lots of
fun and a great sense of achievement.

1 Handmade greetings cards
Handmade cards are always a big hit with family and friends, and the good news is
that you don’t have to be creative to make great cards. It’s easy to create simply
stunning cards using little more than colourful card and patterned papers,
embellished with a few accessories. Start with ready made card blanks and for ideas
just look around you – in card shops and magazines – and check out HobbyCraft’s
free project sheets and online video demonstrations at hobbycraft.co.uk

2 Advent calendars
Make a feature of a mantelpiece by creating an advent calendar with small coloured
tin buckets. You’ll need one for each day (i.e. 24) and you can use a single colour or
go for multi-colours – we love a combination of red, white and silver. Alternatively, 24
envelopes decorated with a host of tiny Christmas embellishments and pegged to
ribbon, can make a colourful decoration too! Check out HobbyCraft’s free project
sheets and online video demonstration at hobbycraft.co.uk

3 Dazzling decorations
It’s easy to make all kinds of decorations using little more than felts, ribbons, pine
cones, cinnamon sticks and orange slices. Felt is easy to work with and, embellished
with a few buttons, ribbon and fabric, can be used to make everything from padded
hearts to gingerbread people. The kids can join in too, using festive shaped cookie
cutters to cut shapes from air dry clay, leave to dry and then simply decorate with
acrylic paints or glitter. Check out HobbyCraft’s free online video demonstration at
hobbycraft.co.uk

4 Welcoming wreaths
Ring the changes this year and give friends and family a truly personal welcome with
a stylish homemade Christmas wreath! Start with a simple green or twig wreath, and
then simply decorate to match your colour scheme. With so many embellishments to
choose from – cinnamon sticks, orange slices, patterned papers, ribbons and so
much more – the choice is enormous and whatever you make is sure to be unique.
Check out HobbyCraft’s free project sheets and online video demonstration at
hobbycraft.co.uk

5 Stylish stockings
Everyone loves to find a stocking waiting for them on Christmas morning, no matter
how old they are! A basic felt stocking can easily be customised so that everyone
has their own design. Go for red and white and add lots of buttons for a Nordic feel,
lengths of fabric for a patchwork effect, or simply stick on felt shapes to create a
snowy Christmas scene to please the kids. Add a name tag and simply hang in time
for Santa’s visit! Check out HobbyCraft’s free project sheets and online video
demonstration at hobbycraft.co.uk

6 Make a gift
If it’s the thought and not the cost of the gift that matters most at Christmas, a
handmade gift will always mean so much more than something bought in haste.
From handmade soaps and decorative candles, to handbag charms, painted mugs
and so much more, there are simply hundreds of gift ideas to make.

7 Gorgeous gift wrap
With a little imagination your wrapped gifts can all be part of your Christmas
decorations. Choose pretty paper that ties in with your colours scheme and add little
touches to make them look really special. Even tiny gifts can look amazing – use
plain paper or one with a small design and use initials if whole names won’t fit. Layer
on pretty ribbon or attach small Christmas baubles or bells for added sparkle. Check
out HobbyCraft’s free project sheets at hobbycraft.co.uk

8 Bake a treat
Homemade cookies, cupcakes and preserves make fabulous treats as well as gifts
for friends and family, particularly if you package them up in the right way. Smart
storage jars, rustic baskets and pretty boxes all work well – add personalised labels
and ribbons to finish them off. As it’s Christmas, go for spiced cookies and a
variation on traditional mince pies by dusting them with icing sugar for a seasonal
snowy look. Check out HobbyCraft’s free project sheets and online video
demonstration at hobbycraft.co.uk

9 Feast your eyes
Create a wonderful setting for your Christmas dinner and help everyone feel extra
special with a beautifully laid table. Traditional or contemporary, simple or lavish,
there are hundreds of ideas to create a truly personal look. For inspiration look in
magazines and check out HobbyCraft’s free project sheets at hobbycraft.co.uk

10 Christmas crackers
Crackers aren’t just for Christmas any more , so, whether it’s a festive lunch or New
Year party, if you want your celebration to start with a bang make your own crackers
using a kit - the barrel is a great place to hide unexpected gifts! Check out
HobbyCraft’s free project sheets and online video demonstration at hobbycraft.co.uk

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