What Christmas craft things do you do? (Not knitting/crochet)

[NoCommentingFromNowOn]

I say not knitting and crochet as you have to spend time learning the basics before you can do Christmas crafts with them, although I would love to learn how, just not right now.

So, other crafts - what do you do? I did some dried orange slices last year. That’s it 🤣.

Any ideas? Paper things? Sewing things? Food things (but not edible)? Clay type things? Decorations? Pictures? Things that are single use only, things you save for years, stuff for windows?

I do an item every year... different crafts. One year I made a Christmas tree skirt from a Bucilla kit, another few years beaded baubles, beaded snowflakes... a good one was safety pin angels made with safety pins and beads. Currently working on a cross stitch advent calendar that I didn't finish last year...

Love your ideas ❤️

@NoCommentingFromNowOn yes I am in the UK. I have two bay trees, two small olive trees and three Eucalyptus trees. so they are ideal to jazz up a Christmas display!

The origami stars are tricky to start with but once you've made a few they are easy.

The punched decorations are easy but can take a while to make just one as you have to glue and peg each side. Don't do what I did and dup the edges in glitter. It makes the whole thing a lot more faff and there is glitter everywhere for the next three months! I only did this on a couple and regretted it!

The strips are the easiest with butterfly slips at both ends. The pic I attached wasn't a christmas decoration one (I cant find a picture of those) but you get the idea.

Thr stained glass gingerbread are edible, but dont taste that good after a month on a tree! They tend to be dusty and stale by then. I do make some at the beginning to eat though.

This is a great book for ideas.
The origami stars are tricky the first time you make them but after 2 or 3 you get the hang of it - watch some YouTube clips and trust the process!

This is a lovely thread!

I enjoy Christmas crafts but I'm not especially skilled. We make paper chains and do plenty of baking each year - christmas cake, sugar mice, Nutella Christmas trees. I've made various drinks too, sloe gin, orange mead and various flavoured vodkas.

I'm sad my dc are a little old for making handprint cards and all that sort of thing, it used to give me a lot of pleasure! Sometimes I do a christmas cross stitch which I enjoy.

I think I'll have a go at the origami stars this year!

My mum makes decoupage (sp?) Christmas cards for her friends from wrapping paper. She uses double sided sticky pads cut up. They’re very effective and fun to do.

Outing to anyone who knows me but <shrugs> who cares?

I do a christmas tapestry most years. Start it in the autumn and usually done by xmas. Doesn't need much skill and I do it while watching tv.

I've done a few Elizabeth Bradley ones - geese, xmas pudding, 3 kings. I've had them made up into cushions, but you could also frame them.

They are quite expensive but have sales fairly frequently.

Have also sewn gift bags, table runners and napkins.

Every year I try to add something different into the house Christmas decor, so we like our traditions but we also like a new thing too.

Every year I draw in chalk pen on the dining room window. Loads of ideas on Pinterest for beaded swags and baubles hanging down. There are videos on Youtube on how to draw things like pine tree branches I am still rubbish at holly leaves though. I do have a window cling that says Merry Christmas and then I draw a wreath around it. Again I do not have an original idea in my head, it is all Pinterest/YouTube/Social Media.

I am making fabric Christmas party hats this year. Very simple, don't cut the peaks, draw it on interfaced fabric and then sew it, then cut the peaks around the stitch line. I need to measure everyone's head and it will have a strip of elastic at the back to fit well.

I have made, fabric drawstring bags which are used to gift the children (adults) their Christmas eve pyjamas, I have made a felted Christmas angel for the top of the tree, a wooden doll nativity set with felt outfits, machine embroidered napkins and a table runner as I am lucky enough to have an embroidery machine.

I have the equivalent of a Cricut machine so I have used self adhesive vinyl for coasters (chief cookie taster, let it snow, Sleigh bells ring - that sort of thing) and I also used heat transfer vinyl for table decor too. Wreaths from kits or just collecting my own stuff from the garden. And my own baubles to match my colour scheme. As I said, something new every year. I hadn't realised how much I have done until I just wrote it down. If I can figure out how to remove the data from my photos I will try to upload some.

