DIY Christmas Market

[PlantDoctor]

My family and I always love going to the Christmas markets, but it course this year they are cancelled. We (my parents and Nana, possibly my sister, plus me and DH, at staggered times if too big a group!) were thinking of each making something and "selling" (giving each other) things that you'd normally find there. Currently thinking of having mulled wine/ribena, baked goods, maybe get the toddler to decorate some of those plain baubles from Hobbycraft, plus sloe gin. I won't have a tonne of time as I work at home in the evenings, but does anyone have any other suggestions?

Last year the dc made marble painted baubles. Just water with a couple of colours of oil paint swirled on the top and then gently dip a plain bauble and hang to dry. Very easy and pretty. Good for older dc but might be a bit stinky for younger kids.

We also got beeswax sheets from lidl that we heated with the hairdryer until they were pliable and rolled into candles (the wicks come with the set), then we decorated them with jute, orange slices and cinnamon sticks. They looked gorgeous when they were done.

Our lavender hasn’t done very well this year, but in other years I’ve made lavender baskets like these. They’re a bit fiddly but simple enough once you get the hang of it.

My favourite toddler craft is melted chocolate in silicone trays (put choc in a plastic piping bag that you can knot securely, cool a little and let them loose) and add lots of sprinkles, give the tray a couple of taps to get the bubbles out before you pop it in the fridge. No matter how messy they look, once you pop them out of the tray they will look perfect.

Another easy toddler craft is to make microwaveable hotties by filling Christmas socks with rice and a few drops of essential oil. Use long socks and knot the top and bottom. If you spread the sock over a tumbler or jug, it’s easy for a toddler to scoop rice in so they really feel that they made it themselves.

Sounds like a great idea!