I cross stitch Christmas cards for my parents each year. Will be doing a Snowman and Snowdog one for DS this year too.

Last year I made picked onions for myself and as gifts (possibly specific to my family but they love them).

I intend to sew some gift bags out of Christmas material I have at home, and possibly some napkins.
I also want to grow/make my own centre piece this year.

And I know you said no knitting and crochet but if you started learning now, you could make crochet ‘paper chains’ as it’s just doing a few rows of single stitches (this was one of the first things I made when I was learning).

I also do the traditional cutting old Christmas cards to make gift tags.

Is Fimo one brand of polymer clay? It’s not a different thing?

Nice. Can you smell the eucalyptus? I was in a park once abroad, it was filled with huge eucalyptus trees and smelt heavenly.

I’m going to get one for a pot I think.

Not me because I’m crap but my husband can do amazing things with a can of snow spray.

I make lots of things. My own handpainted cards, painted canvases, gift tags and some snowflakes made from clothes pegs. Also painted some wooden hearts I bought, and name ornaments made from ribbon and scrabble letters.

@Stompythedinosaur what are Nutella Christmas trees? I’m hoping you buy multiple jars of Nutella and stack them on top of each other in a tree shape then spend the whole year eating them?!

I take adult DGC, and DGC and we all go to the paint a pot studio to paint a Xmas bauble. I go back 2 weeks later to collect after been in the kiln.
I go down to visit with my sister's and together we make wreaths for Mum and Dad's grave and go put down for my 2 aunties and uncles in garden of remembrance. Over many years we now think they are better than the ones for sale.

Not sure it's craft but I make Xmas ginger cookies and cupcakes with Xmas themed toppings.

I pick a lot of branches off of my trees, some holly but others too and some I spray in gold or silver paint. I make nice bouquets that are virtually free as only cost bright tartan ribbon and gold and silver spray paint. My Mil loves a Xmas bouquet as she calls it.

I collect for cones with DGC earlier in year and they spray them in gold and silver as Nd we put them in a basket in hearth.

I save last year's Xmas cards and I used pinking shears and a hole punch to make gift tags. I do this with DGC and they get quite excited by this activity. I play Xmas music at the same time and we drink hot chocolate with mini mallows and a flake sprinkled over the top.

I some years let DGC do the stick in coloured rings Xmas paper chains. Then I send the DGC home with them and other things they make like the gift tags and Xmas cookies. It gives my DD a chance to get their Xmas gifts and wrap them up whilst they are not about.

I'm not really a creative person but I do enjoy my Xmas activities.

Wow! What is the frame? Painted wooden dowels? That is so dramatic, I love it.

Just had a look at these I like them. I’ve done a few tapestries before and really enjoyed them.

@FlowersInPots And I know you said no knitting and crochet but if you started learning now, you could make crochet ‘paper chains’ as it’s just doing a few rows of single stitches (this was one of the first things I made when I was learning).

This is what I’ve seen (well, the knitted version) and I want to do them but I’ve never been successful at learning so far. I’ll give it another go.

Excuse me, what??? These are phenomenal!

These are beautiful but sadly way, way out of my abilities!

@caringcarer these sound lovely. I’m not creative either, but if there is something there to copy or follow instructions then I’m happy.

I made a Christmas jumper! Bought a cheap green sweatshirt from Amazon, cut out Xmas tree shapes from Christmas material (cheap stuff from Hobbycraft) and sewed it on. I sewed on bells and sequins to decorate the trees! The wavy stuff (is it ric rac?) is good for tinsel.

Yes, fimo is one of the brands. Sculpey is the other major.

buy the “soft” version of either. The traditional requires major working to prepare and your hands will be exhausted. I have a pasta maker that I use for preparing the clay because I started using it before they came out with the softer versions. That is an investment though and not the path I would recommend for a casual craft with the softer versions available.